Too much information
Finding the right information on Directgov can be difficult. The website includes a mixture of transaction services, press releases, advice, advertising campaigns and links outwards to Government agencies and departments as well as independent websites. A closer look at the content throws up a series of quirky and unexpected information. It is possible to find a local farmer’s market; search the registry of recalled vehicles; find a local charity shop; assess the environmental efficiency of a washing machine; find out how to get a compost bin; check the location of mobile telephone masts in a particular area; get the form to nominate someone for an honour; and arrange a congratulatory message from the Queen.
There are a couple of problems with this, firstly that the information is not built around priorities in public services but around what the site is able to easily provide, and secondly that the type of information that is here may be best accessed through a general search engine, as opposed to through a central Government portal.
Some of the independent websites that Directgov links to are quite idiosyncratic, with unclear provenance. For example, the link for a list of UK libraries is to an independent website giving gold stars to libraries16. Some links seem an odd choice. For example, tidal information is provided by a commercial site17 when the BBC provides a full service along with the shipping forecast from the UK Hydrographic Office. These might seem marginal criticisms but they reflect bigger questions about the website strategy and selection criteria. Without a clear consumer-focused framework, the website has morphed from its original vision of being easy and interesting to use, to a vast information warehouse.
- UK Public Libraries. Available at: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/tow September 2009.
- http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017497
I think it totally misguided to try to put so much information from so many disparate sources on one website. The focus and consistancy in style that is achieved on other public information websites makes them easier to use and understand. A single subject website can focus upon a specific target audience and working with that audience deliver quality information at the right level. I regularly use and find helpful the following sites; HMRC, Companies House and The Met Office.
My experiences accessing infomation on Directgov have been dissappointing due to the variability in the level of detail and consistency in presentation.
I use
directionless.gov
This was built for very little and works much better.
I don’t want to waste time searching. Amazon – I tell them what I want ( a book on science ) and they have clever algorithms to alert me to other stuff
Could we not have tesco, amazon, greenpeace and citizens designing the next site ?
I very rarely, if at all, use directgov for public enquiries, I tend to go straight to the original source whilst most members of the public use google etc. I don’t think i’ve ever had a member of the public ask me about it and my general impression is that public awareness is extremely low.
The site itself is extremely deep and in my view overwhelming, having one site for all gov info seems impractical?