UK councils will meet e-government targets: The UK government claims that local authorities are on track to meet the target of having all of their services e-enabled by the end of the year. Electronic enablement of local authority services has rocketed from 26 percent in March 2002 to 77 percent in March 2005, according to the latest "Implementing Electronic Government" report. The councils forecast that 93 percent of all of their services will be available online by the end of September. Local E-government Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said that citizens in nearly 200 councils can now file planning applications online and calculate their benefit entitlements. In addition, almost all local authorities now allow library books to be renewed online and provide access to information on public transport, council reports and committee minutes. Fitzpatrick added that councils' e-government efforts were already saving the government money.
UK councils should promote their websites: study: In more council news, local authorities in the UK could get more out of their websites if they invested in promotional activities, according to a new report by Socitm, an organisation of local government IT managers. The report shows a generally positive response to council websites by the public, with 20 percent of internet users surveyed visiting council sites in May, and most visitors expressing satisfaction with the experience. The "Building usage of council web sites" survey said that fewer than one in five visitors to council sites resulted from promotional activity, with the majority of visitors coming to the sites through either Google searches, guessing the council's web address, or because they work for the council. "We know from the e-citizen national project that there is a whole population out there ready to use council websites, and that getting them to do so will bring tangible benefits in terms of efficiency gains and increased satisfaction with the council," said Martin Greenwood, programme manager for Socitm Insight. "However, it seems that councils have to date invested little in promotion, concentrating perhaps on getting the website right as a facility to offer. Now is the time to change priorities."
Jakarta citizens submit pollution reports via SMS: Residents of Jakarta, Indonesia are being asked to monitor pollution caused by public transport vehicles as part of a campaign to clean up the city's air, reports the Jakarta Post. Jakarta is thought to be the third most-polluted city in the world, and environmental watchdog Swisscontact is enlisting the help of the public as it prepares to submit reports on pollution levels to the Jakarta Transportation Agency, the police and the Jakarta Transportation Council. Swisscontact has asked members of the public to submit complaints to them by text message if they spot public transport vehicles emitting thick black smoke in the capital. The organisation wants people to text them stating the type of vehicle, vehicle registration number and an assessment of the emission levels. Swisscontact says it has received over 250 text messages since it began the campaign in July. "We hope that the complaints sent in by the public will make the authorities aware that the people are watching them," a representative from Swisscontact told the newspaper.
Intel helps to create 'Digital Communities': Chipmaking giant Intel has launched a "Digital Communities" initiative designed to help communities to use wireless technology to improve e-government services for citizens and businesses. Under the scheme, Intel has teamed up with high-tech partners including Cisco, Dell, IBM and SAP to run pilot projects in 13 cities across the globe, from Cleveland and Philadelphia in the US to Westminster in the UK, Dusseldorf in Germany and Seoul in South Korea, among others. The initiative aims to help communities design and develop wireless solutions and services to "enhance government efficiency, promote economic growth, foster greater community satisfaction and bridge the digital divide," according to a press statement by Intel. The applications being developed include automation for mobile workers such as meter readers and building inspectors, remote monitoring of vehicle locations for emergency services, and connecting parents with schools to improve parent/teacher collaboration for students.
Bahrain raises awareness of citizen smart card: The government of Bahrain is about to launch a public awareness campaign to promote the new citizen Smart Card, reports the Gulf Daily News website. The Central Informatics Organisation will run campaigns in public places and shopping malls to demonstrate how the card will be used and to reassure the public with regard to privacy and security issues. The multi-purpose card will contain the holder's passport, ID card, driving licence, health record and fingerprints, among other details. The smartcard, which can also be used to store money and make payments, will be issued to all citizens, as well as to expatriates residing in Bahrain, and will replace the current ID card system. The card has been designed so that the data can be changed and updated throughout the course of the holder's life, and the card will only be usable if the fingerprints contained in it match those of the cardholder.
Autor: Sylvia Leatham
Quelle: ElectricNews, 24.08.2005
