Improving Web-based Civic Information Access: A Case Study of the 50 US States
Improving Web-based Civic Information Access: A Case Study of the 50 US States
Loading...
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
2003-01-21
Authors
Ceaparu, Irina
Shneiderman, Ben
Advisor
Citation
DRUM DOI
Abstract
An analysis of the home pages of all fifty U. S. states reveals great
variety in key design features that influence efficacy. Some states had
excessively large byte counts that would slow users connected by commonly-used
56K modems. Many web sites had low numbers of or poorly organized links that
would make it hard for citizens to find what they were interested in. Features
such as search boxes, privacy policies, online help, or contact information need
to be added by several states. Our analysis concludes with ten recommendations
and finds many further opportunities for individual states to improve their
websites. However still greater benefits will come through collaboration among
the states that would lead to consistency, appropriate tagging, and common
tools.
(UMIACS-TR-2002-52)
(HCIL-TR-2002-12)