Question

What are/would be the main benefits and challenges for individual citizens and for public services if more people use online facilities to (a) register to vote; (b) apply for unemployment benefit; and (c) access advice about a family relationship problem? Which services are better delivered face-to-face or by phone?

Answer 1

Benefits of using online facilities:-

- using online mode for registration and apply for unemployment will save the time and money. As these are standardised services and there is no personal touch. However the advice on family relationships will not be preferable.

- Using online mode, people in any part of the country can apply for jobs and vote registration therefore it make easy accessibility for these services.

- Due to online mode large portion of people can avail these services sitting anywhere in the country.

Challenges :-

- Using online mode is sometimes complex as it requires knowledge on internet and other things. Therefore for elderly who are no very technology friendly find it difficult to use.

- With online mode, there are other issues like server down, hacking, slow internet in area etc. These things make online mode unreliable.

Registration for vote and apply for unemployment have same procedure for all so online mode can be used easily. But in case of advice on family relationships which requires different treatment for every problem. It is better solved with face to face interaction. People can better share their problem while interacting face to face and also it is easy to understand their real emotions.