One of the great things about communications in the age of the Internet is how quickly you can get a message out. Whether it’s an email, or a blog post, or a well placed tweet, we can get information where it needs to be—anywhere in the world—in the blink of an eye. But the downside is that if we don’t keep up as the Internet grows and changes, it will leave us behind.
Thankfully the new Gov.UK platform is pushing the British Government websites to the front of the pack. Starting in 2010, the Government Digital Service has been working to build a single-domain platform: instead of each Ministry having a different set of design and technical specs for its site, every Government website will operate off the same basic code. The testing sites were launched at the end of January 2012. And this week, the beta of the new UK In USA platform—the British Government’s web presence in the United States—went live as well.
As someone who always enjoys a new tech toy to play with, this is really cool. The content is redesigned so you can search it more easily. The format has been redone so there’s less clutter and a cleaner look. It’s all geared toward getting you the information you want as smoothly as possible.
So check it out, and tell us what you think. These projects only work to iron out the kinks when we get constructive feedback, and from as many people as possible. With your help, we can make the Gov.UK platform live up to its aims.
And while we’re on the subject of new toys, I’ve just bought a Vectrix. More of that anon.