NCJ Number
177780
Date Published
May 1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The Internet represents a significant advance in human communication because it allows government and corporations to interact directly with the customers through e-mail, news groups, and the World Wide Web and can increase productivity, reduce costs, improve decision-making, and enhance customer relationships.
Abstract
To assess future Internet benefits to public and service agencies, a nominal group technique panel identified increased access to government services as a key future trend associated with Internet use. The panel examined services that could be provided by the Internet, as well as public access to information, the cost-effectiveness of reaching people via the Internet, the interactive nature of the Internet, electronic data interchange, and computer crime. The panel concluded that computerized information networks can reduce the cost of service delivery and improve public access to government services. 12 endnotes