Is Interactive Digital Television the Future of E-Government Services? A Critical Assessment of UK Initiatives

Abstract

This article presents a critical assessment of the use of interactive Digital Television (iDTV) to deliver electronic government and public services in the UK. It considers the organisational and institutional context for innovation in service delivery, explores iDTV policy and practice in the UK, and draws on recent empirical research around three of the UK's most significant iDTV initiatives. This emerging evidence base suggests that although the provision of public services via iDTV is still in its infancy, with current initiatives not yet sufficiently advanced to support widespread provision and use, it has the potential to become an increasingly important complementary service platform.

Keywords:

• interactive Digital Television (iDTV)
• institutionalism
• electronic public services
• e-government

Notes

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31. Tat-Kei Ho, A. 2002, op cit.

34. Carey, J. 1997, op cit. Kim, P. and Sawhney, H. 2002, op cit.

38. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2002, op cit.

39. Kim, P. and Sawhney, H. 2002, op cit.

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42. Performance and Innovation Unit. 2000, op cit.

43. Central Information Technology Unit. 2000, op cit.

44. Cabinet Office. 2003, op cit.

45. Ibid, 3.

46. Central Information Technology Unit. 2000, op cit.

47. Ibid, 41.

49. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2002, op cit. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003c, op cit.

51. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003a, op cit. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit.

55. Ibid, 13.

56. Ibid, 20.

58. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2005, op cit.

60. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003c, op cit.

61. Avgerou, C. 2000, op cit, 235.

62. Cabinet Office. 2002, op cit.

64. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit.

65. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2005, op cit. Gilliatt, J. and Brogden, J. 21^st Century Government: Interactive Digital Television (iDTV) Pilot, Lambda Research and Consultancy: The Scottish Executive; Edinburgh, UK, 2004.

68. Suffolk County Council. Attitudes to Digital Interactive Services – Qualitative Research: Key Findings, MORI: Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council and Babergh District Council, 2002. West Lothian Council. Interactive Digital TV Pilot Project: Feedback from Focus Group Consultation, Cunningham, L.: West Lothian Council, 2001.

69. RBA Research. 2004, op cit.

70. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit, 27.

71. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2005, op cit, 33.

72. DigiTV. 2005, op cit, 3.

73. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2005, op cit. Suffolk County Council. 2001, op cit.

74. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit, 28–30.

75. RBA Research. 2004, op cit.

76. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003a, op cit.

77. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003a, op cit. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit.

78. Smith, C.F. and Webster, C.W.R. 2003b, op cit, 19.

79. Ibid, 23.

80. Ibid, 6.

81. RBA Research. 2004, op cit.

82. MacKenzie, D. 1996, op cit.