On 12/09/13 10:52, Roger Clarke wrote: >> At 8:23 +1000 11/9/13, Tom Worthington quoted: >>> ... the Internet in place of physical delivery of services ... > > ... doesn't address the major impediments ...
If it was easy, they would not need us experts. ;-) More seriously, there are impediments to the use of on-line services (and combined face-to-face shop-fronts). But these can be overcome. One way is by simplifying and standardizing what is to be done. Another is by reducing the number of agencies involved. In addition laws, processes and procedures can be reviewed to see if they are needed at all. As an example, it is very annoying to have to go into an office to have some paper document sighted by an official, or to find a JP to get a "certified" copy. If this can be replaced with some form of on-line authentications, it makes the process much simpler. One place this could be done is with educational qualifications. At present these are mostly on paper. These original documents are hardly worth the, admittedly expensive, paper they are printed on. After spending thousands of dollars on courses, the USQ charged me $15 for an "official" copy of my results: no payment, no results. The Australian government could require all educational institutions, which it funds or licenses, to issue free electronic certificates to all students. Government processes could then use these certificates, as well as the private sector, saving a lot of time, trouble and money (as well as reducing fraud). ANU already issues a form of electronic certificate: http://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/2013/08/digitally-certified-university.html -- Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150 The Higher Education Whisperer http://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/ PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia http://www.tomw.net.au Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science, Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/ _______________________________________________ Link mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
