The State of Digital Britain

With the recent publication of the Digital Britain report, Ipsos's eSociety160team takes a look at those who it aims to benefit (the digitally excluded), who's already online, and how government can accommodate both when it comes to delivering effective public services via the Internet.

Despite higher than ever Internet access, digital exclusion is still a significant issue for a clearly defined segment of the population - those who are older, those with lower income, less formal education, and those living in more rural areas.

Understanding and overcoming digital exclusion isn't simply about increasing access in physical terms, it also has to be about challenging attitudes that cast technology as irrelevant, complex and expensive.

Even amongst those who do have access and are comfortable with new technologies, we have to understand how they want to use the Internet and design public services online to include a wide range of digital choices. While the transformative potential of ICT provides an excess of engagement techniques and opportunities, at the moment, the minority of Internet users are still primarily looking for basic information and services.

Despite some great examples of blending both basic and complex engagement choices, there is some way to go before we achieve a truly Digital Britain.