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Impact of Leisure Internet use on Takeup of e-Government Services by Older People
Kneller JD, Phippen AD
Advances in Communications, Computing, Networks and Security 5, ISBN: 978-1-84102-257-4, pp258-266, 2008
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Considerable resources have been invested in the development of e-government services, including online facilities, in the UK. However, there is debate as to the effectiveness of such provision and in particular there is concern that uptake is not consistent amongst all demographic groups.

This paper discusses research carried out in conjunction with a District Authority in south-west England into attitudes and usage of the Internet in general and whether leisure use of online facilities has an impact on uptake on e-government services. Contrary to expectations based on the uptake distribution of general Internet use, analysis results were mixed and no overall significant difference between the rate of uptake of e-Government services amongst older people and other age groups was found. The most significant impact of leisure use on awareness of e-government is in users in the middle age group (45-64), rather than in the 65+ age group. However, in many areas additional statistical analysis will be required to further investigate the differences between leisure effects in each age group.

Kneller JD, Phippen AD