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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government

VolumeV, Issue 2	February 2002

Utilizing InforME to Meet Constituents Needs with On-line Services

By Shaye Robbins

According to a 2001 National Technology Readiness Survey^[1], more than half of American adults with online access visited a government Website this past year. Of those visits, over 20% included a business transaction with at least one branch of government. As online interaction with government increase, State agencies in Maine are well positioned to meet demand because of the private-public partnership with InforME, the Information Resource of Maine (InforME). InforME offers agencies several options for creating Web-based services that enable citizens and business to interact with State government regardless of geographic distance or time constraints.

InforME services range from designing "static" Websites to developing Web applications that include searchable databases, fillable forms, and more complex transactional applications in which citizens can complete financial transactions with government agencies over the Web. The InforME staff specializes in Web-based design, applications and developing customized services to meet the emerging agency needs. We also work with State agencies to help determine the specific site audience and goals for the site. Using that information, we then develop a site design and structure that will meet the needs and goals of both the State agency and the site users.

PC Swapping Information - Commerce

To create your agency’s Web site or to update or redesign your current site, you may want to consider working with the InforME Web design unit headed by Kelly Hokkanen, Director of Creative Services. The InforME Web design team offers services in logo design, Web design, site architecture, navigation, and animation. Our design team specializes in usability, accessibility, and quality graphic design as is evident in the award winning State of Maine Website.

As the Web becomes a more integral part of citizen interaction with government, the offerings of your Website can grow to include many interactive functions. Websites can include functionality such as:

Searchable databases that allow a user to choose from a set of criteria and submit a search request to a database that returns the information in a matter of seconds.
Fillable forms that allow users to complete certain applications online and submit them to the agency electronically (see the E-Forms article by Lisa Leahy in last month’s issue http://www.maine.gov/newsletter/jan2002/eforms.htm).
Calendar functionality, which allows users to view events scheduled by your agency.
Transactional applications allow the user to access information while completing a financial transaction within the same session. Our highly skilled development team, who use their programming expertise to ensure that information is transferred accurately and securely over the Internet, creates transactional applications. Our development team specializes in creating applications that can fully automate current business practices.

The InforME team will help your agency to understand the possible functionality enhancements that your Website can have and always look for opportunities to increase usability of your site.

The development methodology for Web site, Web applications or transactional applications all start with an initial meeting to discuss the vision of the project, goals of the agency, level of preparedness, and desired timeline. After the initial meeting a design workbook is provided to help the agency organize goals and wishes so that we may deliver the very best Web application to meet specific needs. InforME staff will define the scope of the project creating a document that outlines current practices, site functionality, administrative functions, payment considerations, technological issues, security, and privacy. The project is then prioritized by using a project prioritization grid and placed in the development queue. The design team then builds a prototype of the application and the development team begins programming.

For programming or transactional application questions or further information about InforME please call Shaye Robbins, 621-2600 x 31 or e-mail shaye@informe.org. For information about Web design services please contact Kelly Hokkanen at 621-2600 x 28 or e-mail kelly@informe.org.

[1] co-sponsored by the Center for e-Service at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and Rockbridge Associates, Inc. According to the study, released January 10 in Government Technology Magazine (http://www.govtech.net/news/news.phtml?docid=2002.01.10-3030000000004399), 55 percent of adult Internet users logged on to some type of government Web site in the last year. Of those users, 50 percent visited a state or local government site and 33 percent visited a federal government Web site. In addition, the study found 21 percent of adult Internet users conducted business with a government entity online -- a higher percentage of users than had conducted bank transactions online (20 percent), paid a credit card bill online (15 percent), or traded stocks online (10 percent).

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