Shneiderman interviewed about evolving government web sites

ISR-affiliated Professor Ben Shneiderman (CS) was recently interviewed for a story on how federal government agencies are making their web sites increasingly interactive.

Shneiderman told Government Computer News that too often, federal web sites don’t take advantage of the power of social networking on the web.

Admittedly, there are legitimate fears such as the possibility of malicious postings and hackings, Shneiderman said. “But these should not deter the federal government from making use of this most remarkable media. The opportunities for people to contribute to government are enormous.”

Read the story online at Government Computer News.

Also, in a recent New York Times article, Shneiderman commented about viewing web sites on small screens such as iPhones. “By having fewer items to scan for on a small display, users can find what they want more quickly and can be more confident that they have made the right choice,” Shneiderman said. “If you just put the juicy stuff up there it works better.”

Read the story at the New York Times web site.

Published July 17, 2008