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This doesn't really 'replace' Directgov. At least, it doesn't yet. Look at the most active searches on the site. Top of the list is the JobCentre Plus job sear

by aes256 14y ago

This doesn't really 'replace' Directgov. At least, it doesn't yet. Look at the most active searches on the site. Top of the list is the JobCentre Plus job search. All gov.uk does is link you to the existing JobCentre Plus website on Directgov. Similarly, let's say I want to book a driving test (another of the most active searches). All gov.uk does is link me to the existing booking service on Directgov. Okay, so I want to renew my tax disc (again, another of the most active searches). Again, all gov.uk does is link me to the existing DVLA interface on Directgov. This goes on and on. The only useful thing gov.uk can do is link me to the existing Directgov sites. Google already does that for me. I assume the long-term plan is to integrate all these services into the gov.uk site, but one can't help thinking they should have done this — and actually made the site a useful port of call in and of itself — before shedding the beta status. Edit: Just noticed the site doesn't properly launch until tomorrow, so I wonder if that will change all of this. If so, you can colour me impressed.

samwillis 14y ago
That is their eventual plan. The purposefully haven't moved everything over at once because that would require a colossal effort. They are aiming to have moved all government websites over to the platform by the end of 2014. Lots of time to do it without expanding the team to the point were they lose the innovative thinking.
- aes256 14y ago
  Fair enough. In its present state I just don't see gov.uk adding much value to users beyond collating fairly mundane information in one place with a nice interface. It's nice, but I can't see any reason I'd find myself using the site. If I want to actually use a government service, I don't see why I'd go to gov.uk first when Google can just as easily deliver me to the relevant godawful hellhole on Directgov, whereupon I will find myself wondering why I even bothered in the first place.
  - johneth 14y ago
    I think that's one of the main motivations behind it (the realisation that most people enter [government] websites via search engines). They've designed the pages to be clearer for those use cases - you can read their thoughts and motivations in their design principles - https://www.gov.uk/designprinciples https://www.gov.uk/designprinciples (which are extremely good).

by aes256 14y ago

samwillis 14y ago

That is their eventual plan. The purposefully haven't moved everything over at once because that would require a colossal effort. They are aiming to have moved all government websites over to the platform by the end of 2014. Lots of time to do it without expanding the team to the point were they lose the innovative thinking.

aes256 14y ago
Fair enough. In its present state I just don't see gov.uk adding much value to users beyond collating fairly mundane information in one place with a nice interface. It's nice, but I can't see any reason I'd find myself using the site. If I want to actually use a government service, I don't see why I'd go to gov.uk first when Google can just as easily deliver me to the relevant godawful hellhole on Directgov, whereupon I will find myself wondering why I even bothered in the first place.
- johneth 14y ago
  I think that's one of the main motivations behind it (the realisation that most people enter [government] websites via search engines). They've designed the pages to be clearer for those use cases - you can read their thoughts and motivations in their design principles - https://www.gov.uk/designprinciples https://www.gov.uk/designprinciples (which are extremely good).