Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Precis 1 - Information Searches that Solve Problems

With the recent rise of common Internet use, there has been a lot of interest in how Americans get information on government-related issues. In a study conducted in a joint effort by the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and the PEW Internet & American Life Project, it was found that about 58% of people, who recently experienced one of the ten possible problems examined by the study, said they used the Internet to find help.
This study focused on ten specific common problems that Americans may come across:
1. Dealing with a serious illness or health concern
2. Making a decision about school enrollment, financing school, or upgrading work skills
3. Dealing with a tax matter
4. Changing a job or starting a business
5. Getting information about Medicare, Medicaid, or food stamps
6. Getting information about Social Security or military benefits
7. Getting information about voter registration or a government policy
8. Seeking help on a local government matter such as a traffic problem or schools
9. Becoming involved in a legal matter
10. Becoming a citizen or helping another person with an immigration matter
Although there was some variation in the survey results due to the individual needs of the people being interviewed, 58% of the people who recently encountered one of the above problems said they used the Internet to get help. The Internet was cited most frequently as the source that provided the most information that people were seeking. This was closely followed by sources such as doctors, lawyers or financial experts, then friends and family members, newspapers and magazines, an official government office or agency, the television and radio, and finally, the public library.
This survey challenges preconceptions that “libraries are losing relevance in the Internet age.” Libraries were visited “by nearly half of all Americans in the past year for all kinds of purposes.” Many of the “Generation Y” users, 18-30 years of age, led the pack for problem-solving information and general library use.
As the Internet becomes more prevalent in American households, it will continue to grow as a primary source for information and communication. However, there will always be a need for other, more tactile forms of communication. With an entirely electronically driven system, information can be lost if the servers ever crash. Also, some people simply prefer traditional, ink and paper to communicate.

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