The Online Motion Project is exploring how to conduct lawsuits online. Under this project, the judge, the lawyers, and the clients will all be connected via the Internet. As a result, certain cases can be argued before the judge through something like a chat room rather than in a physical courtroom, helping to bring cases to trial more quickly. Government employee unions could use the entire gamut of human-resources ideas for intranets, such as benefits information and enrollment. Telecommuting could cut down on traffic congestion and be an integral part of family-friendly workplace policies.
Internet technologies are a viable way to change government to some degree or another.
Let's not kid ourselves that they're going to change the whole process. As the government makes the move from ARPAnet to intranet, it can continue to learn from the business community how to work more effectively and provide better service. Jim Barksdale is president and chief executive officer at Netscape Communications Corporation. This site powered by Netscape SuiteSpot servers .