Investigation

We take a closer look at the barriers to getting online

The age of internet

With the right support and encouragement, many people are finding its never too late to get online
report by Kim Gilmour

Under discussion
How older people are conquering their fears of computing How to break down the barriers to getting online

Bette Henley is using her computer to learn about her ancestors

12 January 2007

ette Henley is amazed. Two years ago, shed never touched a computer and had no interest in doing so. Her grandsons gave her a PC for her 80th birthday and since then shes never looked back. For years Id been tracing my family tree and found more in a nights work on the internet than I had in a couple of years spent writing letters to people, Bette explains. Now, she reserves items from Argos online, buys goodies from the QVC shopping website and browses old photographs of her hometown of York (www.imagineyork.co.uk). Its a whole new world. Bettes patient, attentive grandsons helped her overcome her reluctance to go online. But many older people are fearful of exposing their ignorance, or of breaking the computer if they touch the wrong button, according to research conducted by communications regulator Ofcom. A survey by Ofcom found that 56 per cent of over 65s were voluntarily excluding themselves from going online (compared with a national average of 22 per cent). However, when surveyed further, two thirds of those not connected were still interested in the internet given the right support, tuition and guidance. Charity Age Concern (www.age concern.org.uk), offers precisely this type of support and has already helped more than 85,000 older people participate in computer training and computing tasters throughout 2006; almost half hadnt had any computer experience. A lot of non-users ask: Whats in it for me?. Computers generally are still designed by young people for young people. But we have evidence that when people take up the internet, its very popular, said David Sinclair, policy manager at charity Help the Aged (www.helptheaged.org.uk) Bette is certainly enjoying her new hobbies online as are thousands of other seniors who use email to stay in touch with friends and family, order groceries online, and keep up-to-date with changing world events.
www.which.co.uk/computingwhich

PHOTOGRAPHY PHILLIP REESON, TESTWAY HOUSING LIMITED

CONSUMER NEWS INVESTIGATION

OVERCOMING BARRIERS
Helping older people get to grips with their computer may be as simple as tailoring it to an individuals needs by making the onscreen text and mouse pointer appear larger, for example. The non-profit organisation AbilityNet (www.abilitynet.org.uk) helps people with disabilities such as poor eyesight or arthritis adapt their computers. A lot of people dont realise that if the mouse is a huge problem, you can get rid of it completely and do everything with the keyboard, advises AbilityNet senior assessor Patricia Hardaker. Windows also includes accessibility tools (see Nov 2006, p36). The psychological barriers remain the most significant. A lack of understanding, rather than the wrong equipment is the biggest problem, Hardaker confirms. For someone who is getting older, the thing we find hardest to compensate for is that theyre not understanding computers either through memory loss or simply because that persons not been part of the electronic era.

Helping yourself get connected

Learning how to use a computer neednt be a chore. Here are some handy hints Try and find a computing course thats run by older people, for older people or one that offers individual attention. Contact your local Age Concern for advice (www.ageconcern.org.uk) For help with making your computing experience easier, contact AbilityNet (0800 269545) or visit My Computer My Way at www.abilitynet.org.uk/ myway Volunteer organisations like IT Can Help (www.itcan help.org.uk) can also benefit those with disabilities Go at your own pace and set small, realistic goals Dont compare your progress with other peoples; everyone is different Dont be afraid of making mistakes; practice makes perfect Keep enthusiastic. Dont listen to those who feel negative towards computers

Jim Tuckwell found the right support

SELLING THE MESSAGE

Bob Holmes of specialist computer training company Digital Unite (www.digitalunite.net) coordinates the Silver Surfer of the Year awards in conjunction with Age Concern. People are a bit frightened of the technology and feel its not for them, he says. With the Silver Surfer of the Year (www.silversurfer.org.uk), were trying to find people who can show that the internet is for ordinary people. Once we get to grips with the technology we can do quite extraordinary things. Unfortunately, the media often shows the internet in a bad light, full of security holes and criminals. But when shown the benefits of technology, such as the ability to communicate via a webcam to friends and family around the world (see our webcams test, p46) there is a lot of excitement. Holmes says: Once people get over the initial fear and concern around security and all the negative publicity surrounding that they can get very enthusiastic. It opens up such an enormous world.

TOP TUTORS
The 2006 Silver Surfer of the Year, 77-year-old Jim Tuckwell, above, was lucky enough to find the right support.
www.which.co.uk/computingwhich

Prior to learning how to use a computer he avoided them; part of the reason he took early retirement from his job was to give computers a wide berth. But when his sheltered housing scheme offered him a free course on publication and design, he figured he had nothing to lose. Our tutor was brilliant. She wouldnt take more than 12 in a class and she had time for the slow as well as the fast. I had nothing to do with computers before then, he says. Jim now emails, pays his council tax online, downloads old songs, uses the computer to design hymn sheets and community-oriented projects and is in the process of designing a website for over 50s in his home town of Andover. However, access to specialised training is not always easy to come by.

Sinclair of Help the Aged, says: There are some great local information technology centres but its very much a postcode lottery. You can contact Learndirect (www.learndirect.co.uk) or your local Age Concern but the real challenge if you havent got friends and family is how you get started. Indeed, Jims own training dried up after two years. I thought Id keep carrying on, so by reading books and getting tips from my computer-literate friends I worked out my own salvation. Age Concern hopes to address some of the problems surrounding access to training via its Digital Inclusion Network, launched at the end of November 2006. The scheme supports local organisations who want to offer computer training to older people by giving them access to funding opportunities, teaching packs, help sheets and information about how to create the best learning environment. Jims advice is that keen silver surfers should not shy away from their computers. Our tutor taught us to have confidence and not be afraid of computers... Dont say, Thats too advanced for me. Its not, its simple.

MEMBER BENEFIT

Discounted book
Buy How to be a Silver Surfer for the special price of 5 (rrp 7.99) plus 1.99 p&p for the first book, and 75p for additional books. To claim your discount phone Age Concern Books on 0870 44 22 120 and quote code 08181.

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