‘For years I’d been tracing my family tree and found more in a night’s 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). ‘It’s a whole new world.’

Bette’s 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.

Ofcom’s survey 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 hadn’t had any computer experience.

‘A lot of non-users ask: “What’s 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, it’s 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.

Overcoming barriers

Helping older people get to grips with their computer may be as simple as tailoring it to an individual’s 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 don’t 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. 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 they’re not understanding computers either through memory loss or simply because that person’s not been part of the electronic era.’

Helping yourself get connected

■ Try and find a computing course that’s 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 can also benefit those with disabilities

■ Go at your own pace and set small, realistic goals

■ Don’t compare your progress with other people’s; everyone is different

■ Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; practice makes perfect

■ Keep enthusiastic. Don’t listen to those who feel negative towards computers

By Kim Gilmour