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The internet is so important socially for older people, but many don't have the confidence to use computers.  My neighbour likes to use her computer at home, but whenever she gets stuck, she comes to ask for help, it's always great fun to teach new skills to others.

hi

because i find the internet so important for banking, keeping intouch with friends, education and reserching and finding bargains, i decided to show my dad (78) how to use the internet. Following my mothers death he was a little lost so I thought it would open up a whole new world to him. He embraced this so much, that as pub singer in his younger day, before i knew it he was looking up old songs from his youth. this led him to downloading backing tracks and with other equipment he aquired on ebay, he now records some of his favourint songs and produces CDs for friends and family. he also pays bills online, checks his bank statements and keeps in contact with friends, giving him a new lease of life.

He is now reccomending it to his friends. I think the internet could be a lifeline to anyone housebound and think that the different courses aimed at pensioners are an excellent idea which give many elderly people the confidence to embrace new tecnology

The area I come from is an old mining area and suffers many of the social issues associated with areas where the main industry and employers was taken away, the area also has an aging population and is fairly remote but has a strong sense of community in places.

I have been running a number of free courses in conjunction with the local heritage center and community groups to deliver IT and Web design skills to the community, my latest project is to offer another course on digital photography skills which will incorporate the use of the internet to facilitate sharing, peer review and social interaction (using Flickr) and to use pc's to develop digital dark room skills.

This course is open to village residents of all ages and abilities with an aim to develop both photographic and IT skills and bring different sectors of the comunity together.

The area I come from is an old mining area and suffers many of the social issues associated with areas where the main industry and employers was taken away, the area also has an aging population and is fairly remote but has a strong sense of community in places.

I have been running a number of free courses in conjunction with the local heritage center and community groups to deliver IT and Web design skills to the community, my latest project is to offer another course on digital photography skills which will incorporate the use of the internet to facilitate sharing, peer review and social interaction (using Flickr) and to use pc's to develop digital dark room skills.

This course is open to village residents of all ages and abilities with an aim to develop both photographic and IT skills and bring different sectors of the comunity together.

I created a "bond" with the web, when it opened up all of my opportunities. From the age of four, when I started Reception, quickly picking up how to write, my goal was to become an author. The only time I used the old, battered computer of my grandparent's - I lived with them and the rest of my family - was when I opened up a Word document and started typing. However, when I reached the age of ten, started having IT lessons at school, and moved into a house with a fully-functioning laptop, my world of web began.

Over two years, I researched countless topics, which opened my eyes to journalism, blogging, and more. I dived completely into blogging, building sites, and writing online. It was late last year, when I fell across a strange website called 'The Open University'. Twelve years old, ambitious, and ready for a challenge, I remember being happy to read through the document regarding under 18s being able to study at the OU. I am now on my first course studying Shakespeare, and my thirteenth birthday has just passed.

When I read about this competition, I initially couldn't get far in the article, because I had a brain wave, and I was on Wordpress in an instant. Only the day before had I created a new website called YOUTHS DO MORE, which would focus on different topics, which youths could do more in. Because of my frustration towards the child employment laws, working a legal way around them would be my first topic. However, when I read this article, I decided that my first topic would have to be the web, and how to use it wisely. Currently, I am blogging - a bit like online lessons - about HTML: what it is, how we use it, and basic codes, like hyperlinks and bold lettering. Later on, I will be blogging on Google-ing efficiently, the OU, reliable sources of information, careers online, the fact that the web goes far past Facebook and 'Dirt Bike Mania Xtreme', and more. I would like show that the Internet is youth-friendly, important, and that everyone should know how to use it! YOUTHS DO MORE WEB is for the motivated, ambitious person all teenagers have inside of them.

So finally, here is the link, and (catchphrase): trash the youth stereotype and discover ambition.

In the midst of instructing my mother again about how to open a new tab, I'll be blogging daily!

As a long time suffer of severe anxiety and agoraphobia i understand only too well how these often misunderstood conditions can impact upon an individual. I also realise just how hard it is to access support for these problems as there simply isnt that much available. The majority of what is available is dependant upon you being able to travel across town to access it, this isn't realistic and therefore the help may as well not be on offer.

I intend to setup a community based website with the intention of bringing sufferers of these and similar problems together in order to support one another and offer advice. Everybody who has these problems will be different to one another, but will also be able to help others through sharing there own experiences. Something as simple as communicating with another human being isn't an easy task for some people and i feel the internet offers a more relaxed way of addressing this.

I have previously ran a successful live chat and community based website, so i realise the ammount of time and effort required to make this a reality. But having suffered from these problems myself, it is greatly important to me to try and offer some support to those who often feel they are on their own and living in a world of people who don't understand.

I remember when the first computers were delivered to our secondary school in the early 80's -the only kids who signed up for classes were deemed as geeks and we mocked how it would never catch on - oh how wrong we were !! Those "geeks" certainly had the last laugh at us who opted for the cool class of....typing:-) Still at least the keyboard skills came in handy.

I live abroad and the invention of the internet has been a sanity saver -not only does it allow me to keep in touch with my Mum via Skpe but also I can do community service by spying on my teenage nephews  life via Facebook (with their Mums permission and gratitude as apparently it's not cool to have your your Mum as a "friend"). I constantly forget birthdays so it has saved my skin on many occasion with next day delivery becoming my favourite option.

When I lost my Dad, Mum came to stay a lot and I slowly introduced her to computers and the internet. We had many late nights trailing through friends reunited and she made contact and met up with many old friends .Mum even joined a computer class "Computers for the Terrified" for over 60's which is a great idea and should be offered freely along with a bus pass for all pensioners! It turned out she wasn't the oldest there (that honour belonged to an 82 year old) and even she managed to keep a straight face when one pupil asked what was the point of typing an e-mail out when you still had to go to the post office to post it !

 As she came to grips with e-mails we moved with the times to Skype and webcams and now there is no stopping her. Booking flights, trian tickets, burning CD's, -even on line banking which she swore she would never do.  So here's to the internet reaching out to all generations - as as we all know if we ever get stuck it usually is the 10 year old grandson who has the answer !

I rely on the internet so much from simple browsing to a very useful study aid, and I think everyone should be given the chance to experience it for themselves. Although some can find it daunting or potentially dangerous, most who use it could never imagine life without it. I'm hoping this scheme will encourage many other people to finally gain the confidence and support to try it for themselves!

I have family that live abroad and the old way of keeping in touch was a nightmare. For this reason I love the internet. There are so many things that can be done so much easier than before.

How did we ever live without it?

Aside from the social aspects of the internet, the sheer amount of information, instantly accessible if you know how to search is amazing.

So I think it's important not just to get people access to the internet, but to teach them how to use it properly too.

I have already done this for many of my aunties and plan to do it for my little cousins when they are a little older but ideally, new computers should come with a little pop-up that tells you the basics of search engines, social networking and email services.

I help my family and friends access and use the internet, i have built computers for 2 of my friends which i taylored to their needs and regularly help them install new programs and software updates. They know that if they ever need any help they can just give me a call and i am happy to help anytime.

Since helping them with their computers i have also advised them on which isp's to use based on their needs and also on which internet browsers are best for them based on the browser's speed pf use and user interface.

One of my friends has a young daughter whom they allow to use the internet so for them it was vital that the browser they used was very user friendly.

along with this i also signed them up with an internet security company and installed the software on their pc to safeguard their daughter from seeing anything that may be inappropriate.

My Friends urged me to start up a business in building and repairing computers, but i prefer to help people for free as that is reward enough.

A computer is a wonderful thing and the internet is the world at your fingertips.  The internet has enabled families and friends to stay in touch regardless of the miles between them and the learning potential for all is emense.  For children and adults with additional educational and special needs the computer is a life line, making literacy and numeracy accessible through interactive experiences that are not offered in the 'real' world.  

I'm a long term internet user and I'm trying to get my daughters (age 9 and 12) to understand the true value of it, not just the source of answers or images for homework but a genuine opportunity to further and deepen knowledge.

 i think that the internet is offering more and more opportunities as it touches more and more people. the greatness of it is not the information it itself hold but instead its ability to pass across information from person to person. it is not a source of knowledge itself, but instead a platform upon which the collective sum of knowledge and experience of billions of people can be spread. it is so important for people to be able to access the internet because of this innate pool of resources; it can educate, inspire and connect people around the globe. it is essential for some jobs, but more importantly it is so very useful out of them. it has endless possibilities and the more people who can access it, the more we can expand the ever growing collective consciousness of human brilliance - the internet. 

I have been using computers since the days of the BBC Micro and the Sinclair ZX81. In fact, my year was the first year to do Computer Studies at  'O' level using the aforementioned machines (all of which can now be found in the museum at Bletchley Park!).  I  introduced my late mother-in-law to the joys of the internet as she was wheelchair bound and found it difficult and painful to get out of the house.  This new interest enabled her to keep in touch with friends and family who didn't live locally, and also introduced her to the joys of ebay!

 I've been using a computer since I was 6yrs old, I had a dial-up Internet connection as soon as they were available and I think that I completely rely on being able to gain access to computers and the internet.  I am fortunate though, because of my age I have always lived in this technological world.  Recently I helped my aunt (64) buy a laptop, got her an e-mail address and introduced her to the wonderful world of the Internet. She now has Skype and we talk regularly (she lives 250 miles from me) and I know that she enjoys being able to be a part of the technology that her children and grandchildren use everyday.  It has helped to keep in touch with me and other members of the family and I am really proud of her for getting to grips with something that she has struggled to understand! So, I am all for helping out anyone who needs it to access the internet and start using computers!

 I think it's getting the confidence to use the computer and know it's not the end of the world if it goes wrong. I know quite a few people who are OK in theory with the internet, but regard using it as a big deal, and get all nervous about it. It's not just older people either - my parents (in their eighties) feel like that, but so do some of my colleagues in their forties. I'm very keen to do what I can to help people make their lives easier! The iPad is a great way to do it - I do have one already, and even my mum thinks it's pretty easy to use, and because it's fast to switch on and portable, it means it simplifies getting on line and removes one barrier. If I win, my mum will get the new iPad so she can carry on seeing what fun it is, as well as how useful it is.

 I know a few people who refuse to engage with computers, email and the internet and I don't understand their reluctance - so it will be my mission to try and convert these sceptics!

 The technology is moving very fast, some people can catch it some can't. Is very good to help the people who can't understand it and provide solutions which they need in their daily life. 

 Internet basically is a way of delivering goods and services closer to people, can be at work, schools or at home. As a result, individually or people as a whole who are literate to use computers can easily come together, with only one mind to teach iliterate people on the basics of how to use a computer, because at the end of the day everyone can be able to buy and also sell goods and services from their homes, saving time and money.

  Imagine having to read latest news online, my grandfather likes buying newspapers from shops but by this initiative time and money can be saved.   

The internet has changed the life of so many people for the better. My children are both profoundly Deaf, but now everyone is using more and written communication they are no longer left out and isolated. Email, MSN, Facebook & Twitter. Everyone uses text now and all phone come with vibrating alert. I have been involved with local deaf groups over the years, fund raising to make sure that young deaf people have laptops so that they can access the internet at home so they are no isolated. One set of their grandparents now regularly use the internet and keep in touch with their grandkids using FB and email. I'm hoping to get the other set online over the summer. They've got the hang of their mobile phones just need to get the online and surfing :)

The internet has changed the life of so many people for the better. My children are both profoundly Deaf, but now everyone is using more and written communication they are no longer left out and isolated. Email, MSN, Facebook & Twitter. Everyone uses text now and all phone come with vibrating alert. I have been involved with local deaf groups over the years, fund raising to make sure that young deaf people have laptops so that they can access the internet at home so they are no isolated. One set of their grandparents now regularly use the internet and keep in touch with their grandkids using FB and email. I'm hoping to get the other set online over the summer. They've got the hang of their mobile phones just need to get the online and surfing :)

I think that the Internet is a fundamental source of the information that is required to study in the modern world. It brings everything from current affairs and news to historical documents and publications to your fingertips.

Communication is also enhanced with the Internet, be it any of the many forms of instant messaging (MSM, Messenger, etc or VOIP e.g. skype) or emails, you can even video conference at little or no additional cost (over your ISP connection fees) It's truly amazing how close we can be, even over vast distances!

 I spend alot of time bringing my parents into the digital age, showing them how it can improve their work and the things they enjoy.

Such a great idea!

I'm going to help show my Grandparents how to use a computer and the internet. My Nana will love being able to shop online!

GREAT STUFF!!! x

 I'm starting out by helping my parents become more computer savvy.  My Mum now  regularly communicates via email.  I hope this continues as I think it is a great idea to introduce the internet to people as it can help in countless ways.   :)

I helped to my father to use internet, read news, listen radio. So now he is very pleased and happy with it. I think internet is very important for old people so they can read news, buy stuff online, order food and many other things.

I helped to set up my Grandad's internet connection and made sure he could access his emails. I've also helped an elderly friend set up and use a facebook account. It is so important for the older generation to be in control of technology otherwise they could easily become isolated by the rest of the world.

The potential of the internet to transform peoples lives shouldn't be underestimated and any inequalites of access should be tackled. Computer literacy is an important skill that should be available to all members of society. Personally I plan to turn the expensive box in a corner of my parents house into a tool in which we can communicate and they can have access to the rest of the world.

I am about to start work at a homeless /  teenage parent centre. Prior to this I worked in a PRU with 14-16 year olds whose ability to use a computer was shocking apart from unless it involved facebook, one of my priorities in the new job will be to get the guys access to computers and give them the confidence to use them so that they don't become even more ostracised from the community, people think access to IT skills only affects the elderly but there is a growing number of teenagers whose family circumstances and general literacy shut the door to these skills.

If we can provide them with the knowledge and skills we can enable them to leave us and be able to access employment and a better life.

It's essential for the new generation coming up to be internet savvy, which is why I'm planning on helping my kids, still at primary school, to be as fluent as possible in the internet's use. I believe a child will be severely disadvantaged in their studies and in their work throughout their whole life if they don't how to access, and more than that maximise the marvel that is the internet.

I work at an FE College and it's not just old people who suffer from not being able to be computer literate. There's also a group of people who can't afford computers who struggle to get online and use applications.

As part of my job, and with the ideas i'll take from this group, i'll try to promote further IT literacy with our students and our enquirers. I'll also network with other IT providers to try to raise awareness of the Digital Champions scheme.

I explained to my 76 year old Aunt, how to copy and paste on the telephone as she lives 3 hours drive away. Took a while but she could do it by the end of the telephone call, and she was very pleased that she could manage it herself.

I recondition old computers for people to allow them access to the internet and offer free advice to all ages on how to surf the internet safely and with adequate protection. I also have a webblog which I use to give advice to others on different aspects of computing, although its only just started really www.geckostech.co.uk. My daughter also has special needs so I have become especially interested in helping people with accessibility aspects of computing.

I feel it is important to get everyone online as it can allow people faster access to information if they are unable to do things such as get to the doctor, and it also helps people to feel less isolated through social networking and forums.

 I helped my dad use his computer to communicate via email, browse and order books online and access radio programme information and additional resources. As part of Race Online I'll be helping other family members to get online and use email to keep in touch and share photos.

My uncle and aunt recently bought a laptop. They haven't been having much luck with it. So I have been eady on the other end of the phone to help them online. My uncle still refuses to use the internet himself and often comes over to mine when he needs help with searching for things. One day I will have him doing it himself!! 

I remember when my granddad bought a ridiculously expensive laptop a couple of years ago but was unable to use it to access the Internet. He called up his broadband provider and they swindled him with terrible speeds and because he didn't know any better, he accepted them. I think its wrong that these big faceless organisations don't provide an honest service to older people. We eventually got him better speeds and he now gets to enjoy the internet to it's fullest.

My grandfather (81) allways wanted to have a notebook having no idea how to use it.

He heard a lot about internet as source of informations, but he never had enough money to buy one laptop incl. internet connection.

So I bought to him a laptop + internet and we are spending two evenings a week together by browsing internet, looking on news, collective purchasing websites, price comparison website, wikipedia etc....and he really love it

I think grandmather (80) will join us soon

The internet has potentially so much to offer older people, it's really worthwhile offering them a bit of support. My mum is not so mobile as she used to be but she finished her Christmas shopping before I did, by doing it all online.