May 29, 2005

Over 55s taking to the internet

by brian_turner

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Two polls marking Silver Surfers’ day show that technologies such as the Internet, are considered essential by older people.

Over 50% of over-55s online say the net gives them a new lease of life, 7% use the Internet to try to meet a potential partner, and 22% play games. Silver Surfers’ day, which tries to introduce older groups to technologies, is supported by the European Union’s social fund.

According to a survey of over 1,000 adults, for Hewlett Packard, technology plays a crucial role in health matters. Two-thirds of all age groups say technology has a positive influence on their lives and this was echoed by fifty-eight percent of over-65s.

In a survey of nearly 1,500 people for Telewest Broadband, 57% of over-50s said that being online had introduced them to new experiences, including playing poker and bingo online, meeting new friends and keeping in contact with distant friends and relatives. Half of over-50s said that they couldnâ€™t imagine life without the Internet.

However, figures from the Office of National Statistics show that only 35% of people over-55 are using the net, and earlier this month, a report by the Independent Consumer Panel for Ofcom, the regulator for the UK communications industry, found that older people and people on low incomes, felt alienated from technology.

Those on a low income felt that technology companies were not addressing their needs and older people felt frustrated at not understanding the information provided about technologies. The report showed that only 20% were interested in keeping up-to-date with technological developments.

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