With the UK set to have 12 million over-65s by 2021, government
e-envoy Andrew Pinder believes we must work together to ensure they
are not left behind in the IT revolution
We are all getting older - not just individually but collectively.
As a population we are living longer and producing fewer children.
In fact, by 2021 about 20% of the population will be aged 65 or
over. As a result, the older generation is becoming an increasingly
significant section of our community. However, according to the
latest reports, as the pace of technological change accelerates,
this section of society is at risk of being left behind in the
digital revolution.
A survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics in
February found that 56% of the population have accessed the
Internet at some time. This is equivalent to 25.6 million adults -
an increase of 5% on the same time last year. However, of those
aged 65 and over, just 12% had surfed the Net or used e-mail,
compared with 37% of people between the ages of 55 and 64, and 80%
of those aged 16 to 24.
As a society, we have a responsibility to prevent this "digital
divide" from widening. Apart from the economic arguments - if all
UK citizens, businesses and government services were online, we at
the Office of the E-Envoy estimate that our economy would benefit
to the tune of £18bn - there are also social factors.
Why should any section of society be denied the educational and
social benefits that the World Wide Web can provide?
A core objective of the UK Online campaign is to enable everyone in
the UK to make the most of the Internet.
UK Online is a partnership between government, industry, the
voluntary sector, trade unions and consumer groups. It aims to give
access to anyone who wants it and ensure that the UK is one the
world's leading knowledge economies.
Research by my department found a number of barriers preventing
those not yet online - the "digitally divided" - from taking up the
Internet. Reasons include lack of interest, lack of confidence or
skills, lack of access to computers, or even the cost of getting
online. Others feel that health problems make using the Internet
difficult or that they are simply "too old".
These are all issues that can be overcome, and as part of the UK
Online campaign we have been working with our partners from the
commercial and voluntary sector to do just that.
Our most recent initiative, with partners Age Concern and Barclays
Bank, was launched by Honor Blackman on 9 May. Called the Computer
Explorer project, it is taking the Internet to older people in
rural communities on board four buses equipped with Internet-ready
PCs. The buses will tour day centres, community centres,
residential homes and other locations in remote areas of the UK to
introduce older people and their carers to the benefits of the
Web.
Another successful scheme, the Open House campaign, was developed
in association with Age Concern and Abbey National. So far the
scheme has enabled more than 2,000 older people to access the
Internet for the first time at a range of Age Concern centres
across the country.
Both initiatives have been successful for two reasons. First, they
bring the Internet to older people in a familiar, unthreatening
environment. Second, they overcome the main barrier preventing
people from getting online - the lack of interest or perceived need
- by clearly demonstrating the specific benefits of technology for
older citizens.
Our efforts don't stop there. This autumn will witness a major
drive to introduce some of the most "hard-to-reach" sections of
society to the benefits of the Internet. The campaign will bring
together a range of key partners and culminate in the opening of
the 6,000th UK Online centre by the end of the year.
We believe it is our duty to enable everyone to get the most from
the Internet - to prevent social exclusion and create a more
vibrant and unified society. And if we are to benefit economically
and take a lead in the race to be one of the world's leaders in IT,
we must ensure that all sections of society are included.
Achieving this goal requires the commitment of all those with a
vested interest - the Government, the private sector and the
voluntary sector. We all have something to gain from taking steps
to reach out to the digitally divided in our society. This could
mean developing ergonomically designed hardware to cater for the
less able-bodied, developing Web sites for the visually impaired,
or through initiatives giving communities first-hand Internet
experience.
Whatever part we play, I believe that this is a collective
responsibility and an investment that will ultimately reap rewards
for us all.
Andrew Pinder is the Government's e-envoy