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[#1]

Radio legend Sir Terry Wogan and BBC Radio 2 have launched a ‘Get connected campaign’ a guide to the older (and wiser) communities online.  The BBC’s aim is to help more of their Radio 2 listeners get online and understand digital technology better, or avoid getting left behind.

We’re big believers in supporting anyone using the internet, after all, one of our members is 112 years old (okay, so that’s obviously a mistype), but Terry’s top tips for getting online leaves little room for much digital dignity – one of  which is ‘you can’t break it’.

She’ll kill me for this, but my mum is in her 50’s (sorry mum) and she’s a Facebook fanatic, she books all her holidays online and has absolutely no fear that she may break the internet.  On the other hand, giffgaff’s Claire (Loyalty and Retention Manager) said her Grandma (who's over 80 and signs off her emails 'Gmax') teaches her Mum how to use the internet, which is a turn up for the books.

So do you think the BBC are right that 50 plus year olds have a lack of knowledge about the internet?  What experiences have you had with friends or family members?  Does your Nan still stick a tenner in your birthday card, or does she use PayPal and send you an e-card?

[#2]

Hey All,

Yea, I watched this either in BBC Breakfast or the One Show. What Terry Wogan is doing is a bright idea. We all know that the young are the future generation, but no need to neglect the veterans. We are now living in a more digitalised world, where everything is quite literally in your fingertips. 

For most, this is a scary idea. Our lives being stored away in a digital compartment, and for anyone to get access to it with a flick of a button. A whole co-operation being built around the idea of this "Digital Revolution". How can anyone get their head around all that? 

[#3]

This "Digital Revolution" is a farce! It wont be long before its censored and you can only access sites by pay-per-view, it's just another way of ripping the public off and when that day comes they can shove it!

[#4]

I think the internet in the UK is not fit for purpose and ISP's have the cheek to charge high prices for a crap slow service. My internet provider Talk Talk are terrible its not much faster than dial up. I am moving house in the next 2/3 weeks and can't wait to bin them.

We see all these adverts for UPTO 20mb broadband. Its utter rubbish because you would have to be living next to the exchange to achieve that speed.

ISP's should be giving it away free until they get rid of the UPTO and actually obtain the speed advertised. The UPTO is their getout clause.

There should also be seperate lines for online gamers so when i want to check my emails am not getting slowed down by some kid down the street on his Xbox Live or his PS3.

A recent survey revealed that Britain came 25th in the world of fastest speeds. Which for a super nation like Britain it's pathetic.

[#5]

"Which for a super nation like Britain it's pathetic"

The problem with  Britain is the companies are only interested in profits not service or value for money!

They can't get away with it in other countries thats why so many foreign companies fall over themselves to buy them out!

Thats why GG is a breath of fresh air in a stale marketplace!

[#6]

It seems the last couple of replies have lost the plot a bit. This is about using the internet by the older generation.

The big question for this is, who are the older generation ? Tom mentions his mum is in her 50's and apparently is happily using the internet. One example I can offer is myself. I'll be (gulp !) 55 this year, and to me the internet is just second nature. Of course I might have an unfair advantage. I was accessing bulletin boards (sort of like the internet in a way) using my Sinclair ZX81, a Maplins RS232 adapter kit, and a home made (and very wonky) 300 baud modem more years ago than I care to remember ! A couple of my work colleagues are of similar ages and seem to be using computers quite happily.

While there may be some reluctance for older people who are not regularly in the company of seasoned computer users to realise, and embrace, the possibilities that the internet can offer, I don't think it is age that is the biggest problem. The big problem is education. Both young and old can fall foul to all the range of nasties that lurk out there on the internet, and seem totally ignorant of any form of computer hygiene - from storing files in totally random places to downloading every single piece of crud that the internet can offer. Just today, in my spare time at work (allegedly) I have been de-crudding a laptop belonging to a work colleague. It had three expired trial virus checkers on it, several other "security" programmes on it of dubious parentage, and needed Vista SP1 and SP2 installing - just for starters ! Needless to say it was riddled with malware.

I doubt that any formal education for these users is feasible, but an "adopt a granny" scheme could help, and maybe help a lot. I was going to say "adopt an idiot", but that is a bit harsh for users who just don't know any better, but for those I have adopted, even for short periods of time, I hope that my experience has been of some benefit to them. In fact, if I got all philosophical about it, maybe I could say I have helped everybody a bit. If just one of those users is saved from some nasty malware it could mean that there are few thousand less spam messages being sent and clogging up the internet. (Did I say philosophical, or big headed ?)

Bill