Become a Silver Surfer

They are missing out. Being able to access the world wide web is as life changing as the first time my grandmother turned on an electric light switch.  Can you imagine a world without being able to switch on the lounge light?  No.  Neither can I, as a silver surfer, imagine a world without access to the internet.

I was lucky.  Being able to type and working in the health sector,which has been quick to plonk computers on every health professional's desk, I made the transfer from Remington Rand to Packard Bell with barely a ripple of unease.

Not so for millions of other senior citizens who lack confidence (it's all a mystery to me, I let the grandkids sort it)  and/or money (can't afford to pay me bills, let alone pay for one of those new-fangled thingamebobs).  They are missing out on fun, keeping up with family overseas, sharing photos and finding the best financial deals.

 More efficient use of money for older people is one of the arguments put forward by Race Online 2012, which is a Government backed initiative to get everyone online by 2012. http://raceonline2012.org/  The Race Online manifesto says:

"To give over-65s the same amount that the average household saves from shopping and paying bills online via the state pension would cost Government £6bn a year."

I'm over 65 and I live alone.  In the past 24 hours I have, with my luscious Lucy laptop:

*   ordered a couple of books on Amazon http:///www.amazon.co.uk
*   paid two online bills, my credit card and to a private service provider
*   received an email from Lovefilm.com telling my next rental film is winging its way to me http://lovefilm.com
*   had a face to face conversation with a friend in New Zealand via skype and my webcam on the laptop http://skype.com
*   researched celebrity contact details for my book 'Grow Old, Be Happy' (out early next year if you're interested)
*   had a twitter conversation with Martha Lane Fox about the problems of waking up early.  She is the Champion of Race Online 2012 and it was through twitter that I found the initiative.
*  and I'm just about to online book my ticket to London for a meeting tomorrow.

I would find it difficult to exist without access to the internet and I haven't even touched the possibilities offered by i-phones and i-pads.  The internet is not just for the young.  We need to encourage older relatives, friends, acquaintances that we know to get online.  I'm usually a bit anti Government telling us what to do, what to eat, blah, blah but this initiative I believe in.

And did I mention that Yoko Ono is following me on twitter?  How great is that.