NICHOLAS Negroponte, director of MIT's Media Lab's, once predicted that the
initial population of the Internet would be under the age of 20, and above age 50. He may be right after all -- in the United
States, numerous websites have been set up to cater to senior citizens.
Sites like SeniorNet offer members
online computer classes, as well as discounts on software and computer related products.
The growing ``silver surfer''
population has also prompted big companies like IBM, Bell Atlantic, Intel and Microsoft to
kick off volunteer programmes to help senior folk learn to use computer technologies.
These programmes generally also include discount rates for the purchase of computer
hardware and software.
SeniorNet grew out of a research
project funded by the Markle Foundation to determine if computers and telecommunications
could enhance the lives of older adults.
It was formally set up in San
Francisco in 1986 with a mission to provide education and access to computer technology
for senior citizens. The aim is to enhance their lives and enable them to share their
knowledge and wisdom.
The nonprofit organisation teaches
adults above 50 to use computers and the Internet via more than 140 learning centres
across the United States.
It has taught over 100,000 people to
use computers and the Internet, the organisation says. It has a global membership of
30,000 and two thriving online communities.
The website (www.seniornet.org) also
won the 1999 Webby Awards in the community category and was voted one of 100 best sites by
PC World.
Published in In.Tech, Star Publications (M) Bhd.
