Bid to attract new wave of silver surfers welcomed by Bournemouth OAP champion (From Bournemouth Echo)

Bid to attract new wave of silver surfers welcomed by Bournemouth OAP champion

7:20pm Wednesday 11th November 2009

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A NEW computer aimed at people aged over 60 aims to inspire a whole new wave of silver surfers.

The simplified PC, which has just six buttons and no drop-down menus, has been described as “an excellent idea” by Bournemouth’s older people’s champion.

Cllr Pat Lewis said: “Many silver surfers are very competent on computers but obviously there’s a lot of people who are currently missing out.

“The thing about the internet is it opens up so many new avenues of advice and information – things that older people could find invaluable.

“People who work with computers assume everyone’s au fait with things in the same way they are. Often they’re not and that is why something like this is such a good idea.”

The computer, called SimplicITy, comes with 17 video tutorials from television presenter Valerie Singleton, who lives near Sherborne.

It has no log-in screen and instead opens to a front page containing separate clickable buttons for six different functions, including email, internet browsing and online chat.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 6.4 million people over the age of 65 have never used the internet.

Andrew Harrop, head of public policy for charity Age Concern and Help the Aged, said efforts to get older people online should be “applauded.”

“Pensioners who aren’t online are missing out on hundreds of pounds in potential savings by shopping around and can also often miss out on the best interest rates for savings accounts, not to mention the social benefits of being online,” he said.

The computer has been developed in partnership with Wessex Computers and a website called discount-age, set up by Ms Singleton.

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