"The website with the
computer-generated granny!"
A computer-generated granny kicked off the celebrations for a new
UK-wide initiative, supported by BT, to help older people get the
most from digital communications.
Age Concern launched its Digital Inclusion Network as it revealed
the results of a survey which showed that many older people feel
they are denied access to training opportunities.
In Scotland, Age Concern Edinburgh Information Technology (ACE IT)
put a new section on its website, complete with an animated film
explaining what it’s all about.
The grey-haired computer-generated lady explains: “The main aim is
to celebrate the digital inclusion of older people around the UK and
to challenge the negative stereotypes of technology that older
people face today.”
ACE IT chief executive Jenny Ridge said: “This network strengthens
all the work we have been doing. It reinforces all the work with
older people throughout the country. There has been a lot of support
from BT on many levels since we began six years ago.”
The ACE IT site uses a jigsaw theme to reveal the pieces of success
the project has already achieved. These include recordings of music
from St Kilda, learned as a child by Trevor Morrison, which a music
teacher, exiled from St Kilda, passed on to him.
Trevor (centre) and fellow surfers
view the premiere of the ACE IT film
'St Kilda - Music Frae The Forgotten Isles' at the DIN Launch
He said: “These four tunes have haunted me all my life and now,
60 or 70 years later, I have got them down. “It is with thanks to
the computer volunteers of Silverlea in Edinburgh that these few
tunes from the long-forgotten isles can be preserved and given a
future.”
Henry Gray, area manager of BT age and disability action, said: “BT
is proud that its partnership with Age Concern has shown that
information communication technology can be harnessed by all if the
appropriate learning opportunities are provided.
“A prime example of this was demonstrated by a lady of 92-plus years
who regularly uses a webcam to contact her daughter in Toronto.” |
