17 April 2007

The Internet and services such as e-commerce could be a vital help for elderly individuals, one inclusion campaigner has claimed.

In an interview with eGov monitor, managing director of UK online centres Helen Milner said that some elderly persons may rely on such technology, as they are unable to conduct simple tasks such as grocery shopping without assistance.

Excluding such individuals from the online community removes their "lifeline" and serves to deepen the digital divide which is prevalent in the UK, she warned.

"Technology empowers people to take advantage of the socio-economic opportunities that are available," she remarked.

"Communities cannot be sustainable in most cases if they are not digitally inclusive."

Ms Milner spoke in advance of the National Digital Inclusion Conference 2007 - Transforming Technology, Empowering People, to be held in London on April 24th 2007.

Last month Ms Milner pointed out that the Internet is having an increasingly profound impact on the lives of UK residents, with excluded individuals increasingly marginalised in society.

© Adfero Ltd

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