19 September 2007
BT has announced yesterday that it is to set up an initiative to try and understand why some people resist using the Internet.
The project will be conducted by a number of psychologists working closely with a group of people to identify what stops them joining the online community. Research that has already been conducted for the project suggests that some users find using the Internet as stressful as the thought of doing a bungee jump. Latest UK official statistics report that approximately 39% of households still do not have web access.
The lead psychologist on the project, Dr David Lewis, says that the main problem with people avoiding going online is of the mental capacity, rather than environmental, with the majority of those choosing not to go online having a dedicated connection in their household.
He said:
More often the barriers are internal, stemming from a fear of the technology. It will be interesting to see whether the trial will be enough to build the participants' online confidence, or whether more needs to be done in terms of support and guidance to help them to become tech savvy.
This is in contrast to the web savvy, who find that going online is particularly relaxing.
Gavin Patterson, a spokesman for BT said:
The gap between the competent Internet user and those who have never been online has never been greater.
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