You've got Mail

It is time to break the myth that the Internet is just for the young. There are a growing number of senior citizens in North Dublin that are 'surfing the net'. The world of technology is not just for the young, but also for the young at heart. Furthermore it is important that those among us who would be perceived as vulnerable are abreast of modern communication.

Nicola Howard, Faculty of Engineering & Design, provides informal training to senior citizens who want to learn the wonders of e-mail and the internet.

This Internet interest started about a year and a half ago when Joan Glendening, a friend of Nicola's, first sat in front of a PC. At 67 Joan decided it was time to join the email generation and before long many of her friends where contacting Nicola for similar support. Joan now uses the internet to keep in contact with her friends as well as members of her family across the world and to pursue her interest in genealogy. Joan feels that access to the internet has added a new and exciting dimension to her life and has been an invaluable information tool, a source of great fun and learning.

The only draw back to this great project is that not all senior citizens have PCs.

Nicola said, "A prohibitive factor for many pensioners is the cost of computers, some of the ladies and gentlemen who have an interest in exploring the internet can feel that such an opportunity is not open to them because of cost. I think that this is a real shame, which is why I would like to link-up anyone who has an affordable computer to sell with a senior citizen who wants to go online. "

The computers will need to be reliable with a floppy and cd-rom drive and a 56k modem. Nicola has also asked that if anyone else in DCU knows of any other pensioner or house bound person who would be interested in a second-hand computer to let her know and she would be delighted to link them up with a computer if possible.

If anyone in DCU has a PC that is no longer adequate for their requirements, or wishes to find out more, they can get in touch with Nicola at howardn@eeng.dcu.ie