differences in size, ownership and rurality. Data will be collected from the case study sites through interviews and focus groups with residents, tutors, scheme managers, landlords and community partners. The first stage of the case study work,

focus groups with residents at six schemes, has been completed. These focus-group discussions explored residents’ attitudes and concerns about technology, the benefits of technology and how what they hope to gain from participating in Get Digital. The focus groups involved a total of 57 residents – 37 women and 20 men. The findings of these discussions are described below.

Experience of technology Strikingly, residents who participated in the discussions vary considerably in their experience of technology and their confidence in using it. Although most participating residents have a mobile phone, some reserved these for emergencies. A few use a range of different technologies to a sophisticated level, for example recording television programmes, searching the internet, downloading music and using the text, photography and calendar facilities on their mobile phones. These individuals are pragmatic in their approach to technology, and willing to share practical advice and encouragement with others, for example: ‘Leave behind what you don’t need … Learn one thing every day and by the end of the year you’ve learned 365 new things … instead of trying to learn the whole thing’. However, many residents only use specific technologies and in a limited way. For example, they watch digital television, but do not record programmes; they make calls but do not use text. Some struggle with tasks such as changing stations on their digital radio. A few had been given or bought equipment, such as mobile phones, digital cameras, DVD players or computers, that they then gave away or do not use because of their limited skills. Family members and friends played a part

in introducing residents to technology by giving them mobile phones, digital cameras and computers, and attempting to teach them how to use these devices. The desire to keep up-to-date with technology and with the younger generation is a motivator for those who feel ‘thick’ and ‘stupid’ because of their lack of digital skills. Residents feel disadvantaged because ‘We were born B.C. – before computers’. Equally negatively, some residents talked

about feeling excluded or left behind as services are increasingly delivered online. One said: ‘You feel that you should be doing everything on computer. You feel bullied at times’. Most expressed bewilderment or nervousness about computers: ‘I did not get on with it and it didn’t get on with me,’ one said. Another commented: ‘If the computer goes on the blink, I go with it’. Terminology and jargon such as ‘megabyte’ and ‘memory’ cause anxiety and confusion.

30 ADULTS LEARNING APRIL 2011

As one person remarked, ‘I’m scared to use [a computer] so I’ve got to get over that first’. ‘I’ve got [a mobile phone] but I rarely use it because I don’t understand it,’ another said. Residents expressed worries about cost,

security and the content of the internet. They think that equipment and broadband are expensive, and fear that other people might be able to access their emails, bank accounts or other personal information. Despite the attraction of online shopping, residents worry about buying goods in error or having difficulty returning unwanted goods. Some prefer to see goods before buying. Some fear that that they will accidentally

access gambling or pornography sites or are unsure about how to assess the trustworthiness of information on the web. One asked: ‘How can you rely on the information on the internet … how do you know if the information is really correct?’

‘It can change your life’ Despite their anxieties and reservations, resi- dents are keen to learn and do not want to ‘shut their brains down’. They hope that Get Digital will improve their digital skills, but also increase their confidence and independence. One resident aimed ‘to be as comfortable using the computer as I am picking up the phone’. Another said that learning about computers ‘can change your life’. Gaining internet skills is seen as a way

of tackling boredom, overcoming isolation, increasing choice, saving money and facil- itating learning. Mobile phones and email would help residents to keep in touch with friends and family, especially with those living abroad. Some residents already use email and Facebook. Although Skype is not widely used, some are interested in learning. Some residents already use the internet

to play games, download music and watch films. Even those who do not use it regard the internet as a source of entertainment, news and learning. They were interested in finding information to support hobbies and interests such as family history, horse racing, arts and crafts, cookery and literacy. The internet would also enable them to find practical information such as phone numbers, opening times and entrance fees. The speed, convenience and the range of information on the internet were identified as particularly valuable features: ‘Everything you need to know is on the computer – just need to know how to find it,’ one resident said. Another said that the internet was ‘the biggest library in the world’.

Although few residents currently use the

internet as a way of saving money, they think that price comparison sites, online shopping, travel and holiday bookings will help them to do so. Online shopping for groceries will help them to be independent if they are confined to their homes through illness or inclement weather. Along with the potential benefits of the

internet, residents identified specific features of the Get Digital programme which would enable their learning. These included having one-to-one support and follow-up, and repetition, the opportunity to practise and gain hands-on experience to reinforce their learning. As the focus groups indicate, older people

are aware that without internet access, they are excluded from the convenience of email and Skype, online public services and health information, and the choice and cost-savings of using online commercial services, and from opportunities to explore community, learning and leisure activities. They are also denied the wellbeing effects of increased confidence, connectedness with community, family and friends, and quality of life and happiness. The value of the internet for older people has been recognised at policy level in the previous government’s consultation, Building a Society for all Ages (2009), and, more recently, in UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox’s Manifesto for a Networked Nation (2010), which highlighted the importance of enabling older people to develop internet skills:

Social housing and residential care home providers should provide internet access and some ongoing support as a basic utility for residents.

In addition to these wellbeing benefits, the economic imperative to reduce national debt is driving action to increase the independence of older people and to transfer public and government service delivery from face-to-face to online. Findings from the initial focus groups

suggest that participants share some of the government’s policy goals. In terms of wellbeing, the government and residents hope that Get Digital will able older people to ‘rejoin the human race’ through an increased sense of belonging and improved intergenerational understanding. They all hope that residents will gain autonomy, choice and improve the quality of their relationships. If residents overcome their reservations,

they will be able to save money by making online purchases and may improve their standard of living. However, as they expressed little interest in accessing health information or public services online, it is not clear whether personal savings will be mirrored by savings to the public purse. The evaluation will help us to learn whether

these hopes are realised. We will share our findings with readers of Adults Learning and post reports on the Get Digital evaluation web pages: http://www.niace.org.uk/current-work/ get-digital-evaluation. For more information about the Get Digital project, please go to: http://www.niace.org.uk/current-work/get- digital.

Sara Bosley was part of the NIACE team that conducted the focus group research