The total number of people over pensionable age in Scotland is projected to rise by 8 percent to just less than 1 million in 2021. One fifth of the adult household population in Scotland is currently aged 65+. Eight percent are aged 75+. Only 1% of lone pensioners has access to the Internet at home compared with 6 % of larger pensioner households and 14% of all households.

"IT can transform the lives of older people, providing contacts, information, entertainment and access to specialised services. It can enable radical new models of health care and support for older people living at home, effecting savings that would amply repay the costs of installing an internet connection in every house, just like electricity, gas and water. But it requires profound changes in attitude - a belief in, and a belief by, older people that they can cope" Tom Kirkwood - "The End of Age" The Reith Lectures, Radio 4, 2001

The study was in two parts with one section carried out using a web-based/e-mailed questionnaire to Swedish seniors and the second by means of in-depth interviews with twelve Scottish people aged between 70 and 83, all of whom use a computer. Some insight was gained into the role played by computers in the lives of a number of older people and some initial comparisons were made with a country where there are formal structures for encouraging older people to use computers. It also suggests that, although not a cure-all, learning to use a computer may help to compensate for some of the problems and conditions which commonly accompany older age.

Oct 11 2002: German seniors take to the Net - Deutsche Welle: reports that more than 4.5 million senior citizens in Germany are online. Seniors now account for twenty percent of the German online population.By 2003, a quarter of all Internet users in the country will be aged 50 or over.

Residents of Inverie in North West Scotland have teamed up with Yahoo! to install a computer in their local pub. The Old Forge, the only pub in the remote Highland village, is listed in the Guiness Book of Records as the most remote pub in mainland Britain. The computer, which will be free to use, will be available during opening hours. Yahoo! will also be demonstrating 'stress-free internet shopping' to locals in an attempt to convert the villagers to the joys of surfing.

Inverie, located on the Knoydart Peninsula, is the only village in mainland Britain not connected to the national road network. Anyone or anything coming or going to Inverie has to go by ferry. Even, presumably, goods ordered in the pub.