Digital age 'excludes old and poor'
17 May 2005
Technology is still confusing the old and the poor in the UK, according to Ofcom.
The communications watchdog claims that older and lower income people are still excluded from digital life and can end up confused, misinformed and uncertain where or how to ask for help.
Ofcom is urging technology firms to respond to the research and look more closely at the needs of consumers.
The report from Ofcom's consumer panel said people were put off experimenting with new technologies because they were bombarded with information, much of which was either misleading or full of jargon.
The survey found that most people broadly knew what terms such as broadband and digital TV meant, while less than a third understood the term digital switchover, which describes the change from analogue to digital broadcasting. seventy-six percent of those surveyed do not know, were misinformed or could not explain third generation technology (3G).
Older users and people with disabilities in particular reportedly find new devices fiddly to use, while price is also still a barrier for many people on lower incomes.
"Our research provides a firm stake in the ground for the communications market," said Colette Bowe, the Consumer Panel chair. "It is of serious concern to us that so many customers feel it is so hard to grapple with new advances related to phones, TV, radio and the internet."
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