One of the major benefits of using a computer is having access to the internet. This is known as going online. More than 50 per cent of the UK population uses the internet on a regular basis. 

People use the internet for many purposes, including keeping in touch with friends and family (via email), finding information about subjects that interest them, and shopping.

Keeping in touch

For older people whose families have moved away, one of the best reasons for using the internet is to keep in touch with them quickly and easily. If you have a connection to the internet this can be done, using email, for a fraction of the cost of making a normal voice call on your existing phone line.  Broadband is a fast way to connect to the internet (see page 14 for more details).

You can send letters, photos and even videos almost instantly by email. You can also make telephone calls via the internet and, if you use a special type of camera called a webcam, you can even see the person you are talking to, on screen, although they may be many miles away. Or you can keep an internet diary, or blog, which your friends and family can access easily, to find out all your news.

You can also make new friends on the internet. There are many email groups and chatrooms where you will be able to find new friends of all ages with similar interests to you.  People in chatrooms only know as much as you want to tell them about who you are, how old you are and what you do.  No one can see you and make assumptions about you on the grounds of appearance. But remember, you won’t be able to see the person you are talking to either and it may not always be wise to trust them or believe what they tell you about themselves.

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Organising household and personal paperwork

You can use the internet to help organise your personal finances. 

If you find it difficult to go out or you live some distance from your nearest town centre, you can use the internet for banking. Most banks now encourage customers to do their banking online. This means that you can check your bank statements, manage your mortgage, if you have one, set up standing orders or pay bills at a time that suits you, and without having to leave your home. Also, you will often find that internet customers get better interest rates and have lower bank charges, so you can save money too.

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Shopping

The internet is also useful for shopping. Most high street shops and supermarkets now have online stores, which means that you can do your shopping from home. This can be very useful for people who live a long way from their local shops or who find it difficult to leave the house.

This has many advantages, the main ones being that it is often cheaper to buy online and that you can see the whole range of goods available rather than just the things in your local store. All you have to do is select what you want to buy, pay for it using a credit or debit card and wait for it to be delivered to your door.

You can also buy things from companies which are further away, even overseas, without having to leave the house.  However, don’t forget that you may have to pay for postage and packing as well.

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Enjoying interests and hobbies

The internet can be really useful if you want to pursue a hobby or interest of some kind. You can find information on the World Wide Web on any subject you can think of – from recipes and gardening tips to writing for profit. You could also use it for researching your family tree.

As well as information, the internet offers email and social networking groups for people who share similar interests. You can make new friends, ask questions or pass on tips.

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Playing games

The internet can be really useful if you want to pursue a hobby or interest of some kind. You can find information on the internet on any subject you can think of – from recipes and gardening tips to writing for profit. You could also use it for researching your family tree.

As well as information, the internet offers email and social networking groups for people who share similar interests.  You can make new friends, ask questions or pass on tips.

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Education and employment

Some older people find that once they have retired they don’t have enough to do that makes them think. If this applies to you, there is nothing to stop you from going back to education or, for that matter, finding a part-time job. For those who would like to work towards a new qualification there are many further or higher education courses that can be done online. You could do a course in any subject you like over the internet: for example, a degree or postgraduate qualification with the Open University, a language or IT course with Learn Direct or a course on astronomy with the University of the Third Age.

Many part-time and volunteer opportunities are advertised on the internet.  You could search for something that interests you on voluntary organisations’ websites, look at job advertisements in local papers or register with your local volunteer bureau. Some jobs, both paid and voluntary, can be done at home, using a computer with an internet connection.

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Watching TV or listening to the radio

Many TV programmes can be found on the internet. If you have an up-to-date computer with the right software and a broadband connection, you may be able to find the programme you missed on the internet and watch it on your computer screen.

Remember, if you watch TV programmes on your computer you will need to have a TV licence.  You can also listen to radio programmes on your computer, as they are being transmitted.

You can listen to radio stations all over the world in this way. If you wish, you can buy music and videos online to play on your computer. Note, however, that even a short video uses a great deal of storage on a computer, so you will need to buy a computer with a large hard disk if you want to store videos.