Director SeniorWeb, Netherlands Some people say that the Internet is like a library of which all the books fell from their shelves, piled up in one big mess. They are right. Each day some 60,000 new web pages are added to the heap. Still, there are web-sites that help you find your way, ‘portals’ they’re called. For the Dutch senior citizen www.seniorweb.nl is the portal site, a non-commercial guide that leads you through the Internet, constantly offering new and relevant information.

Other people say: the Internet is all about ‘sex and drugs and rock and roll’. They are right: the Internet is as real life; so if you are looking for it, you can find it. But if you prefer something else it’s there too. So actually, they’re wrong. And then there are people who say that they are too old to handle it. Well, these people are really wrong. In 1998 SeniorWeb volunteers taught over 10,000 people how to use a computer, the oldest participant had the age of 92! Fear of technology being transformed into fun.

It is really fun to have access to worldwide information at any time you want, wherever you are. But the most interesting part of the story is of course the possibilities the Internet offers for communication. These are sheer endless: email, newsgroups, telephone, videoconferencing and all the systems and technologies that will be perfected and newly developed in the next few years. Technologies that also are applied for people with sight or hearing impairments.

SeniorWeb is not, however, an organisation that promotes the Internet as a phenomenon. It is our mission that it will be used as an instrument for participation. Participation in daily life for people that are housebound. Participation in discussions about the big problems of today’s world.

Asking politicians about their promises and responsibilities. Being connected to the family again while emailing with grandchildren. Sharing a hobby or an experience, working together to tackle a problem; expressing solidarity and helping each other. It helps to keep the networks going, as an instrument for empowerment.