ATLANTA (January 13, 2012) – Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) heard heartfelt testimonies from frustrated seniors during the Bridging the Digital Divide in Aging Communities Senate Study Committee meeting, revealing the widening gap between seniors and technology. As a result, Chairman Sen. Seay has produced a list of recommendations in order to help seniors utilize technology to improve their daily lives.
“I can relate to those who testified because I too do not know how to use technology to my advantage,” Sen. Seay said. “I’m honored to chair this committee and shed light on a hidden issue that is handicapping our seniors. We need to provide classes geared to seniors at the state and local level before another person is harmed because they do not know how to use a cell phone to call an ambulance.”
Georgia leads the nation in broadband access with 94 percent of the state DSL-ready and 74 percent of the state receiving wireless coverage. However, accessibility is still stopping some Georgians, because they do not know how to use available resources. Technology is a skill set only recently developed in the past few decades. The first commercial computer was released in 1942, but personal computers were only first mass produced by IBM in 1981. Within the last three decades, technology has developed by leaps and bounds, leaving older generations without the proper education to use the new tools.
Training on how to use cell phones, Internet and e-mail should be provided to seniors by local community centers, libraries and private companies like Comcast and AT&T. Some classes are already offered in these venues, but this needs to be a common practice and not an exception in our state and our nation.
In addition to offering classes, Comcast offers their “Internet Essentials” program that provides affordable access to the Internet and computer equipment. This nation-wide program connects low-income families, whose children are eligible for the federal-free lunch program, to receive Internet services for only $9.95 a month and reduce-priced computers. Every child should have access to education. Therefore, as more classrooms become digital, it is important that programs like “Internet Essentials” are available to allow every student an opportunity to learn.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 13, 2012
For Information Contact:
Natalie Dale, Director
Kate Greer, Broadcast Specialist
kate.greer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028