10 million adults in the UK do not use the web. Race Online 2012 aim to make the UK the first nation where everyone can use the web. They present their Manifesto For a Networked Nation to the Prime Minister today.

Seems like a good idea to me. As more and more services move online, including Government services, we shouldn't let the poorer or less able geet left behind.

I think they are going to struggle with my mother.

and mine...

there may be good reasons for that 10 million not being on the internet yet.

I would say we are already there? Surley everyone who wants access has access. Apparently it's a human right and the justification as to why hardened ciminals in prison have super fast broad band.

Likewise, my mother. She has only just mastered using a VCR and is furious that the company she rents from (yes, she still rents!) has forced her to take a DVD player instead. When she transfers money from one account to another, she does it by walking into a branch. When she writes a letter, it is using pen & paper.

What may sound like a good idea to you and me, is a ghastly nightmare to others.

Maybe some people don't want to?

Though I agree the most vulnerable in our society should not be unable to access public services.

Hmm, I don't detect a lot of enthusiasm for the scheme. Here's some of what Race Online say :

• The web empowers the unemployed: more than 90% of all new jobs require basic internet skills, and 7m job adverts were posted online last year but 900,000 workless people do not currently use the internet.

• The web can prevent the social isolation of older people: half of internet users say the web increases contact with friends & family who live far away, but 3.1 million people in the UK over the age of 65 see a friend, neighbour or family member less than once a week and 1.8 million have contact less than once a month.

• The web improves educational performance: children who are online at home can achieve a two-grade improvement in a subject at GCSE.

I would say it's far more important to make sure that the resouces are available to every one. every school leaver should be web literate. and everyone older should have the opportunity to learn how to use it. If like Mrs Lundy snr. you are unlikley to become a web master then the information and resouces should still be made available.

Everyone should be able to access it but not be forced into using it.

I guess it's mainly limited by the terminal device where internet is mostly available on, a PC! a keyboard, typing, a mouse and a monitor, far too complicated for some!

Smartphones like iPhone might be a good starting point for people who have trouble using a PC, so many things can be made available on iphone, part this population should be able to use internet on iPhone, once they make a bit of progress and managed to get something done without making phone calls, they should gain some confidence to use the more 'complicated' gear... a computer, with a mouse... !

I think its a fuss about nothing. Every single person has access to the internet via libraries, drop in centres, even job centres. There is very little to stop people having access to the internet via their mobile phone, or netbook. This is just a PR stunt to justify taking a grant from somewhere, probably the Eurozone or more likely taxpayers dosh.

The money would be better spent forcing BT to upgrade telephone lines and exchanges in rural areas so we could all have high speed access.

Think you'll find Sweden got there first, it's part of their law that every citizen has access to the internet. And not all of them take up that offer.