Switchover & the Elderly

Looking Local in partnership with Digital Outreach, Age Concern/Help the Aged (Age UK) and Cybermoor is undertaking the 'DC10plus Interactive Digital TV Services Project' to gain a greater understanding of how to better connect with older people during the coming digital switchover and help them make the most of it.

The purpose of this research is to help demonstrate the value of providing the capability for citizens to interact with local and national public services via hardware provided through the government sponsored 'Helpscheme'. The research is currently being undertaken in Cumbria and soon the Isle of Man and considers the attitudes of older people to digital TV.

A detailed questionnaire has been developed and uses existing Looking Local content to demonstrate useful services and information that could be made available to the target demographic. Working with Cybermoor and Digital Outreach, 20 homes in each location eligible for the Helpscheme will be visited by community volunteers to work through the questionnaire.

The findings will be published later in 2009.