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Computer illiteracy is diminishing as a new generation of retirees become the younger old and display more up-to-date knowledge and skills. However, there are questions about whether this group will be able to continue to update their skills as they get older, and whether it is appropriate to develop technology solutions specifically for this age group or to concentrate on accessible designs for the whole population. We propose that older people may be empowered through involvement in the design and provision of accessible information and technology solutions and through training opportunities in information seeking skills. Access, involvement and training need to be provided in everyday locations, and training needs to be closely related to people's physical, cognitive and information needs and those of the particular communities where they live. These issues are explored using evidence from a number of research projects conducted by the authors.

Background: This paper describes the Judge project, the aim of which was to explore the need for health website quality assessment guidelines for the voluntary sector. Such guidelines would enable health consumers to assess the quality of health sites and assist support groups to produce their own good quality sites. The project was a partnership between the Information Management Research Institute, School of Informatics, Northumbria University and Contact a Family. It was supported by the Health Foundation., Methods: The views of health consumers and support group members and workers were obtained by focus groups (35 attendees) and questionnaires (55 responses). They were asked questions about quality issues and concerns about Internet health information and any help they needed with judging the quality of health websites., Results: The results supported the need for guidelines. The guidelines were written to reflect the requirements of health consumers and support groups articulated from the focus group and questionnaire data. They were then disseminated via a website., Conclusions: There is a need to improve communication and information exchange between health consumers and professionals and official organizations; publicise support groups to patients and carers; set up local Webs of Trust, linking together voluntary and statutory organizations within a locality. Professionals and official organizations in the public sector should make information provision to patients and health consumers a priority. Information provision should be embedded in the clinical setting via guidelines, protocols and administrative structures. Professionals should be trained in the role of information and how to provide it in appropriate ways. Support groups should use the Judge guidelines to assist them in producing good quality websites. Support groups should promote the Judge guidelines to health consumers, to help them make their own quality judgement about health-information websites.

The author reflects on the use of internet as a source of health information. She asserts that a major concern is the quality of the information provided. She reveals that some information that could be found on the web is incorrect and dangerous. She cites that even healthcare organisations and healthcare professionals did not always offer accurate, complete, evidence-based information.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of thinking to do an editorial on internet usage statistics.

The article discusses the use of Phorm Inc., a company that provides targeted advertising services, by internet service providers (ISPs). One of the main concerns of critics of Phorm is the breaking of the principle that information about users' behaviour should be regarded as private. Another concern is the legality of Phorm intercepting telecommunications traffic.

PHRs are systems for providing an individual with access to details of their healthcare. Nowadays, they are usually electronic and use Internet-based tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To create a Web site with high user acceptibility, the designer must consider 'usability' to cover ease of use, accessibility by people with disabilities, and accessibility by people with different versions and makes of computer and different browsers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the impact of the Blogger's Code of Conduct to the medical personnel in Great Britain. He stresses that the Blogger's Code of Conduct contains guidelines which are not dissimilar to netiquette that are commonly used on electronic mail messages lists. Furthermore, some medical personnel claim that the guidelines will destroy their freedom in speaking their mind in the blogosphere and in maintaining anonymity or pseudonymity.