Having a sound knowledge of information technology today is as topical and important as reading and writing.

Just as we have a divide between those who are literate and those who are not, in IT we come across the digital divide, a term that differentiates between those individuals who have – and those who do not have – the skills needed to operate and understand the world of computers.

People in their 30s and early 40s are more often than not comfortable enough using a computer or related accessories. People in that age bracket might not necessarily have learnt how to use a computer at school, but they simply grew into it a bit later on in life.

Many children and teenagers feel completely comfortable using any kind of computer or technological gadget. Many students have a computer at home or use it at school. They are, so to say, brought up on technology in the same way that older people were brought up using a calculator.

So where does the problem lie? Well, the problem is usually seen among those in the 45+ age bracket. Unfortunately, many people in this cohort did not have the opportunity to learn computer skills, while others simply did not see the need to, five, 10 years ago.

Today, many have realised that in the modern world, dominated as it is by anything technological, you must have a basic knowledge of computing, especially those seeking employment.

With the speed that advances in technology are coming out, it is not surprising that many people simply cannot keep up. Those who never even had basic training are overwhelmed by it all and, unfortunately, find themselves lagging behind.

This does not imply that everyone over a certain age is computer illiterate. Far from it. You come across many stories in the media of 80-year-olds using the MSN messaging system to talk to relatives, or the elderly printing their own digital photos. But there is more to be done in this regard.

Organising courses for people is important but they must also have regular access to computers to practice these newly-learnt skills. Computing is much like riding a bike. It’s hard till you get the hang of it, but once you are proficient, you never forget how to do it.

Local councils in Malta and Gozo provide a range of courses for those who want to learn computer skills and although these are extremely important, the elderly, in particular, should be given every opportunity to have their own

computer and internet access.

And this is where the IT&T fair can play a great role. Last week, Industry, Investments and IT minister Austin Gatt highlighted some of these issues. He said the older generation had not been reached in terms of computers and that was why several subsidy schemes had been introduced. For example, he referred to the software packages from Microsoft which are sold to students at a heavily reduced price. These same packages will be made available to the elderly as well.

This initiative, coupled with the MyWeb courses organised by Dr Gatt’s ministry, will certainly help to reduce the digital divide. Taking these initiatives one step further, those without computer skills should also be encouraged to purchase a computer.

They might consider a computer to be something not worth buying but given the right financial incentives could help. The only way to entice them into buying is to show them what a computer can do and second to offer them a subsidized rate or at least favourable staggered payments. In doing so, we might finally start to bridge the digital divide among a section of the population that deserves to have the same opportunities as everyone else.