18 September 2007
BT is to carry out research into the reasons why some people shun using the internet. Psychologists will study a small group of people to analyse the reasons behind their fear of using the web, the BBC reports.
According to preliminary testing, researchers found that for some people using the internet triggers stress levels comparable with doing a bungee jump.
"More often the barriers are internal, stemming from a fear of the technology," Dr David Lewis, lead psychologist for the project said.
Four people taking part in the study will be given a broadband link, a laptop, webcam and digital camera and their responses to such technology will be monitored closely by a team of experts.They will undertake two months of training to introduce them to the web and how they can use it.
Gavin Patterson, a spokesman for BT added: "The gap between the competent internet user and those who have never been online has never been greater."
Figures released by industry regulator Ofcom show that 39% of people in the UK do not have internet access.
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