Kevin joins the Digital Age

Kevin at his computer

In addition to difficult family circumstances, when Kevin was at school things were difficult for him and so he did not enjoy it and did not get any qualifications. Although he has worked, it has been on his own rather than as part of a group and so Kevin has felt socially isolated for much of his life. This affects how Kevin views the world and how he copes with the circumstances of his life.

Kevin is interested in technology generally and was keen to learn more about computers and the Internet. He went to the Building Up and Developing Skills (BUDS) project, giving him access to the flexible learning centre which runs courses designed to develop a range of skills including computing. Kevin enrolled in the SQA "Introduction to Computers" course and passed with merit. Kevin enjoyed the course and liked the relaxed and informal approach taken by the tutors He also felt comfortable asking for support when needed.

Kevin said "The self teach package was great, nobody telling you what to do, working at my own pace and I knew I would get help when I asked"

Kevin attended an Online Service Users Forum which was organised by the EverybodyOnline project to give people affected by homelessness an opportunity to discuss the use of computers in modern life. He enjoys using the internet and is now, with support, improving his skills using search engines and is able to find out information about days out and planning his travel arrangements.

Kevin would like to develop his computer skills and feels that one way to do this would be to have his own computer at home. This is not yet possible but when he does, he will more easily be able download music and games and keep in touch by email with friends and colleagues who are involved in other projects linked to EverybodyOnline.

For the moment he enjoys using the IT facilities at the project's drop in centre. He likes the friendly atmosphere and he finds the staff and volunteers in the centre very helpful and supportive. Because of his temperament, having other people around helps him manage his anger when a technical blip happens like the screen freezes or his browser is running more slowly than normal.

Kevin admits that because of his paranoia, he does not like the idea of people knowing his personal or financial details so he will not use the internet for online shopping or online banking. He does not use chat rooms because he is concerned about not knowing who he is really chatting to and the risk of accidentally accessing adult sites. However Kevin is willing to learn how technology can help him deal with some of his concerns by understanding how to protect personal details securely.

As his computing skills and self confidence improve he is sure that he will enjoy even greater benefit from Broadband and the internet