Hello fellow super enthusiasts!

No matter what you call it, how many times it gives you a virus, what it costs you each month or how fast your kids eat the allotted data supply in your contract, the Internet is an amazing beast. I think it’s probably fair to say that it’s fundamentally changed the way we operate, communicate and live.

Being the knowledge-thirsty nerd (yet surprisingly snappy dancer!) that I am, I was pondering who invented the Internet and with that, I decided to do what everyone does now when they want to know something…I Googled it!

According to Wikipedia, the origins of the Internet date back to the swinging sixties. But it wasn’t until the nineties when the Internet was commercialised that things really kicked off and the technology was rolled out en mass to the general population. Now, I know what you’re thinking…. no, this isn’t a technology blog, this is a super blog…. so where am I going with this you might wonder?

Well, I was reading the Australian Bureau of Statistics update, Age Matters June 2011 (you can find it here: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4914.0.55.001 ) when I came across some interesting facts surrounding older people and use of computers and the Internet. Have a look:

• In 2003, 28% of people aged 60 and over living in households had used a computer in the past 12 months. In 2009, this jumped to 47%.
• In 2003, 21% of people aged 60 and over had used the Internet in the previous 12 months. In 2009, this increased to 41%…that’s almost double!

Normally, the mantra in our industry is that “older” people don’t use the Internet or aren’t comfortable with computers, which is why we have a proliferation of hard copy communication and transactions.

Well, it seems that’s not necessarily the case! The “oldies” are getting techy!

With more and more funds moving towards online transactions, member portals and electronic fund transfers, we will soon be able to see the light at the end of the paper tunnel. Did I hear someone say “SuperStream?”

I myself am quite comfy with computers and computer devices….now, how do you print this blog thing?

Yours in Super,

 Hans