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sector: home use |
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location: Leicestershire |
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uses: home finance, keeping in touch, home shopping |
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technology used: broadband, email, web-cam, internet |
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Since buying herself a new computer at the beginning of 2003, Helen from Leicestershire has been able to exploit all the benefits broadband can bring to her busy life in retirement. |
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One of Helen's daughters lives in South Wales with two young twins and a husband in the army. Helen uses broadband to keep in contact with her daughter and growing grandchildren, and to stay in touch with her son-in-law when he's overseas. |
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Not only does she send and receive emails and pictures but since she has installed a web cam she can actually see and speak to her grandchildren. "It's the next best thing to being there," she says. "I can see their faces and hear their voices. I'd actually thought of doing this when I had my old connection, but it was far too slow and clunky. Now I've a broadband connection we can play a far greater part in each others' lives". |
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As an active member of the local Womens Institute, Helen has also found broadband has helped her organise their many events. She uses desktop publishing to create flyers, diaries, invites and newsletters, and broadband to help publish them. |
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She finds she can send more detailed and interesting publications to the local members far quicker and more conveniently. "It's not just a simple text only email now – I can send large files full of pictures and show off some of my more creative designs." This has helped build the local WI network and strengthen ties with other groups in the region. |
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And because she lives in a rural area – her local bank is over 5 miles away in Loughborough - she's also found that, with broadband, she can manage nearly all her finances online without having to waste time, money and petrol travelling to town. |
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All in all, Helen's found that high speed Internet access has given her a new found freedom. "Even though I'm now retired I feel busier than ever," she says. "A large part of this is down to the fact that I can get the fiddly things, like banking and paying the bills, done really easily. I can shop online, get in touch with all the other WI ladies and add more strings to my bow. I think it's great and it's so simple and easy, you don't even notice you're using it!" |
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