Priority now is to get people of `a certain age' online

One of the priorities of the Irish Committee of the UN Year of Older Persons is to get more people "of a certain age" involved in computers and Information Technology. This "certain age" largely means people over the age of 55, who are either still at work, but not using IT, or people have retired or are older, living at home and thinking of becoming computer-literate but not yet ready to make the breakthrough.

Michael White, chairman of the Irish committee, is determined to get hundreds, if not thousands, of older people involved and this autumn, in conjunction with Education and Living

and Microsoft, is offering two computers as prizes for each of October, November and December, to readers who take part in a quiz competition being run in this supplement.

Already, one month's competition has been judged and the winners are:

Mildred O'Brien, 40 Salthill, Monkstown, Co Dublin

Noirin Hessian, The Square, Athenry, Co Galway,

They will receive their £1,000 personal computers early in 2000, when the winners of the November and December competitions have been selected, at a special function in Dublin.

This week we pose the three November questions, which may be answered, either on email at momeara@irish-times.ie or by post to PC Competition, Box 6094, Dublin 2. Entrants must be over the age of 55 years. The closing date for entries for the November competition is November 30th. You also must complete the tie-breaker slogan, in not more than 10 words, at the end of the entry coupon.

The three November questions are:

1. Where in the world is the headquarters of Microsoft located?

2. Who is the chairman of Microsoft?

3. Where is the European Product Development Centre for Microsoft located?

Name: Address: Daytime tel:

Then complete this slogan:

I wish to win a PC from Microsoft because....