Berlin - Most German senior citizens - or 58 per cent of those over 65 - have neither a mobile phone nor computer while the figure plunges to 5 per cent in the 14- to 
29-year age group, a study by the researcher Aris for BITKOM, a technology industry association found.

"The digital divide in society is mainly a divide between old and young," said BITKOM President August-Wilhelm Scheer.

Fear of new technology causes many older people to miss out on helpful services they could get via the internet or mobile phone. Scheer pointed to online shopping and banking, e-mail, and the ability to make emergency calls from anywhere, all of which can help people with reduced mobility.

To help older people overcome their fears, BITKOM has started offering special courses at colleges, senior citizen's centres and religious organizations. Many manufacturers are also creating products to cater to the needs of older customers.

Conducted in June, the survey was taken by 1,001 people age 14 and older. dpa