A LOT of older readers dismiss the internet as a new-fangled invention' that has no relevance to their lives, and they say it's something they don't need to learn or to know about.

So that's why it's ironic that the modern net is providing us with an incredible and unprecedented link to the past.

We've seen it in so many ways already. For instance, complete online census details from more than 100 years ago are just a few mouse clicks away.

Locally, we've seen a library project archive thousands of ancient photographs from around the county. Again, it will take you just a couple of clicks to see wonderful pictures of yesteryear. Previously, some of these would have appeared in books, but it would have all been fairly random. Nowadays, you can simply type in the road you want and you will be able to see all the available historic pictures for that location.

On a personal note, I recently found a British Pathe movie on the internet of my late musician uncle playing harmonica. It blew our family away because none of us had ever seen this film, and it was a wonderful nostalgic tribute to my uncle.

But there's more, so much more treasure to find.

I'd heard about the YouTube phenomenon, but never really understood it until I began looking for music videos.

I was stunned to discover that it was like having my own free juke box containing virtually every song and video ever made.

When I was about 19, I taped a Style Council video of Speak Like A Child' on my VCR. It was my favourite video, and had singer Paul Weller on an open-topped bus ducking to avoid trees as he belted out the words.

But the video corrupted and I thought it was lost forever... until I clicked on YouTube and found it.

I began showing my five-year-old son around the site and he was enthralled by it. For me, it was akin to a child being let loose in a sweet shop as I searched for old songs.

Now I've never been a huge follower of Elvis Presley, but I thought I'd show my son a few of the King's videos to give him a taste of rock history.

He loved it immediately and Elvis has become his number one favourite. My entire CD collection in the car is now devoted to young and old Elvis, and I've now belatedly begun to become a fan.

I was talking to a colleague this week about the bizarre fact that a five-year-old could become so engrossed with a singer who has been dead for three decades, when there is so much newer, more modern stuff about.

But she replied her five-year-old nephew was also a big Presley fan and constantly watched DVDs of him.

We came to the conclusion that Elvis is still a hit for youngsters because, despite being so long dead, he remains better than most if not all of his successors in the music industry. His ability transcends generations. And yet, my son wouldn't have stumbled upon this if it had not been for the high-tech digital revolution.

It surprises me when I go out and about that there are still so many internet cynics. They normally tell me they haven't time or the ability to learn how to use a computer.

My own father, who is 78, said the same to us, so Mrs Editor's Chair rigged up an obsolete computer from the Star for him and, for £78, we were able to give him complete internet access. He is now so confident that he does his home banking on it.

Naturally, a lot of older folk will say they cannot afford it, and that's fair enough. But where they can, or where their children can help them, they should suspend their inhibitions and buy a computer.

It's a lot easier to use than they think, but a great fear of this technology exists in some quarters.

However, my message is that the internet and computers are not just a plaything for young people. They are now a vital lifeline for everyone, especially the old who may not be able to get out to do their shopping, banking or post their letters.

And if this isn't enough to entice them, then they may just be persuaded by the fact that a computer will bring them Elvis, Sinatra or Al Jolson alive and well in their home whenever they want.