Get Online 2010 campaign kicks off

Get Online Week 2010 starts today, with some 3,000 events planned across the UK.

The organisers hope to help some 80,000 people get online, out of the ten million or so British citizens who aren’t yet connected to the wonderful web.

The many events which are happening across the country involve introducing novices to computers and the net. One activity is a “splash and grab” game which aims to develop mouse skills. Then learners are plunged into a full-on campaign of Civilization 5 to really exercise those clicking muscles (not really, a full game of Civ wouldn’t be finished inside a mere week).

There will also be prizes to win, including an iPad, and online virgins will get their very own free email address organised. A range of free and simple “myguide” courses will also be offered.

Alongside all this, the Beeb is set to show adverts illustrating the many ways in which the Internet can improve your life (from economic benefits such as online shopping and comparison websites, to social benefits like staying in touch with friends and family more easily).

A number of celebrities are behind the campaign, including Terry Wogan, and organisations such as the Post Office, BT, 3 and Google. Oh, and McDonalds as well, which means there’ll be two clowns behind the events, with both Ronald and Wogan.

This year’s week of activities marks the fourth year in a row that the Get Online campaign has run in the UK.