DEBORAH STONE looks at ways of staying in touch

insurance executive moved to his second-floor sea-view apartment in Bude, Cornwall, from his four-bedroom house just outside town so he still keeps in touch with old friends as well as new.

“There is a good community in Atlantic Rise, with much conversation and a caring and sharing philosophy,” says John. “Some neighbours mentioned issues when using their tablets, so the idea of a user group emerged. We now have an open ‘surgery’ every week after our Wednesday coffee morning.”

Thanks to ARTUG, more residents have started using tablets, although John says: “Part of the reason for starting ARTUG was because residents either had, or acquired, a tablet and needed help to get the best out of them. For instance, grocery shopping for one lady whose

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husband has mobility problems; and another who wanted help to set up an online banking service.

“One lady, who admitted being anti-Apple, was given an iPad mini as a Christmas present and now attends regularly, building her expertise.

“And we have a lady who liked to read but, at the end of the day, her eyes were tired. One solution was to consider an app called BorrowBox, where audio books and eBooks are available from Cornwall Council Library Services.”

Sarah describes John as a can-do, get-things-done type. “He wants everybody to use technology as he does, which is never going to happen – some people don’t want to do everything online. But their confidence is growing.”

Free wifi in the communal lounge gives residents with an interest in technology somewhere to meet and Sarah says: “They have been surprised at how