ABSTRACT
One of the UK Government's main concerns was to reduce the barriers and inequalities associated with health provision and there was a feeling amongst their health policy makers that digital information services might help to reduce the barriers and inequalities. Cultural barrier factors related to the use of electronic health systems also apply to information produced in any format. Socio-economic factors, age, health or disabilities, education and ethnicity may all lead to inequalities. Digital Interactive television (DiTV), appeared to be used by lower socio-economic groupings. There is suggestive evidence that the Internet was more likely to be used by educated and relatively well off groupings. In fact, the skills needed to manage and use health information on the Internet evaluating information from a variety of disparate sources, navigating through a huge number of pages suggest a more educated user. Elderly people have been shown to be low Internet and kiosk users.
