As the rapid progress of computer technology evolves into the new millennium, take a moment to pause and reflect on your first encounters with computers and cyberspace. Did curiosity and enthusiasm for learning motivate you? Did the frustration of being the "only" one not using a PC push you? Did watching your four-year old grandchild manipulate the keyboard and mouse inspire you?

Recently I asked my parents, now in their mid-seventies, to share some of their early computer experiences. We concluded that whether individuals were attracted to the computer age through natural inquisitiveness or reluctantly persuaded to participate, they often evolved into individuals energized with new information and resources.

As a nuclear engineer, my dad worked with mainframe computers before retirement. He recognized their powerful capacity to perform everything from CAD design to word processing to accounting procedures in the blink of an eye. A natural appetite for knowledge and a desire to stay mentally active prompted him to purchase his first personal computer in 1985. It wasn't long before his desire to stay current pressed him to buy a modem and subscribe to CompUServe, one of the first online services. Web pages were primarily text only and he surfed to locate product information and technical advice on both hardware and software. He quickly discovered that managing finances online proved quicker and more efficient than manually entering stock data from a newspaper.

Over the years Dad has upgraded to speedier and more powerful computers. The web sites he visits have integrated both text and dynamic graphics into their design. Accessing the Internet has become cheaper and faster. Today Dad corresponds regularly with friends and family via email and continues to explore the wealth of information available online. He is never bored and never without a new project to check out on the "net".

All this time we were encouraging Mom to try the computer, but she was content to watch Dad and listen to our conversations. Finally the frustration of hearing but not comprehending our continuous computer chatter compelled her to try it. As she first sat in front of one of Dad's old computers, she experienced both delight and fear. Could she do this? Would she break it? How was she going to learn? Would she ever win at Solitaire? She labored for two hours over her first email effort, only to have it returned. She cautiously played Scrabble and Mahjong and gradually her confidence grew.

A fierce loyalty to support her favorite men's and women's basketball teams guided Mom to online sporting sites. The instant feedback of reliable and current information tempted her to keep exploring. Soon, she was using search engines to access food recipes and medical data. When she spotted a compelling review of a new novel, she attempted her first online purchase. That success led to convenient online shopping for toys, clothes and other holiday gifts.

Now Mom talks the talk and walks the walk as she too communicates with the world through her new computer. Next in line for Mom and Dad is a high speed DSL connection and a home network. Children may have no computer jitters, but for older generations, the journey into cyberspace can be a combination of thrills and chills. Encourage a friend, who may not be computer literate, to go online and get connected!