Google joins UK efforts to step up digital inclusion

Despite being one of the biggest online brands in the world, Google is turning to the humble leaflet in its efforts to encourage more people to get online.  Joining forces with the Race Online 2012 campaign, the search giant is working on a 'Simple Guide to the Internet' which will be distributed in libraries and community centres.

Although it may seem ironic that an online company is going offline, the aim is to reach some of the 10 million people in the UK who have never used the Internet, so it's unsurprising that the company has decided to move to more traditional means of reaching them.  The printed guide, which will have an accompanying website, will explain how to complete simple tasks online, but won't advertise Google's own service.

The guide forms part of the government's larger efforts to encourage more people to get online.  Up to 40% of the so-called digitally-excluded are also socially excluded, and it's this latter group, which includes older people and the long-term unemployed that the UK's Digital Champion, Martha Lane Fox, is most keen to reach.  The founder of lastminute.com com said 'the Race Online 2012 ambition will create profound social and economic change and will mark a step change for the country as a whole."

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