Even if you do not know your geography, you would conclude that it must be cold in Iceland.

With 69.8 percent of the entire population online, Iceland had the highest rate of Internet penetration in the world at the end of May 2002, according to a study by Nua.com.

Sweden is next with a 64.68 percent penetration rate, followed by Denmark (60.38 percent, Hong Kong (59.88 percent) and the US (59.1 percent). The total global Internet audience is only 580.78 million people, a rise of 173.68 million since December 2000. The revolution still has a long way to go.

If anyone has calculated - or can give a good guess - on Bermuda's Internet penetration rate send me the figures. I would bet it's high, despite the climate.

n Macmillan's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to PCs" is an online resource for those who need to brush up on their basic skills and I would recommend it to anyone who gets that lost look around their computer (http://net.camk.edu.pl/man/guide-to-pc/fm/fm.htm).

I guess the problem is most well-meaning people buy such books and then these remain on bookshelves to gather dust. Many of us do not seem to have the time to learn about our machines properly - and I count myself among the many.

Even though I have been using computers since 1988, I really do not use my computer efficiently. I'm always in rush; rush to get some piece of work done, or some photo manipulated, or some Web page done, now.

If there is a problem I look it up fast in the help files that come with most programs, or on the Internet, then move on. In my small experience in helping others even more desperate than myself, this is the superficial manner in which we seem acquire the knowledge needed to operate the machine. We waste a lot of time stumbling around this way - not to mention the time of those we ask to show us the way.

However, I can say I have started on the road to redemption over the past year or so. To get an idea of how efficient people use computers watch your computer technician at work the next time he or she is around. They use their mice only when absolutely necessary.

After suffering through two painful wrists (two because I stubbornly switched to using the mouse with my left hand), I've finally learned how to navigate and give commands using the keyboard. The best advice is first, use the Help files that come with Windows and with the programs you use. These help files are usually good.

Secondly, find the section on shortcut keys available from the help files, print out a copy and keep it near your desk. Force yourself to learn a new shortcut key a day. You will look like a star.

You can buy an expensive book and hope that you get around to opening it, or use the one you already have, in the help files. It's just a click, er... a keystroke... away.

I must conclude this section by congratulating all of the 100 people who so far have passed the International Computer Driving Licence in Bermuda. In July, Keisha Fraser, a teacher at the Berkeley Institute, became the one-hundreth person to pass the course. The course is run by the Computer Society of Bermuda and teaches the basics in operating your machine.

n Those using Microsoft Office for Windows should download the new cumulative patch for Excel and Word. If you've been an idiot and missed all the previous patches, downloading this one will make you smart again.

The patch applies to all previously released fixes for the programs, and eliminates four newly discovered vulnerabilities, all of which could enable a hacker to run a code on a user's machine.

Download the patch at www.microsoft.com by clicking on the "TechNet" or "Security" section. While you're there, sign up to Microsoft's e-mail security bulletin to keep current on future patches.

Tech Tattle deals with issues in technology. Contact Ahmed at editor@offshoreon.com