For many of us below a certain age, use of the web is routine, and our children have only ever known a world where going online is an accepted norm of everyday life. However the fact remains¹ that there is still a significant part of the population who do not use the Internet, either because their social situation precludes² access, or because they are part of an older generation for whom the Web still seems something of a mystery. These people are now being referred to as nonliners.

对于中年以下的人来说，运用网络是件习惯成自然的事情，而我们的下一代所了解的世界也是一个将上网作为生活常态的地方。事实上，仍然有相当一部分人并不使用因特网，可能是因为他们所处的社会环境没有上网的条件；也可能是因为他们出生的年代较早，对他们来说，网络还是个神秘的事物。这些人就被称为nonliner（无网人员）。

Nonliner is of course a play on onliner, blending this word with the prefix³ non-, meaning 'not'. The term seems to be very recent, only having popped up in the last year or so, amidst a growing awareness⁴ of the need to help a significant minority who do not possess the skills or resources to access the Internet.

Nonlinear这个词很明显是对onliner（在线人员）这个词的戏改，加了前缀non，表示“无”。这个词大概是去年才出现的，与之一同走入人们视线的是，越来越多的人意识到还有相当一部分人缺少连接到因特网的技能或资源，他们需要帮助。