ACCORDING to a survey by digital music service eMusic, the majority of parents are confused about the workings of iPods, MP3 players and the like, and have to rely on their children to download music for them.

This could be read by many as a comforting confirmation that the generation gap is alive and well, in fact thriving, due to the ongoing development of computer and cyber technology.

For those of us raging against the dying of the faculty for understanding such tasks as downloading music however, it is a welcome reminder that we have to attempt to keep pace.

My children received iPods for Christmas and for the first and perhaps only time, I have had to set up their downloading accounts and explain the workings of the system.

Already my own iPod, while remaining I contend, a design classic, looks a little, well, old fashioned next to the even sleeker new generation of players.

The boys' are the same size as mine, but have the capacity to hold four times as many songs. Boo!

Also according to the eMusic survey, many teenagers pass on their older iPods and MP3s to their parents, and a good proportion of them do not wipe off the music contained thereon.

Consequently, a generation of 40 and 50-somethings is being introduced to the likes of The Killers (ugh), Arctic Monkeys (hmm), Adele (stop warbling, girl!) and Elbow (at last!) through the tastes of its children.

This presents the delicious possibility that somewhere out there, Slayer, Metallica and the like are acquiring an army of silver-haired fans.

It won't do anything for the heavy metal hard men image, eh guys?

As for myself, if my children hand down their iPods in a year or two, I like to think that it will be me busily erasing their frankly appalling choices and uploading something a little more "cutting edge."

With the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Rhianna, and Scouting For Girls on offer on said devices at the moment, I can't wait.