[Sigia-l] Salt in Sugar

[Patrick Walsh]

I have been observing this discussion from the sidelines as I haven't had a
clue what the new interface would look like. I have just seen a demo on
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwzCsOFxT-U (accessed through those
nice people at Adaptive Path). Not being overly technically gifted I cannot
comment on the technical aspects but a few things that struck me were that
-
It did not seem overly intuitive and users will need to be trained to use
it
This being the case what happens when these children are faced with using a
'proper' computer? They will need to be trained again so this does not seem
good preparation for ongoing learning
The toolbars are described as 'simplified'. Seems a bit patronising to me
and surely limits the older or more gifted kids. My young son knows more
than I do about what certain programmes can do (especially games related).
Once the users get the idea of how computers work are they really going to
be much different?
Lastly through the internet they should be able to see that people in
richer areas of the world are using something different. Might they feel
even more like the poor relations?

Patrick C. Walsh,


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