Hi,

I am doing research in the area of Natural User Interfaces with Multi-touch devices and Toddlers (aged between 1 and 3). If anyone could offer information or idea’s that would be very helpful.

I am currently researching the cognitive abilities of Toddlers and the range of abilities which manifest as Toddlers age. Toddlers cannot use GUI systems as they cannot understand the metaphors or read for that matter. They cannot use a normal pc as the realisation of mouse clicking and the interactions on the screen only take place around 3 years of age. Only other solution will be for them to use the only tool they are proficient at using, their hands. I see that many multi-touch devices are used with GUI systems, and that the newer systems are based on NUI’s, specifically I want to look at the OGCM approach. The development of NUI’s which use only the basic of cognitive abilities that increase in complexities as a Toddler progresses (George and Blake 2010).

Also came accross a few more articles regarding the quality of learned experiences if introduced at the right stage of development. These learned experiences then act as the foundation for later learned experiences.

Basically just want to put together sound theoretical research that shows it is possible for toddlers in society to learn and use a NUI MT device from age 1. I am in the process of compiling my research proposal and would appreciate any input.

Very good article:
George, R & Blake, J 2010, ‘Objects, Containers, Gestures, and Manipulations: Universal Foundational Metaphors of Natural User Interfaces’, In proceedings of the 28th CHI (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) Conference, CHI, Atlanta.

Thanks.

would anyone tell me what the most cost effective MT display can cost in SA?

Baby using MT4j

Well not exactly babies. But Toddlers aged 1 to 3 years of age. If children can do sign langauge to communicate at 9 months, im sure they can use a MT device.

Have a look at the MIT Media Lab lifelong kindergarten research project.

http://llk.media.mit.edu/

For CS education look up the work by Mark Guzdial and Amy Bruckman.

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Amy.Bruckman/
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~guzdial/

Good luck.

Cheers Craig

craig - 16 August 2010 07:38 PM

Have a look at the MIT Media Lab lifelong kindergarten research project.

http://llk.media.mit.edu/

For CS education look up the work by Mark Guzdial and Amy Bruckman.

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Amy.Bruckman/
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~guzdial/

Good luck.

Cheers Craig

Hi Craig,

Thank you very much for the information. I will really put it to good use. My thesis has changed into a research report, and is going well. Final submissions will be in 3 months time. Will post a copy online once I have completed it.

I am curious how your report turned out.  Any updates or a link to where I can read it?

Thanks,

Hi,

Research paper was very informational. Managed to borrow a POS touch screen from work and coded a simple C# app game. The 4 animals and sounds game. A sound would play and the user had to select which animal it was. I experimented with the toddler using a keyboard with highlighted arrow keys, a mouse, and the touch screen. Almost all the toddlers knew what the animals were and the sounds they made, but toddlers 3 years and up were able to use the keyboard and mouse effectively, while the younger ones were unable. All toddlers were able to use the touch screen . I must find actually go and find my paper again.