Testing Technology on a Veritable Army of Children? 349
"The idea is to bring together children ages 10 to 15 years old from around the world at 8 or 9 centers scattered about all continents except Antarctica. The children will congregate at these centers for two days in 2005 to participate in creative technology workshops both virtually between centers and hands-on at their particular center. There will be a heavy emphasis on community building and shared information, in many ways similar to Slashdot. The entire event and all the projects it entails are designed to live on after the kids go home when the two days are up. How this will be done is as of yet uncertain, but will most definitely involve net connectivity to some extent (whether through the village kiosk's 28.8kbaud line in Cambodia or the living room broadband line in NYC). Naturally, issues such as language barriers will have to be addressed. In the particular case of the language barrier, there is talk of designing a custom written language (again, think mediaglyphs from 'Diamond Age') for children to use, build upon, and shape. What other projects are worth considering?"
L337 (Score:3, Funny)
The future is doomed.
Sharkey
[bamf.com]
Off the top of my head... (Score:2)
It should be cultural based so that children around the world can learn about each other.
Re:Off the top of my head...BE CAREFUL! (Score:2)
As the playwright said, "Do unto others as they would do unto you is dangerous. Their tastes might not be the same".
Re:Off the top of my head... (Score:5, Insightful)
Cultural exchange and interaction is an incidental effect of lots of other things. It's only possible when people already have an interest in each other for more personally motivating reasons.
Example? Chess. Lots of cultural and philosophical interchange happens between chess players because they share a passion. When they meet people who share that passion with them and who in interesting within that context they naturally try to enlarge the context: who are you, where are you from, what's it like to be Swahili or Pakistani or American, or whatever...
But placing the focus on cultural interchange is dooming a project to failure. Firstly, it does so because most people (let alone children) do not identify strongly motivational level with their cultural groups. How often have you heard a programmer say, "I program because I'm a Jew", or an athlete say I wrestle because I'm Chinese? Secondly, because if that "cultural" is the context, people - regardless of intentions - will try to find things that motivate them. Their stereotype themselves in order fit with what they perceive as their grouping (ethnic, cultural, national). This results in talented programmers not talking about programming because they're a Cossack and Cossacks are warriors and programming is beneath any good Cossack. And thirdly, once you've established that context you make it irrelevant by claiming equality and just confuse everyone.
Base it on soccer.
Base it on chess.
Base it on a proper appreciation of falling snowflakes in summer.
Whatever, but don't force a "cultural" basis.
Test the /. effect... (Score:2)
Is it just me? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Is it just me? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Is it just me? (Score:2)
don't overestimate technology (Score:5, Insightful)
BEN
Media Glyphs (Score:3, Insightful)
It would be interesting, I think, to be that young and share in the world culture. It's a powerful idea that things like laughter are so universal, despite cultural and linguistic barriers.
Opinions... (Score:2, Interesting)
I do notice the anti-antarctica bias however...
Re:Opinions... (Score:5, Funny)
This just in... 9 out of 10 Spaniards like ice cream and lollipops. 4 out of 10 South Africans dislike math homework. Jonny's sister is a big poopyhead. More news as it breaks...
Remember that these are just kids, I don't think we're gonna find all that much profundity.
10 to 15? (Score:2, Funny)
Time how long it will take for a pr0n server to develop.
Time how long it takes one of them to own you monitoring machine.
Time how long it takes your developed language to be deformed into shorthand.
I fear this is likely to end in fire and uselessness... So why not garner information gained from the chaos caused by teens?
not quite (Score:4, Funny)
as for sharing information, what information? will these pda's be nothing more than a web forum? without some content creation tools, i see little use for sharing of information. and what kind of content is really worth creating on a hand held pda (within the grasp of a 10-15 year old)?
i'm sorry, but i'm highly skeptical of these schemes involving handing out useless tech to kids. if you want to change the world, give these kids scholarships, not pieces of plastic and metal.
Re:not quite (Score:2)
I.e. whereas in English each glyph corresponds to a particular sound, in written Chinese, each glyph corresponds to a particular word (or word-part) and that word can be pronounced in any way you like; it doesn't matter.
Because China was the dominant civilization in East Asia for much of history, when Japan adopted a written language, they used the Chinese glyphs. However, because they did not have an internal language barrier, two alphabets also were developed. Japanese can be written with the alphabets (kana) or the glyphs (kanji) as a result. A basic knowledge of spoken Japanese is needed for the former, none for the latter.
Unfortunately, the downside to this is that there tend to be a lot of glyphs developed if each stands rather alone. I expect that it would be a lot better to use a small number of them like alphabet letters, but not to have any corresponding pronounciation. Even then, it's still going to be somewhat annoying to learn, because you cannot leverage a knowledge of oral language in order to facilitate learning a written one. (e.g. no, 'hooked on phonics')
Re:not quite (Score:2)
However your actual point (that language independant glyphs can facilitate communication.
Re:not quite (Score:2, Interesting)
Actually of late there has been a strong concerted effort to use pin-yin which is a very nice phonetically based system, of course some of this certainly reflects the Chinese Goverment's preference for the "Beijing" dialect.
The principle problem with a glyph based system, as you mentioned, involves the sheer number of glyphs needed to make useful words, any version likely to be implemented would probably oversimplify, for example, Would your invented language have a glyph for a willow tree?
If you are going to have a glyph based alphabet (which is almost a contradiction) then you still have to learn nearly as much as a pure-glpyh systemm, and it will recquire about the same work as learning to read an actual language. Really why not have them learn latin, with say a transcoding method for those who don't use roman letters. It does I suppose favoratism, but not nearly as much, and there are numerous other dead languages to revive if one needs a more acceptable one. Languages can be easily modified for modern terms.
Re:not quite (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:not quite (Score:3, Insightful)
Japanese is better with about 2000 commonly used, 6000 less commonly used, and several thousand antiquated/infrequent characters.
Still a pain in the ass to learn all of them
My point is that pictures are nice, but too many of them are hard to learn; too few and you can't communicate.
Universal Translater? (Score:2)
You base it on pictures. say "Apple" and a picture appears. say "Run" and a picture of someone running appear. See if they can communicate. Try to make it more efficient.
Or I patent the idea myself.
Global Contacts/ Pen Pals (Score:5, Interesting)
A NYC kid will be totally surprised when a kid from India is trying to better toilet facilities in his neighborhood. A kid in Djibouti will be surprised that the kid in London doesn't know everyone on his block.
The international network, and the knowledge that someone is watching their projects will both make it easier for the kids to persist and to get aid in their endeavors.
A virtual city? (Score:2)
Re:A virtual city? (Score:3, Funny)
Free ice cream shops on every corner, a built-in circus, and a ultra-ray gun to shoot down invading aliens.
Re:A virtual city? (Score:2)
"Hot, geek-loving babes on every corner, a built-in bar, and an ultra-ray gun to shoot down invading trolls."
Cynicism (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't see how this is anything more than a few companies (who are mysteriously remaining nameless) to get together and try to cultivate some public interest by "making 3000 children to join hands and sing for world peace". Give me a break.
I'm sorry, but I don't see why this is deserving of the millions of dollars you're putting into it. I'd much rather see that money go towards feeding the hundreds of millions of people starving all around the world, and not to some corporate PR department trying to spin this as world-changing.
Or maybe it's just me.
Re:Cynicism (Score:3, Interesting)
Or maybe it's just me.
Yeah, it's just you. For a lot of the rest of us, humanity and society are advanced by projects like this; it may be less than innovative, but it's a start, and isn't helped by sanctimonious slashdotters (who own computers doubtless lots of other stuff) whining about why other people aren't helping the needy.
Why I think this is a good idea: as we all know, kids are the best at adapting to new technology. The old staple of only the eight-year-old being able to set the video is more than a cliche; it's often true. Equipping a bunch of sprogs with PDAs and asking them how they could be improved is the best way of advancing the internet, and therefore communications, and therefore humanity. A kid will tell you what s/he'd like to see, and what it'd be cool for his new tricorder to do.
In short: this is a great idea.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
I just don't think that this is a great idea. These kids won't remember that this happened (if indeed it ever does). If they do remember that it happened, they likely won't remember why it was such a big deal. If they know why it was a big deal, it wouldn't be about the technology, it would be about the media exposure they got (being on TV, getting on a plane, etc).
Or maybe I'm just an asshole who can't see the bright side of this. I really don't think there is a bright side. I'd much rather see children fed than children playing with PDAs. I'd much rather see children educated than children playing with PDAs. I'd much rather *NOT* see children exploited for a corporation's PR purposes than see children play with PDAs.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Even if it turns out to just look good on TV -- so what? It did nobody any harm, and had a chance at doing a great deal of good. You might argue that the funds could have been better placed elsewhere, but that's an argument you're as entitled to make as I am to argue that the money you're paying for rent would be better spent painting rainbows while you live in a cardboard box. If someone wants do to this -- if they believe they can make something good out of it, even if that "something good" ends up only being media exposure -- more power to them!
If giving children toys and putting them on TV would be "exploiting" them, then their parents should have the wisdom to opt out. If their parents believe that a program like this has the potential to be a Good Thing, on the other hand, I see no harm in having it available so some small number may be given the choice to join. Those who argue as you do presume to know what's better for kids than their own parents and wouldn't even give them (the parents) the chance to decide.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Once again, I see the cultural tunnel-vision is on! Perhaps the parents do not apreciate the significants of this exploitation, and thus cannot make the proper judgement. Yet again, people imaging the entire world as tho they were as smart or as dumb as their next door neighbour; a complete disregard for any attempt to question the damage one's involvement can have in a foreign culture which may not appreciate what the social, economic and cultural dynamics are of an experiment like this.
Lets take it to an extreme. Go into a society where smoking is not common (and where a need to be socially against smoking has never existed due to the absance of smoking in said society), and offer a kid a cigarette. Tell the parents that it's what all those Hollywood stars do! Now see how comfortable you feel with assuming that someone from a foreign culture has your experiences, perspective and scope when it comes to cultural and technological imports from your society
People's ability to be glib about access to social knowledge passed via community and culture, to assume we all have the same implicit vantage point from which to make sound judgements, is possibly the defining trait that villifies well-intentionned people from large introverted cultures.
Re:Cynicism (Score:5, Interesting)
And I'm saying that kids make great testers of technology because they consider it a toy, not a technological toy. Kids accept the world and all that's in it, and will reply with few preconceptions when asked about what they'd like.
These kids won't remember that this happened (if indeed it ever does).
So what?
I'd much rather see children [etc etc] than children playing with PDAs.
So would I. I'd also rather the world's governments fed children than build missiles. I'd like to teach the world to sing. But none of these things is going to happen, and any pontificating on my part isn't going to accomplish anything, except perhaps increasing my own level of smugness.
I'd much rather *NOT* see children exploited for a corporation's PR purposes
I'd rather not see Concern, or Christian Aid, or any of that bunch exploit children in order to increase donations.
The fact that children are involved doesn't mean they're being exploited.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Kids do, that's true. They're talking 10-15 year olds. That age range does not simply accept. As the age ranges upward from 10, they will more and more look at what their peer is doing and emulate that, not simply accept without question.
That's assuming, of course, you can get a 15 year old to generate enough interest in anything to get them away from their GameBoy or CD player (currently playing "Love Pootie" by The Seminal Fluids (thanks Dave Barry)).
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
That's interesting. Could you give examples of similar projects and what benefits they provided?
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Clarify what? They're your words.
"projects like this"--i.e., an anonymous entity providing some kind of technology to 10-15 year olds and learning.... something to be defined at a later date.
Name a similar project that changed the world. As far as I know, this is the first of it's kind, and the earlier poster was exclaiming that he thought it was a bunch of hooey that would result in nothing. You say that it would, and, in fact, that it *already has*.
Clear enough?
Because this actually makes a difference. (Score:2)
A project that helps to educate, on the other hand, leaves a much more lasting presence. If this results in children who grow up to have a better understanding of the global market, who are more likely to posess entrepreneurial spirit, or who simply have higher hopes for their communities than those around them, this project will have done worlds of good -- more than simply providing food could ever do.
Re:Because this actually makes a difference. (Score:2)
We're educating those who are already educated (or will be eventually). I only used hunger as an example... I should probably have used education for a better example of the use of that money.
Re:Because this actually makes a difference. (Score:2)
IF these devices only go to developed nations, that still allows a great deal that can be learned (ie. on the topic of multilingual education, if the pictograms are used). Someone here referred to a pictogram-based language called the Elephant's Memory. If this were used as a test of such a language for Real-World education and communication between children with different native languages, for instance, I would call it a most worthy cause. Heck, the contributions of such a project just to the field of usability research could arguably be worthwhile. Were these systems used as a communications platform, that would potentially leave still more to be learned by both the involved children and by those running the project.
There's a great deal of potential here for this to be a Good Thing. Really.
Re:Because this actually makes a difference. (Score:2)
I agree and disagree. that is I agree fully that if you give a starving man food, and he will be starving tommorow. (with the exception of those who are waiting for harvest to ripen...), while teach the starving man to farm and he will be fed for life. (assume physical ability) However someone who is starving doesn't give his body enough energy to learn. So you really need to attack both problems at once: i'll give you enough food to live for a year, but you have to learn to farm to get it. Then after a year he has a farm that will provide food for life.
I have no evidence to back it up, but I've been told and it makes sense: A starving body does not put as much energy into the brain, and thus cronic hunger may prevent some equiped to be smart from ever reach that level, even if later in life plenty of food is avaiable.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2, Insightful)
I agree. I'm involved to make sure that doesn't happen. As usual, we'll see in the end how it turns out.
I'm sorry, but I don't see why this is deserving of the millions of dollars you're putting into it.
When it comes to money, there is no such thing as deserving. This is happening only because one very rich corporation/person (corperson... heh, heh, you heard it here first) wants it to happen. Who deserves what never came into play as far as I know.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Remember that there's starvation and homelessness in the United States
Point me to one article of someone who starved to death in the US.
And someone is homeless in the US because they choose to be. They choose to spend their welfare check and food stamps on something other than housing and food.
I'm all for educating and elevating the people trapped in poverty, but I am dead-set against using guilt-based political statements like that. The first step in raising someone out of poverty is making sure they realize that they are the ones that hold themselves in it*.
*Of course, we are talking about able-bodied people and the mentally sane, to those who would be determined to make some "gotcha" point about this.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Oh give me a break. So the people who work full-time jobs, but are still homeless because that won't cover their rent, that's their fault. The factory worker who loses his job because the factory that's been in his town for 40 years suddenly decided it would be slightly cheaper to operate out of Mexico, that's his fault. The woman who is thrown out on the street with her children, because her landlord found out he could charge some cappucino-swilling yuppie web designer twice as much rent, that's her fault.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
So the people who work full-time jobs, but are still homeless because that won't cover their rent, that's their fault.
Sheesh, give me a scenerio where someone could work a full-time job, but not be able to cover their share of the rent in a roommate situation.
The factory worker who loses his job because the factory that's been in his town for 40 years suddenly decided it would be slightly cheaper to operate out of Mexico, that's his fault.
It's his fault if he feels he is entitled to have that particular job. If he can't find another equivalent job in that town, then it's time to educate himself to find a different job or find another town. It's his fault if he didn't work to improve himself. It's his fault if he doesn't realize that this factory could close at any time, and he's exposed if it does.
The woman who is thrown out on the street with her children, because her landlord found out he could charge some cappucino-swilling yuppie web designer twice as much rent, that's her fault.
No one is EVER "thrown out on the street", they are always given notice, by law. If the landlord can get twice as much rent, then why the hell should he not be able to charge what it's worth? Why should some person be able to freeload? If they can't afford the place, then freaking move. It's not that complicated, but we have so many people who whine they should be able to live wherever they want, at whatever price they want. Well, tough sh**. You can't live wherever you want. You can't work wherever you want.
In short, a lot of people need to grow up and stop being whiny little children who think that life owes them something.
Re:Cynicism (Score:2)
Such articles you ask about are rare, because corporate media don't considerate newsworthy.
Are you insane? I don't know about the local news in your town, but my local news is unbelievably sensationalistic. If we had someone starve to death, it would be all over the news with the newspeople wringing their hands asking "how could this happen, blah blah blah".
Have you ever tried to get by on welfare and food stamps?
I guarantee you that if you put me out on the street, right now with absolutely nothing except the clothes on back and told me I couldn't do anything professionally that I'd done before, I would survive just fine.
Of course, your response would be something like, "well, sure, YOU could, having the benefit of a reasonable education and not living in poverty your whole life. What about these other people??" -- and my response would be, "Exactly."
Interaction is key (Score:3, Interesting)
I'd be most interested in novel ways to have networked PDA's share info, like a peer-to-peer system. Maybe some sort of problem solving, where each person answers part of a complex question, and the correct result emerges from all the contributions?
I remember a story (by Bruce Sterling?) about a similar type of setup, where person X would advertise "I need something" and person Y would advertise "I have something", and their PDA's would notice the match and alert X and Y. There's a lot of good potential in such a system, and we haven't seen a lot of it in the real world yet.
Good luck!
Bigots! (Score:3, Funny)
As a 12 year old from Antarctica why am I denied access to this experiment. Bah! It wouldn't have involved PDA's with Penguins anyway.
Do you really have to ask? (Score:5, Funny)
You have the chance to implant mind-control units, instantly creating thousands of slave-warriors all over the globe, and you even paused for thought? Geez, what kind of evil genius are you?
steve
Re:Do you really have to ask? (Score:2)
Oh wait, didn't RIAA do this with SMDI? Never mind...
make the language barrier your project (Score:2, Interesting)
Maybe you'd network a bunch machines with tablet input devices and let them go to town. Have a cooperative method for deciding on symbols and deciphering the messages...
Seems like the communication aspect of this project is the most interesting avenue for exploration... at first glance anyway...
Ummm... (Score:4, Insightful)
Anyone have any hints for me?
Hullo! (Score:2, Funny)
. .
Drag And drop programming (Score:2, Interesting)
I think this can be done very simply and provide an early and invaluable introduction to the programming thought processes. Not to mention empower these children as they will watch the computer do what they tell it to.
I always thought if it was available the children could download new program icons akin to new VB controls and make more and more elaborate programming.
Perhaps an open source experiment of this sort would be cool. Liek the stories where each group writes a sentence and passes it on. There could be a series of programs passed from group to group, where each group would add their spin by dragging and dropping.
What do you think?
Asking the wrong audience (Score:5, Interesting)
It sounds like the whole point of the experiment may be to see what the children will do with the technology, not that what people now would have wished they could have done when they were children -- that is, it sounds like building to a set of preconceptions could be counter productive to the goals of the experiment.
Now, if the goal is to develop a new class of technologies *first*, then expose the children to see if they develop mutant powers -- er, develop interesting new uses of technology, then that is a slightly different matter. Something like, oh, combining Instant Messenging with a neural network system -- give every child a PDA that is also a node on the neural network. Set it up so the children could set up rules/weights for automatically processing messages (i.e. if both Amy and Joey send me a message about the new movie, pop it up on my screen, otherwise I'm not interested in movies that Amy and Joey don't like. If Amy, Joey, and Bob like it, it must be really cool -- forward the message to Kelly, too!) Turn the nodes into a combination advanced instant messaging/USENET node. Sort of Google crossed with Instant Messenging. Every node contributes as a filter/forward/weighter of messages to the neighbor -- ideally, the entire system would start to more intelligently route messages around internally only to the people who are interested in them (i.e. don't alert me about that new article from CNN unless it also shows up on Slashdot and at least two of my friends think it is interesting). The major issue would be having a easy to use user interface that would let people easily set up the filtering/forwarding/weighting system.
"Under carefully controlled circumstances of light, temperature, pressure, and humidity, the organism will do what it damn well pleases."
This project has serves no useful purpose (Score:2)
First meet the practical needs of these people before you try to sell them advanced solutions to digital age problems that they don't even have.
Bringing kids together.... (Score:2, Interesting)
Seriously, I can't think of anything "earth-shaking" about the PDA's that hasn't already been done.
The new wireless games / instant messages that are on phones now are much cooler than anything I've seen on a PDA! Perhaps they could do something like the previously commented wireless P2P for operation in a crowd. Or perhaps something like the "tamagachi" pets for singles!
How 'bout some type of "universal translator" unit, kinda a cross between IRC chat and babblefish? That could bring people together (or maybe not....I'm not sure how the fish would w how to translate "workin' it & doggin' it").
Whatever the app, the way to change the future is social not necessarily technical.
usefulness (Score:2)
Multi-Millions on 3000 kids, but only 2 days... (Score:2)
8 or 9 centers scattered about all continents except Antarctica
So is that 8 or 9 centers total, or for each continent... even if 8-9 per continent, that is alot of area/kids to cover. 3000 kids seems like a very small group. How many kids 10-15 are there in the world? Your affecting such a incredibly small percentage of kids, how are they going to spread the knowledge that they gained at a 2 day seminar...
Re:Multi-Millions on 3000 kids, but only 2 days... (Score:4, Funny)
easy...
Amway [amway.com]
Well, you could (Score:2, Funny)
Well, you could get these kids together and teach them to sing in perfect harmony. Then you could buy them a Coke, and keep them company... *sway*
This is not likely to produce anything meaningful or even useful. It is more likely to be a giant feel-good soirie, where we ask the "future generations" how they think the world could be made a better place.
Bah.
human swarm problem solving (Score:5, Insightful)
Then come up with a dramatic demonstration of what they can accomplish as a human swarm if they ignore cultural boundaries and all cooperate. Concentrate on drama. Give them an experience that will imprint on their minds the power of letting go of nationality and attacking problems instead of each other.
3000...? (Score:4, Funny)
:)
Not so sure about PenPals (Score:3, Interesting)
I think something creative would be better - I honestly don't think words are the best medium of communication, it's too easy for words to slip into cliche. Conversations of the 'how are you? I am fine. I just got a new bike. It is blue" variety are...empty.
Let the kids draw. Paint. CREATE something - give 'em a webpad with a good freehand program and a simple interface (NO CLIPART - no 'place sun with streaming rays here' button) Let 'em express themselves. It's easier for kids to become involved if words are only minimally involved. Or, do both - couple/link it with a livejournal-type diary interface. Diaries are more about the person than about who they're 'talking' too.
Jsut the perspective of an artist/musician. Take it for what you will.
Triv
Make sure you call it.... (Score:2)
Don't mod me down cuz you don't get it, of course if you are not amused mod away.
Obviously (Score:3, Funny)
I will grant it this though, it is a better business model than many of the
important: (Score:3, Informative)
Start testing today, impiment tommorow. 2x4s with post-it notes for all yoru glyphs hand drawn and the like so your human factors experts can test need to be done now, and you need these foreign children in early. Don't impliment much (you can design your communications infrastructure, but beware that technology will march while you do other things) now, but don't waste your time one software or custom hardware until you have a design worth working with.
OTOH, make sure that the human factors guys give you enough time to work with, and you give the testers enough time to work with. The time line needs to be well done.
In order to make the time line possibal, first the a good hardware design that you can work with. Then once that is finialized (but not nessicarly bug free), work on software, but have the human factors people prioritiese, don't start all projects at once or this won't work, better to have half your features working then all the features, but none work.
And if your project managers didn't respond "I already knew all that and am doing it", quit now so your name isn't on a baddly run project that will fail.
south park (Score:2)
For real (Score:2)
...have every intention of 'changing the world'... (Score:2, Funny)
I think with todays technology you could almost make it drive itself. And with 2-3000 child laborers handy you might make a buck or two. You may also want to patent the idea so no one steals it...
Dean Kamen (Score:2)
A veritable army of children ... (Score:2)
So, does this mean you dress them up in fatigues and get them to march around in town with M16s?
Talk to your best local elem. teachers (Score:2, Insightful)
Talk to your local elem. school teachers, esp. ones with diverse classrooms, and get a feel for their challenges. Then tailor a technology approach that meets their needs; if you can find ways to improve the effectiveness of teaching, you will help more kids.
I think that the ideal device would be a PDA that is so ubiquitous and inexpensive that it is not worth stealing, and no great loss if damaged or misplaced. Now, design a classroom around that device-- the child carriers the PDA home or to school, but at either place it can be plugged into the desktop and become part of a more capable, flexible learning system, with a keyboard, mouse, or other input device depending on the child's need.
The main initial benefit of the EDA (let's call it) is to provide local storage of homework assignments, calandar, contact, basic reference information, and statistics on use. This ensures that kids can't forget their textbook, or homework assignment, or spelling list, or worksheet, because the teacher can synch every EDA in the class at the end of the day.
Unplugged, the EDA stores key imformation for homework, reading, and studies-- much like a handspring or palmpilot. Plugged into class net or a home PC, it is the front-end of a more powerful networked information device.
More ambitiously, use the EDA and the wired classroom to give teachers instantaneous feedback on student interaction, learning, participation. The Teacher's workstation would enable them to scan the entire class during a writing or reading assignment, enable or disable instant messaging or polling, and even measure the time use and interaction on a class assignment, realtime, or record statistics that can be analyzed later. This would also make standardized testing much more consistent across school.
Stop with the "Apples for the Students" already. It is having little positive impact on learning, burdens teachers that are already overloaded, and amounts to little more than a toy that teachers use to distract students while the provide individual attention on handle admin duties.
first things first... (Score:2, Interesting)
Kind of reminds me of the Onion article: "Kalahari Bushman puts new modem to good use"... it's about how this guy loves his new 56.6K sportster modem -- it's sharp edges are great for scraping animal skins, pounding grains into flour, collecting water...
Priority Screw-up (Score:2)
FOOD
wind up IM toy with a babelfish built in (Score:5, Interesting)
i read a while ago about a guy who was building wind-up flashlights, for everywhere, and things like wind-up radios and televisions for places like rural africa. no batteries! (except internal lithium rechargeable? can a capacitor handle the charge storage? i dunno.) the radio just needs a few cranks every now and then and it will pipe out broadcasts for a few hours before needing a new crank. here's a link i found. [freeplayfoundation.org]
so we have all these failed (business-wise) iridium [iridium.com] satellites flying around and other satellite networks with a few extra bandwidths here and there that might be persuaded to have something alloted from them for this project.
so make a pda that has a handcrank, uplinks to a satellite, and is basically nothing but a glorified Instant Messenging App with some sort of Babelfish [altavista.com] (the fish!) built in that translates whatever native language is involved into a neutral heuristic. then that xml heuristic is uplinked via satellite, downloaded to a recipient, and retranslated into whatever language the recipient is using on their pda.
i'm certain that would be kewl enough for these kids to take home with them after a few days, get hooked on, and use as long as the handcrank still works, the supposed lithium batteries don't bleed away, the ruggedized case survives kid-friendly drops and crunches and unfriendly monsoons and drops in streams and drainage ditches, and the satellites stay in orbit and their bandwidth backers stay interested in the program.
i think that your biggest challenge, whatever tech you implement, will be keeping them interested. it would be a shame to blow all that dough on something that stops working after a few days or the kids just plain lose interest in because of complexity or lack of compelling features.
ok, kind of ambitious, but it sounds like you have some money to burn
The diamond age reference. (Score:5, Informative)
For those that haven't read diamond age.
One of the underlying themes was that of a "young lady's illustrated primer".
Think of a PDA with a terabyte of data, voice recognition, and advanced AI. It pays attention to a childs growth and continually challenges them.
Any question that the child asks will be immediately answered.
The PDA also used "mediaglyphs" which are sort of a Esperanto based on symbols. Instead of building a device which says "eject" you just have a mediaglyph which animates when you put your finger near it of a VCR ejecting a tape.
The first child that grew up with the "primer" was significantly advanced from other children.
I am in the process of building a "primer" for my niece (she is one). It won't be as advanced as the one in the Diamond Age but it will have a dictionary, encyclopedia, art, pictures, etc.
... it might be a good idea to build an "Illustrated Primer" open source project that could build Open Source content for children with geeky relatives
... buy the diamond age and read it now!
Kevin
Flat out stupid (Score:2)
Translated:
Well, to start off with the idea of some small bit of technology distributed to ~3,000 kids for two days will change the world is flat out stupid.
If you or your backers were really interested in something substantive then you'd be looking at plugging into some established organization and seeing that the money or tools or whatever resources you have to offer can realisticly do with real-world issues (and yes, lots of those folks can blue-sky dream too, just they've got an idea of how 3000 kids lives could be made better in a substantive way.)
But no, you want a big pile of sponsored egoboo with some web-site left afterwards as a testament to your vision and caring. Bleh.
Testing technology on children (Score:5, Funny)
Spare the lab monkeys, bunnies and rats! Use children!
Re:Testing technology on children (Score:2)
Peer-to-Peer wireless Primers (Score:2)
If the data was encrypted, kids in places where access to some information is forbidden by the government could relay data through eachother to other places without being eavesdropped on.
You could also add repositories of information to the network-- big servers full of literature, technical books, encyclopedias, artwork, class texts, etc... that kids anywhere could access via the free p2p relay network that they comprise.
The initial batches of handhelds will need more range than something like the Cybiko (www.cybiko.com)-- maybe a couple of miles (FRS goes this far, so this should be possible) since the devices will be sparsely scattered initially. The ability to use a cable and one of the devices to make an internet bridge (again, like the cybiko) would extend the connectivity of remote areas, too.
Add some built-in teaching software. Basic math, vocab, reading, whatever you can fit so that the network is not always necessary, too.
I would love to see an empowering Primer a la the diamond age-- I hope you succeed, however you do it!
MIT Media Lab did this a few years back (Score:2, Insightful)
www.jrsummit.net [jrsummit.net]
To be perfectly honest, I think that while kids playing with technology is cool, it truly suspends disbelief to argue that it will result in tremendous advances or new ideas. Frankly, taking that same money and educating poor children around the world will pay back far greater returns than a two-day conference.
Basic Human Communication (Score:2)
It wouldn't be absolutely perfect, because it can't express complex ideas like global politics or history, but it would make a very good communications medium for children.
Re:Basic Human Communication (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Basic Human Communication (Score:3, Insightful)
Specifically Hungary. When the Turks invaded Hungary they basically barged into every village and put swords to people's necks. They asked the villagers, "Will you convert to Islam?" If the villagers nodded, they would survive. If they shook their head "no" their throat would get slashed by the sword's edge. Hence the switch of the nod for no and the head shake for yes.
Cultural imperialism is FUN!
Cameras, not PDAs. (Score:2, Interesting)
However, I think that digital cameras, the - cheap ones mind you - could be ideal, particularly if you give the older children video cameras in addition (say 1/10 of the group gets video cameras, or you have a "camera crew" per two dozen participants).
You want to say "HI" to Wong Meng in Taipei? Turn the cam around, smile, take a picture of yourself and send it. Much easier than text entry, translation etc.
Have base station PCs, use the cameras as webcams some of the time, and still cams the rest of the time, and have the kids take them home at the end of the gig: and *continue*to*publish*pictures* as time passes - kinda like the penpal idea.
Think of it as "children's eye window on the world" - longditudinal images from the conference participants over time, plus it's going to put less load on your translation services.
And a picture is worth a thousand words.
If you do still want to build custom hardware, think like a "Compact Flash" format wireless transponder to basically squirt pictures to base-station PCs as they're taken, so the kids don't have to mess with file upload/download: point, click, put images online.
Hell, you might even end up with a commercial product at the end of it
Some comments from the two-thirds world (Score:2, Insightful)
As someone [pcebrasil.org] who's been working with at-risk kids in Brazil for the last eight years, I'd like to suggest some things that I think you wouldn't want to do:
- Don't assume that everyone everywhere speaks or even understands English - or even has a basic grasp of literacy!
- Don't assume that a fifteen-year-old in the two-thirds world has the academic background or world-view as an American kid - remember that many of them won't have even finished primary (grade) school!
- Please don't assume that American kids have something important to teach these other kids - or that two-thirds world kids would necessarily even want to talk to Americans (other than to ask for money)
- please remember that poor in the two-thirds world often really means poor and that these kids mightn't be able to buy spare batteries, use phone lines or the Internet, or maybe have even pen and paper.
I really can't imagine any useful application of this technology. Some kids, I'm sure, will try to use the PDAs as GameBoys or trade them with someone for food or Nikes.
Anyway, I hope I don't come across as too much of a wet-blanket, it's just that I've met some fairly "out-there" ideas for helping Brazilian kids.
hmm (Score:2)
Alan Kay's Squeak project (Score:2, Informative)
His current project is Squeak [squeakland.org], which is designed to let kids create dynamic documents, games and worlds and interact with them.
Teaching kids to use technology as creators rather than as passive consumers would be one of the most important lessons you could present.
language bridge.. text twext (Score:2, Interesting)
How about Amateur Radio? (Score:2, Interesting)
Information please (Score:3, Informative)
But this topic really interests me. I lived three years in Africa (Chad) and four years in Asia (India) during the nineties, I am a teacher, and I'm almost finished with a Ed Tech Master's degree.
Some comments:
1) It's going to be really difficult to get kids involved who aren't already connected in some way. In Chad few villages have any phones or even regular mail service. The elementary school in the village where I lived had exactly two books for use by the teachers for over 100 students. The situation is better in India, but outside of major cities, most students aren't going to know about this opportunity.
2) Children tend to be given much less respect in both Asia and Africa than they are in the west. A ten-year-old who has been given a crash course in whizbang technology, is unlikely to be able to rally a community to take advantage of the benefits of technology.
3) Cities in many less-developed countries have a glut of technologically proficient youth. In India over the last five years internet-cafes have sprung up on every street corner. The challenge is to integrate technology, information and the benefit it can provide into the daily life of the community.
Golem1024, please give us more information on which to base recommendations.
Don't underestimate the power of the Children(tm) (Score:2, Insightful)
Perhaps, rather then trying out these new PDA's on children, trying them out on 40 year old non-computer users to see how quick they can familiarise themselves with them.
Surely if they can get a harassed housewife from Germany and a full-time geek from the USA both intrested in the same product, then maybe we can concentrate on the quick learning children from France.....
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Giving technology won't help... (Score:3, Informative)
But at any rate, giving away advanced technology won't help - no matter what it is. If the infrastructure isn't in place to keep the tech going (power, supplies, repair, etc) - it will only last so long, then become another piece of "junk".
I would say the thing to give people, of any age, is education. If it has to be based on technology, then give the people enough education to know basic tech (ie, teach fundamental machines - you know, the wheel, inclined plane, lever, etc - then teach how they go together to form more advanced machinery, machinery that can help them advance).
I remember seeing a site detailing how this group help some people in a third-world country develop solar cooking techniques - by teaching them how to build a parabolic reflector from basic materials easily found in the village. The group taught the people how to form a parabola using simple techniques (that don't require complex math, just some string and nails, and straight lines), then make a template, to make a mold in the ground, to form a parabolic "mirror" using weaved mats, mud, concrete, and tinfoil or other metal.
Teaching such things is what will help. All kids should learn the basics of such applied science at an early age - whether they are from the first or third world. Show them how to construct things from available materials, cast off "junk", etc - to be self-sufficient and rely less on the "man's" expensive "new" stuff, and instead scrounge among the cast-off detritus left behind.
Move on further by teaching how to build simple steam engines and turbines (maybe simple water pumps and such first, to teach flap valves, pistons, etc). Remember, the first practicle steam engines were built in the 16th and 17th century, and other "toy" technology was developed by the Greeks much, much earlier than that! Show how to build wind generators from cast-off 55 gallon drums and car alternators (or squirrel cage motors) - think large scale anemometers [fi.edu], or build a Savonious Rotor [southcom.com.au] - give power before tech.
There are tons of other things that could be done - but it all boils down to education. Most importantly an education in self-sufficiency, and how to recognise those that want to enslave (either litterally or via economics, social programs, or otherwise) - and how to avoid it.
The problem is huge - I really don't know if there will ever be a real solution...
you just know... (Score:2)
check out CISV (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Suggeston: Non zero sum games. (Score:4, Interesting)
Non-zero sum games are something else altogether.
http://www.winwenger.com/part37.htm is a good read on this subject with an extremely simple zero sum game (on page 2)
http://william-king.www.drexel.edu/top/eco/game
If you want some deeper insight, try http://ubmail.ubalt.edu/~harsham/opre640A/partVI.
SETI@Kid? (Score:2, Funny)
Turing Test (Score:2, Interesting)
This sounds like the ideal way to conduct some sort of Turing Test. Have 1000 AI Bots thrown in the mix and randomly connect kids and bots together to chat.
Re:waste of money (Score:2, Interesting)
What a bleak future we have, if these are the solutions we have to change the world.
A shame
Mark
Re:waste of money (Score:2, Interesting)
Individually, no; but the fact that enough people care to try something new to change the world for the better is a step in the right direction.
What's "bleak" is that there are people like you more willing to cry "shame" then give possible solutions a chance.