Computers for children

This will be a good discussion. On Tue, 12 Jan 1999, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote: Well, personally, I think that to give the child a better understanding of the computer, they should start with something simple and (dare I say) rudimentary, like a C64 or Apple II (Certainly more rudimentary than a modern day PC with a GUI masquerading as an OS). They will become more in tune with what each component of the computer is for. Instead of one big box with everything inside, all the components of a computer--the CPU, mass storage, output, etc.--is separate on an old computer. With a C64, you have the computer with the keyboard, the disk drive, a tape drive, etc. I think it helps the child to better understand the distinction of the different subsystems in the computer. My intent would be to give the child a headstart in the world of engineering. By distracting them with graphics and sound and all that nonsense you deprive them of senses they will need to make better engineers later on in life. They may get blown off course with all these distractions and perhaps never discover that they have a keen interest in the technology until they are in college, at which point their best learning years have already passed them by. I say, give a kid a simple computer, like I grew up on (something somewhat complicated but not impossible): an Apple II. Or what the hell, a PDP-11 if the kid has the aptitude (like young Danny Seagraves :) If they don't really care for programming (at least not for the time being) then go ahead and get them a more modern machine that can run Windows and access CD ROMs. I think what you are suggesting is to give kids a powerful tool for learning, whereas what I'm suggesting is to give them something they can use to help them grow intellectually in a way that is more specific to the actual technology of the computer itself. In other words, study the tool, not what the tool allows you to study. It all depends on what you want your child to be learning, so in this respect, I'm with Daddy Chuck. I don't see anything wrong with BASIC as a useable language for kids. I don't know why people are so down on it. Ok, so it doesn't have functions, and no, I wouldn't try to build a career out of it. I don't think throwing C and assembler at a kid "as soon as the basic principles are understood" would be necessarily productive. Let them have BASIC until its apparent they've outgrown it, then let them explore other options (but please keep them away from COBOL and Pascal :) Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Always being hassled by the man. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 12/27/98]