Hello all,

I'm doing my first grad paper involving technology and children. I'm dong research in the future with Edubuntu in the early childhood classroom

This paper is about child rights, and it can be used with any topic...Mine is technology andchildren's rights. Please answer the questions and let me know what you think!

1.As far as technology is concerned, do children have all of the access that they have the right to have? Why or why not?

2.Do programs that are written for kids take into account who they are and what their abilities are?
Why?

3.Do you feel that children's rights to interface with technology has improved or gotten worse in recent times?

4.Do you think children have a voice on the Internet?
Why or why not?
Do you have examples ? (website)


5.OPTIONAL What country/state are you from (to get geographical data if possible)


Thanks,
Mohtech

1.) This is an awfully broad question, especially for a graduate student, and i'm not quite sure what situation or context within which your asking. If your in the home then I assume its up to the parents or guardians to grant computer privileges. In general I feel that the current US attitude toward computers and children is the more they understand the better, though they may not want them spending hours upon hours in front of the screen, much like the TV.

2.) Yes. Programs written for children tend to include graphics suited for their age level. They also tend to include larger buttons and simpler language to compensate for their underdeveloped coordination and language skills.

3.) Children's rights to interface with technology has not improved or nor unimprove because technology is still so new. A computer in every household is still a new concept for America. We have not yet decided what rights most adults have on the internet, much less the rights of children and minors.

4.) A voice? I belive all people have a voice on the internet. What kind of voice? How much and what power a voice wields? That is all up to the child. An example could be this very site. I'm sure there are many children who use linux who come here to these forums for help with their software and hardware problems. Their questions and answers influence the decisions of those who read them.

5.) I'm from West Virginia, USA.

Enjoy your masters, and best of all, enjoy Linux!

Well I was going to post for this question, but Penguin pretty much covered everything I was going to say (and then some).

1-3.)See Penguin's Post

4.) I believe, like Penguin, that everyone has a voice; though the strength of their voice is what they make it. I'm a little unsure of what you mean by 'voice', but if it's in the context I'm thinking, then should children have a voice? I'm not saying 'opinion', but I'm referring to voice as in politics (power maybe?). But as far as the opinion context, I believe that they should, and do have a 'voice' there.

1.)Lexington, KY USA

I have a question - which children? The Hilton kids would have had loads of access to technology, children in the porrer parts of the world don't.

Without clarification, your question is meaningless.

I agree XavierP. Though i may not have said it so elloquently as you

Do all parents have the access they have the right to have? (bad question, I think the kids should go out and play)
Yes, most programs written for kids are designed for kids
I think children have more access to technology.
Maybe. I'm not exactly looking for kids sites on the internet... umm yea we won't go any further.
Utah

I think that you need to establish much more focus with your questions. As most have already said question 1 is very broad. For a start you are asking us to evaluate the implementation of certain rights, but these rights are not explained. What rights do children have with regard to technology? Secondly again this has already been pointed out but what do you mean by children, which children are you considering (home / school: developed / developing world)?

I can see that your underlying ideas are good but you need to create some focus in the questions; and then you may be able to get some data out.

graeme.

1 (reworded) Do you think children should have access to the information that is not illegal for them to view? (for example, text educating them about other religions, stories of war, factual history that may be violent etc?)
Why or why not?

2. In what manner do you think the media portrays children? If Hollywood were the minds eye of our image of the child, what would that be?

3. Do you think the schools provide adequate access to computer learning and computer exploration for children to get the most from these tools? If so why?

4. At what age do you think a child 'has the right' to use the computer? What is considered too young?

4. Using the term technology as a metaphor for 'any tool that makes mental or physical work easier' do you think children are generally welcomed to use these tools? Or are they prevented access to them? For example, if kids show interest, do you think children are encouraged to participate in car or house repairs or help balance the checkbook using a calculator?

5. Do you think children are encouraged to think outside the box? What actions should be taken with juvenile crackers?

(Please let me know if these are better...and thank you all!!!!!)
Mohtech
"The computer said use with with Windows 98 or better...so I used it with Debian"

1) Yes but as will all information it is the role of adults to put it into some perspective, regardless of whether they stumbled upon the information by using modern technology or through using an encyclopedia those who are responsible for brining the child up (parents / teachers etc.) should put the information into context for them.

2) The media is, typically very black and white when it comes to its portrayal of anything. Hollywood even more so. For Hollywood there are happy endings, life is never that simple and so the image given is one of "success is always possible" and it also does a very good job of selling The American Way; whether that actually exists is debatable.

3)In my experience most schools provide what they can within their ability but that can be restricted by so many factors including finance, skills and appropriate resources.

4)I don't believe that there would be any age considered "too young" when it comes to rights, but whether a six month would gain anything more from using technology is debatable. However my point to answer 1) means that as a carer of the child the appropriate supervision must be provided.

4ii)While technology can make things easier they do not necessarily make things safer and they may also have other implications that the child is not aware of. Having said that I believe that where there are no adverse issues children are often encouraged to use technology, however sometimes the needless implication of "I can't let them use it incase they break it" does arise.

5) Thinking outside of the box is generally not encouraged in children, which is a problem when ingenuity is sought. But the reason for such conservative approach stems back to survival. The child needs to learn what is safe and that is a major part of growing up.