Kids' view: What is a computer for? I'm running a survey...

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aros71

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#147433 19-Jun-2014 09:15

So I was chatting to my 12yo daughter last night, following her reluctance to research something on the internet which she'd previously expressed interest in (Pacific Ocean, Mariana trench, Challenger deep - deepest point in the world's oceans).

I advanced a hypothesis to her for testing - call it H1: "Kids view a computer as a games machine only, and would rather they weren't also able to do homework, email and research stuff". Deliberately phrased as a straw-man argument, however the response I got surprised me: "Pretty much, yeah."

This leads me to H2: "This viewpoint is representative of this age group" ... which I intend to verify by the most scientific of methods: Internet research! So, if you have a kid of this age group, and if you wouldn't mind co-operating with my rigorously conducted research, care to advance my H1 to them and post the response you get below?

Adam Rosner

vexxxboy

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#1069034 19-Jun-2014 09:23

no my son has just turned 14 and he uses his laptop mainly for watching media , he doesnt play games on it , he uses his phone or tablet for games.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

Sidestep

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#1069107 19-Jun-2014 10:43

9 y/o twin girls - access a computer for study/research + each has a tablet, one a nexus 7, one an iPad mini.

"The computer's a bit boring. Researching stuff's OK, it's more fun when you do it with us"
IPad girl: "yeah GAMES! And music and talking with my friends and stuff...
Nexus girl: " games too.. and YouTube...um Dad, can I get an iPad? EVERYONE has iPads.. why did she get an iPad and I didn't?

gehenna

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#1069109 19-Jun-2014 10:46

My wife is a teacher, and has taught girls ranging from 8-10 years. They use computers daily for research, play, entertainment, productivity, etc.

Most of them don't use the term computer though. To them a computer is known as iPad or tablet, or Mac or Windows.

I tend to agree, we're beyond the term computer in this day and age.

aros71

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#1069110 19-Jun-2014 10:46

Sidestep: 9 y/o twin girls - access a computer for study/research + each has a tablet, one a nexus 7, one an iPad mini.

"The computer's a bit boring. Researching stuff's OK, it's more fun when you do it with us"
IPad girl: "yeah GAMES! And music and talking with my friends and stuff...
Nexus girl: " games too.. and YouTube...um Dad, can I get an iPad? EVERYONE has iPads.. why did she get an iPad and I didn't?

Duly +1'd from me!

Yeah Daughter also watches lots of youtube - mainly minecraft-related. I tried to get interested in it with her, I've even got a permanent server set up running here, but I just can't devote that much time and energy to a totally unproductive pursuit!

Adam Rosner

aros71

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#1069112 19-Jun-2014 10:49

gehenna: Most of them don't use the term computer though. To them a computer is known as iPad or tablet, or Mac or Windows.

I tend to agree, we're beyond the term computer in this day and age.

Well true, I suppose. She uses the term "laptop". Changing the wifi password is the most cruel and unusual punishment I can apply in order to get compliance.

I have at times changed the pwd, then left a post-it on her laptop: "The Wi-fi password has been changed. It's on a slip of paper, somewhere in your room. Tidy up and you'll find it!"

Adam Rosner

lokhor

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#1069201 19-Jun-2014 13:28

I don't have any children, however my cat views my phone as a games machine.

He also thinks my computer chair is the most comfortable place to sleep.

In regards to primary use of computer, I am surprised none of them said porn (especially the 14 year old boy, although 'media' could be innuendo right?)

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

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Wade

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#1069208 19-Jun-2014 13:35

My 8yo uses youtube to self teach anything from arts and craft to the flavour of the days being making weird and wonderful crazy loom bracelets and charms, other than that it is predominantly a games or media consumption device

aros71

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#1069221 19-Jun-2014 13:40

Wade: My 8yo uses youtube to self teach anything from arts and craft to the flavour of the days being making weird and wonderful crazy loom bracelets and charms, other than that it is predominantly a games or media consumption device

I think that's it: Information is fine as long as it's disguised as entertainment! 12yo daughter loves watching Cosmos, for example, because it's entertaining to watch. It requires no effort. Whereas researching something on google, wikipedia etc is more intensive.

Adam Rosner

GregV

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#1069223 19-Jun-2014 13:50

aros71:I have at times changed the pwd, then left a post-it on her laptop: "The Wi-fi password has been changed. It's on a slip of paper, somewhere in your room. Tidy up and you'll find it!"

GZ needs a "+10" button for posts like this :)

tigercorp

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#1069224 19-Jun-2014 13:53

I was having this chat with the 8 year old last week when I was trying to get him to look something up himself.

aros71: Information is fine as long as it's disguised as entertainment!

- this was essentially his response.

Usage is games predominately, then music, then Minecraft vids.

He uses computer/laptop interchangeable because we do.

Demeter

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#1069225 19-Jun-2014 13:56

My youngest is 16 and she's got an interesting approach. We have 4 gaming rigs in the house, she has one in her room but she prefers to use mine for some odd reason. her computer is mainly for gaming, Skype and RaidCall with friends. Samsung Tablet is for reading comics and the occasional book and the S3 phone is for... well I guess it might be charged in case Mum has to phone. Le exasperated sigh.

Research for homework or other purposes is not something done online except in dire circumstances because in her words 'Everybody finds their stuff on Google, I would much rather go to a library for reference material, and then Google that to cross-reference. At least then I can pick up (reading) books at the same time.'

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Inphinity

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#1069227 19-Jun-2014 13:59

Combination here, though more entertaining forms of education are preferred. That said, entertaining learning is ranked above pure entertainment for us, so I guess that's a plus.

khull

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#1069228 19-Jun-2014 14:09

Also quite common to see a child point to a smartphone/tablet as a computer as the lines are getting blurred.

MikeB4

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#1069234 19-Jun-2014 14:34

My Grand daughter 9yrs when she comes here she uses my computer for homework, Youtube mainly. She will grab my wife's iPad to play some games. My Grandson 4yrs uses the iPad to play some games but generally he just asks me 5million questions per visit.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Wade

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#1069248 19-Jun-2014 15:00

khull: Also quite common to see a child point to a smartphone/tablet as a computer as the lines are getting blurred.

The difference is hugely obvious to my 20mth old :P a computer is a toy for hitting keys on the keyboard which seemingly does nothing whereas an ipad on the other hand is a computer that does things in an interactive fashion and generates a result for here efforts!

Edit: oh and smartphones are for taking selfies according to Miss 20Mth old!