Are children naturally better at computers?
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We're often astounded by the ability of children to pick up, use and master the latest technological innovations.
You frequently hear stories from parents of how they left a tablet
computer lying around and after a couple of hours they came back to find
their toddler using it to play games, look at kittens on the internet
or open an offshore bank account.
The idea that the younger generation is somehow inherently more adept at using technology is slowly taking hold. In a recent survey by John Lewis, the department store chain, 71 per cent of parents admitted that they consult their children for technological advice, whether that's help online (setting up social-media profiles ) or around the home (operating the remote). In other words, while adults are busy putting food on the table, children are becoming our technological overlords.
But how and why is this happening and why do some parents seem resigned to it? After all, modern user interfaces are getting simpler and, at least in theory, are designed for us all to operate.
"It's certainly an illusion to assume that kids can do these things intuitively," says Nigel Houghton, managing director of Simplicity Computers . "It's more the case that they're not fearful of looking around, and so they eventually work things out." Dr Mark Brosnan, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Bath and author of the book Technophobia , says that children's apparent expertise has little to do with youth.
"It becomes about inclination ," says Matt Leeser, head of buying for telecoms and technology at John Lewis. "Whether you're talking about Windows 8 or a smart TV, it's a question of whether one can be bothered to learn how to use it." But it's also to do with the learning process itself. "When kids get a device, they talk to their mates, they go through a process of swapping information ," says Houghton, whose company specialises in producing simpler, more straightforward computing interfaces. "But when older people see younger people using devices so easily, it provides a sort of deterrent: 'Oh god,' they think, 'I can't do that, I must be stupid.'"
It's a conveniently lazy mindset to develop, but it's one that's easily conquerable. Says Brosnan, "Some of the most confident, happy, least anxious users are silver surfers over the age of 65 — largely due to the fact that they're retired, they have some time to spare, and there's no pressure — no-one is watching them and evaluating how they're using it."
In other words, a solid relationship with technology seems to be a function of leisure time, something that parents can be woefully short of. --THE INDEPENDENT
The idea that the younger generation is somehow inherently more adept at using technology is slowly taking hold. In a recent survey by John Lewis, the department store chain, 71 per cent of parents admitted that they consult their children for technological advice, whether that's help online (setting up social-media profiles ) or around the home (operating the remote). In other words, while adults are busy putting food on the table, children are becoming our technological overlords.
But how and why is this happening and why do some parents seem resigned to it? After all, modern user interfaces are getting simpler and, at least in theory, are designed for us all to operate.
"It's certainly an illusion to assume that kids can do these things intuitively," says Nigel Houghton, managing director of Simplicity Computers . "It's more the case that they're not fearful of looking around, and so they eventually work things out." Dr Mark Brosnan, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Bath and author of the book Technophobia , says that children's apparent expertise has little to do with youth.
"It becomes about inclination ," says Matt Leeser, head of buying for telecoms and technology at John Lewis. "Whether you're talking about Windows 8 or a smart TV, it's a question of whether one can be bothered to learn how to use it." But it's also to do with the learning process itself. "When kids get a device, they talk to their mates, they go through a process of swapping information ," says Houghton, whose company specialises in producing simpler, more straightforward computing interfaces. "But when older people see younger people using devices so easily, it provides a sort of deterrent: 'Oh god,' they think, 'I can't do that, I must be stupid.'"
It's a conveniently lazy mindset to develop, but it's one that's easily conquerable. Says Brosnan, "Some of the most confident, happy, least anxious users are silver surfers over the age of 65 — largely due to the fact that they're retired, they have some time to spare, and there's no pressure — no-one is watching them and evaluating how they're using it."
In other words, a solid relationship with technology seems to be a function of leisure time, something that parents can be woefully short of. --THE INDEPENDENT
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