Innovation and Professional Development Innovation and Professional Development ProjectProject

Sam Heisler - 0904806

How can long distance communication/ How can long distance communication/ networking be implemented into digital networking be implemented into digital

interactive children’s literature?interactive children’s literature?

Interactive ClassicsInteractive Classics

What role does “story time” play?What role does “story time” play?

Important aspect in a child’s development. Reading a book to a child advances the child on an emotional and social level.

Large influence on the child’s reading habits and passion for literacy.

A recent study [1] shows that the decline in reading affects culture, economy, civic life and children’s educational achievement (USA). This could be linked to a direct connection between the academic success and reading books.

Story time is also an intimate moment between children and parents with lots of creativity and magic in the air to create a great bonding experience.

Parents that are unable to spend this special time with their children because of: - work

- travelling- divorceor other reasons.

Modern technologies can help people connect in difficult situations over large distances. And the importance to connect with a child in these situations and to be able to bond through an intimate story time, despite being in different locations, is all the more important.

Grandparents, the favourite uncle/cousin or siblings could also make use of this application.

Target audienceTarget audience

1. Technology and Software Research1. Technology and Software Research

So Let’s have a look at the core technology and software children’s literature could use to create a working long distance communication between child and parent, yet preserve intimacy.

Touch Screen DevicesTouch Screen Devices

The target device for this project are touch screen devices

Touch screens are very simple to use and even very young children understand how to interact with them.

Easy and intuitive

Link Between The Devices Link Between The Devices

“TeamViewer connects to any PC or server around the world within a few seconds. You

can TeamViewer remote control your partner's PC as if you were sitting right in front of it. Find out why more

than 100 million users trust TeamViewer!” (Teamviewer.com)

Accessing the “story time” application will notify the parents device or vice versa (by a message, call..).

Parent opens the application. The two devices are now linked and the child’s screen appears on the parents device. They can now interact with each other. The parent shares full control over the child’s screen.

Instant Messengers & Video CallsInstant Messengers & Video Calls

Skype ICQ MSN Facebook ...

The ‘story time’ application could also launch a video call in which the parent can see and interact better with the child during story time

Haptic TechnologyHaptic Technology

Tactile and haptic technologies allow us to feel textures on a touch screen. A technology that is currently in its development stages, but could benefit many.

It offers more interaction with the on screen content and in relation to the project this could be used in an educational and fun based way.

Blind people could also benefit from this technology tremendously.

Links:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUWy2GW7XQ4http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_26/b4234043549730.htm

2. Classic Children’s Literature2. Classic Children’s Literature

Tales used to be told or played dramatically and were passed down from generation to generation

Most classic children’s books originate from oral traditions such as fairy tales, legends, myths and moral tales.

Through these stories a child improves his or her ability to visualize a spoken narrative. It also helps the child to remember the story as heard.

Classic Interactive Children’s Literature: Volvelles, pop-up books, coloring books, gamebooks, hidden object and picture books, touch and feel books

Grimm Brothers’ Fairy TalesGrimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales

The Grimm Brothers belong to the first to write down the oral traditions and collect them.

They edited many of the stories to appeal to children more. Before Fairy Tales were aimed at adults as children likewise.

Walt DisneyWalt Disney

Disney brought the stories to life through animation. This was a huge development in the way stories are communicated.

It is still a ‘one-way’ piece though and has little interaction.

The digital age offers animation and interaction possibilities to communicate stories in a more engaging way.

Little Golden BooksLittle Golden Books

Contains mainly American stories and a few old tales from everywhere.

Since 1942 Little Golden Books publish children’s literature.

The New Basic Readers: More The New Basic Readers: More Times and Places. (1955)Times and Places. (1955)

Personal ValuePersonal Value

3. Digital Children’s Literature3. Digital Children’s Literature

Digital media allows parents to collect children’s books much easier and faster than ever before. Often children are bombarded with information from all directions these days.

Therefore it is important to filter this content and to create a personal connection with the children. Modern technology with its interactive possibilities is able to improve this experience even more.

(Although it can achieve the opposite outcome in some cases in which the interactive stories and audio recordings entertain the child and allow the parent to be absent.)

The Night Before Christmas (Voice Recording, UI Design)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgrIkvR8m8k&feature=player_embedded

Alice for the IPad (Tilting, “Gravity”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gew68Qj5kxw

The Tale of Peter the Rabbit (Tilting, Scaling)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LGUqe9u56Xo

Bridging Book (Digital Compass Sensor, Multimedia)http://vimeo.com/64249658

Mixed-media picture-book that blurs the line between printed and electronic books. Thumbing through the book’s pages triggers the device to display the complementary digital content.

SummarySummary

The main idea is to connect children and parents, despite distance problems, by linking two devices and enabling an interactive and engaging story time experience.

Thank You. Any Questions?Thank You. Any Questions?