Spot the Difference

Janet C Read

Know your Audience!

Experienced researchersExperienced researchers doing work with childrenExperience in HCIMotivation…

Look for something newGet credits

I like my little sister; there is really just one hitch,

I think my little sister has become a little witch.

Brian Patten – The Trouble with my Sister

Objectives

• Describe ways in which children are the same as adults

• Describe ways in which children differ from adults

How HCI is changing….

•  Cleverer technology•   More technology saturation•   Better informed researchers

Seductive interfacesDesigning for Children and old

peopleThe place of FunNon- goal driven applications

What is HCI?

The discipline concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of interactive computer systems for human use and with the study of the major phenomena surrounding them. ACM SigChi (1992)

What is a child?

• Age?• Size?• Activity?• Responsibility?

…the similarities

• Same senses• Same limbs• Same control mechanisms• Same language (just not as well

developed)• Same feelings (but probably more

fragile)

…the differences

• Cognitive ability• Knowledge• Motivation• Trust• Belief system• Motor control

Models of Children

• The child as a learner• The child as a developing

human• The child as a user• The child as a player

Children as Learners

• Children have more to learn• Children learn more easily• Children are ‘into’ learning• Children are ‘into’ not

understanding• Children’s models are

incomplete

Children as Developers

• Children age quicker• Brain still being a) built, b)

connected• Positive rather than negative

development!• Physically gain control rather than

lose control• Used to finding things that they

cannot do

Children as Users

• Different motivations, more discretion

• Rarely ‘made’ to use products• More likely to use products by

choice• Expect more? Magic?

Children as Players

• Quite similar here• Children find play very natural• Play is essential for children• High levels of imagination

So.. Are all children the same?

How learners are different…

• Abilities• Experiences• Motivations• Perseverance

How development differs..

• Rates vary• Starting point• Routes

How users are different..

• Experience• Exposure• Opportunities• Goals

How players differ..

• Gender• Perseverance• Boredom levels• Patience

Who can inform us?

• Cognitive Scientists• Psychologists• Educationalists• Developmentalists• Designers

Phew……..

What do I know?

• I was a child once• I had siblings• I had children• I taught children• I did voluntary work with children• I read about children• I tried to understand children

How are we going to proceed?

• Gathering requirements from children• Interactive products for children • Novel Interaction techniques • Interface design for child users• Accessibility and ethics • Evaluation of products with and for

children• Understanding the motivations of children