Mobile Technology for Children: Designing for Interaction and Learning (Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive Technologies) [Paperback]

Allison Druin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 012374900X | ISBN-13: 978-0123749000 | Publication Date: April 16, 2009 | Edition: 1

Children are one of the largest new user groups of mobile technology -- from phones to micro-laptops to electronic toys. These products are both lauded and criticized, especially when it comes to their role in education and learning. The need has never been greater to understand how these technologies are being designed and to evaluate their impact worldwide. Mobile Technology for Children brings together contributions from leaders in industry, non-profit organizations, and academia to offer practical solutions for the design and the future of mobile technology for children.

 

*First book to present a multitude of voices on the design, technology, and impact of mobile devices for children and learning

*Features contributions from leading academics, designers, and policy makers from nine countries, whose affiliations include Sesame Workshop, LeapFrog Enterprises, Intel, the United Nations, and UNICEF

*Each contribution and case study is followed by a best practice overview to help readers consider their own research and design and for a quick reference

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Allison Druin, who I consider the seminal HCI researcher in children and emerging technologies -- has brought together other experts from the key perspectives on children and mobile technologies, and through these experts the reader has a chance to glimpse our future as these children are creating it." - Arnie Lund, User Experience Director, Microsoft

"I see this book as a fundamental source of ideas and inspirations for those in academia and business who research, design, and build mobile devices for children. Bravo to Allison and her contributors." - Chauncey Wilson, Senior User Researcher, Autodesk, Inc., Adjunct Instructor, HFID program at Bentley College

"The book inspires the reader to investigate the opportunities and challenges of applying mobile technologies to advance children's learning. The book is international in its outlook and raises the issues of supporting children's education in the developed and developing countries. It highlights that mobile technologies should be designed to suit the contexts, culture and requirements of children in their contexts. [T]he book is novel, engaging, and the only resource that brings together research and researchers in the area of mobile technologies for children. It will be a useful resource for HCI academics and researchers, and will also help to inform policy makers involved in education for children."--BCS's Interfaces Magazine

About the Author

Allison Druin is assistant professor at the University of Maryland, both in the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and the College of Education in the Department of Human Development. Her recent work has focused on developing-with children as her design partners-new robotic storytelling technologies. Druin is the editor of The Design of Children's Technology and coauthor of Designing Multimedia Environments for Children (John Wiley & Sons, 1996).

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (April 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 012374900X
• ISBN-13: 978-0123749000
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mobile Technology for Children, July 2, 2009

By 

Larry Jeffryes (Los Alamos, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Mobile Technology for Children: Designing for Interaction and Learning (Morgan Kaufmann Series in Interactive Technologies) (Paperback)

Children view and use the technology in their lives very differently that we adults who did not grow up with these new technologies. This book is a must read about digital natives for those of us who are digital immigrants. This collection of readings from various experts gives insights as to how children use, in particular, mobile technologies that have become part of many children's every day lives. We've adapted and learned how to use mobile technology; many children are growing up digital as a normal part of living.

Too often when children step into the classroom, they step back in time when it comes to the use of technology they use every day outside the classroom. Too often, adults have eliminated a powerful learning tool in the lives of children and students.

Allison Druin is an expert in involving children, at the grass root levels, as serious collaborative design partners with expert adults in designing of technology hardware, software, and their use by children for children. And, in this book she and other authors have something important to say.

Read and reflect.