Those PC adverts with the kids

[Crewman47]

Don't know if they get them outside the UK but over here we have these adverts fro PC's showing kids as young 4 years old to around 7 years old being able to do stuff on them that shows how easy it is to do stuff on them. One of the things there showing being able to use Digital cameras, connect them to the PC, download the image, edit it and either print it or email it.

When I was that age, only 20 odd years ago, I hardly knew what a computer was as I was only introduced to those old computers with the 5 and half inch disc drives by the age of 8 or 9, and had my first games console at 10. At age 3 - 5 I must've been playing with toy guns and army action figures and other stuff.

Does it make you feel old when you see what kids can do with computers these days when only 20+ years ago at that age you couldn't do the same?

 

[Brent]

Kids these days are growing up with computers, if you had grown up with the computers of today back then I'm sure you would have been able to do the same.

 

[Jadzia]

One of the things there showing being able to use Digital cameras, connect them to the PC, download the image, edit it and either print it or email it.

Children that young (4 years old) will learn specific abilities with the same few applications. It is rote that leads to an expected result, than truely understanding what they are doing, rather like using a light switch or a door handle. But they're unlikely to be able to understand any textual feedback the computer displays, and anything happening out of the ordinary and they'll call for their parents.

But that said, I believe that any developing mind will learn to navigate the environment it is presented with, whether it is natural or constructed.

My family had a zx spectrum computer before I was born. I was regularly exposed to it in my early years, but the interface wasn't simple. It required typing in commands to do anything with it, which would be rather demanding to ask of a toddler, so I just sat and watched. It wasn't a feature of each day, more like once a week we'd spend a couple of hours with it, which was rare enough to make it special and interesting. It felt like we'd taken over from the BBC, overwriting their programmes with our brilliant white screen which displayed what we wanted it to display.

Today's computers have a much more user friendly interface, with bright colours and pretty pictures as part of that interface. Compared to 20+ years ago, computers are much more accessible now to less developed minds. How would these same PC kids cope if given a zx spectrum?

 

[Hermiod]

Those ads just make me feel embarrassed that Microsoft spent money on them.

 

[Garak]

Those ads just make me feel embarrassed that Microsoft spent money on them.

I bet Arsene Wenger recorded every single one of them!

I'm actually amazed at what children can do with computers now. My cousin is 13 and she's 80 times better using one than me. She gives me a hard time about it too.

 

[RJDiogenes]

I couldn't us a computer when I was that age. Of course, back then computers used reel-to-reel tape and took up a city block or so.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Those ads just make me feel embarrassed that Microsoft spent money on them.

I bet Arsene Wenger recorded every single one of them!

Leave the football stuff in the football thread and keep focused on the PC ads, OK?