In class, we presented a few downsides to the Innotab along with the positive aspects. Although the device has many learning applications, it could potentially be a social barrier between the child and parent. If the device is used as a replacement to the parent teaching the child certain skills, major problems could occur in the next generation. Another flaw in this device is that the age range is actually not that accurate, and children might lose interest in the applications sooner than perceived.
Today there are many new technologies that are created for the upcoming generation, but we need to stop and ask ourselves what the long term effects might be when presenting technology so soon in a child's life.
This tablet seems to be similar to the iPad (when used for children). I have a baby cousin that absolutely adores her iPad 2. She plays games that unbeknownst to her, are teaching her things like color recognition, size and shape training, as well as learning letters and numbers. The InnoTab Baby 2 according to Wolf, would foster a DIFFERENT kind of learning. The reading brain would develop differently, and therefore function differently. Many people would say that as long as the InnoTab Baby 2 does not completely replace traditional learning, it would be okay to use on their child. However, it would be foolish to say that this does not foster a learning totally different from the traditional learning styles. To me, this is not an altogether bad thing. Children are learning in new ways, and this device may simply foster that growth even further.
ReplyDeleteWhile I like the fact that technology tends to hold children's attention and keep them quiet, I don't like the idea of parents using technology to babysit their kids 24/7. Children need to be raised by their parents, and I see way to many people giving their children a toy to keep them quiet instead of teaching them how to behave. The idea of this technology (no matter if it is the iPad or Innotab 2 Baby)creating a large barrier in the parent and child relationship will only have negative circumstances. Turkle shows in her book how technology separates adults from other people and that adults begin to expect more out of technology than they do of other people. I am forced to wonder the side effect of what happens when children become dependent on the technology before they even understand the difference between technology and other humans.
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea of a controlled toy for a child to introduce them to technology early. It is unavoidable since it has become such an integral part of our lives. But a good alternative to this is to buy an iPad, a child-proof case, and some parental control software. There is a larger selection of games for children, then when the child outgrows the games, the games can grow with the child as they grow, and it would save the parents money since they do not have to buy different consoles as the child grows.
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