Multimodality; Usability; Genre Change

Children are the subject being discussed in technological advancement which changes the way they read. The tablet PC is a cornerstone in technological advancement and new ways to learn are being discovered with genre change. A magazine company has developed an application for Ipad named Timbuktu which changes the style of publishing and reading.

(Photo source: http://www.filebuzz.com/files/Online_Games_For_Kids/1.html)

With genre change, children are now able to read magazine in a fun way, which involves hearing and visuals. Whether or not this encourages children to read, or diminishes the quality of reading is not known. HelpGuide.org (n.d.) cited that learning through fun and playing is important to physical and mental health which leads to stimulating the brain so that children can learn to manage and transform negative emotions and many more benefits. However I feel that too much of using fingers for Ipad diminishes creativity and children losses the creative side of brain whereby using a pencil improves hand and eye coordination.

Hand eye coordination is important for a child's growth, read more in this link http://www.filebuzz.com/files/Online_Games_For_Kids/1.html

For developers, there are new ways to make money now with selling applications and advertising to children. Previously it was difficult for marketers to target advertising on children, but today with the invention of tablet PC, an increasing number of children are being exposed to advertisement. There has been controversy towards this issue because children are minors and it is unethical to target children, cited the American Psychological Association (2000). However some parties argued that this facilitated the learning for children.

Through tablet PCs and the internet, children are now able to interact socially and globally. This has its advantage and disadvantage where one can view interaction with a child’s peers help nurture the soft skills at a young age. However they may be victimized by cyber bullying when exposed to the internet, read more about cyber bullying here. 

Cyber bullying (photo source: http://drmilburn.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/what-is-cyber-bullying/)

To transfer a magazine to digital requires knowledge such as children’s navigational patterns and what amuses children. Because of this genre change, new types of games and possibly children learning tools such as the popular Angry Birds are created. A blogger named Angelina viewed that Ipad is the perfect invention for children because it develops speech and communication. In addition with its audio capability, it caters to autistic children because of the ability to type and draw available on Ipad. Read more in her blog.

This genre change and increase of multimodality of technology that appeals to sight and sound has improved many things associated with learning. However this technological advancement leads to better human development or human brain deficit remains unknown.


Referencing

American Psychological Association 2000, Advertising to Children: Is it ethical?, viewed 10^th June 2011, <http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep00/advertising.aspx>

HelpGuide.org n.d., Play, Creativity, and Lifelong Learning, viewed 10^th June 2011, <http://www.helpguide.org/life/creative_play_fun_games.htm>