I am doing research in the area of Natural User Interfaces with Multi-touch devices and Toddlers (aged between 1 and 3). If anyone could offer information or idea’s that would be very helpful.
I am currently researching the cognitive abilities of Toddlers and the range of abilities which manifest as Toddlers age. Toddlers cannot use GUI systems as they cannot understand the metaphors or read for that matter. They cannot use a normal pc as the realisation of mouse clicking and the interactions on the screen only take place around 3 years of age. Only other solution will be for them to use the only tool they are proficient at using, their hands. I see that many multi-touch devices are used with GUI systems, and that the newer systems are based on NUI’s, specifically I want to look at the OGCM approach. The development of NUI’s which use only the basic of cognitive abilities that increase in complexities as a Toddler progresses (George and Blake 2010).
Also came accross a few more articles regarding the quality of learned experiences if introduced at the right stage of development. These learned experiences then act as the foundation for later learned experiences.
Basically just want to put together sound theoretical research that shows it is possible for toddlers in society to learn and use a NUI MT device from age 1. I am in the process of compiling my research proposal and would appreciate any input.
Very good article:
George, R & Blake, J 2010, ‘Objects, Containers, Gestures, and Manipulations: Universal Foundational Metaphors of Natural User Interfaces’, In proceedings of the 28th CHI (ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems) Conference, CHI, Atlanta.