The Design of Children's Technology

Rating:
Summary: Kids designing for Kids
Review: Allison Druin and others in "The Design of Children's Technology" describe in very thorough terms how the processes of how to design for kids are the same, yet different, from how software is developed for adults. The first half of the book explains how many methodologies that are used to develop adult software work with kids, but with modifications. Druin and her research group developed another type of software research that seems to be unmatched in adult software design: technology immersion, bringing users (the kids) together for 5 consecutive 10 hour days into an environment of almost unlimited technology.

The 2nd half of this book shows us how kids are extremely capable of not only participating in software evaluation, but also in programming and creating their own software and software for younger children.

This book clarifies the need for a different way to approach designing software for kids. Kids can and should be involved in creating children's software. They clearly are much more capable to assist, inform, evaluate and create software, and to use that technology, than software designers have thought. Druin has proved herself to be a leading expert in this research and the most of the other writers in this book base their research on her findings.

If you are interested in creating kids software or a teacher wanting to push the envelope of what kids can do with the right technology and support, you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Kids designing for Kids
Review: Allison Druin and others in "The Design of Children's Technology" describe in very thorough terms how the processes of how to design for kids are the same, yet different, from how software is developed for adults. The first half of the book explains how many methodologies that are used to develop adult software work with kids, but with modifications. Druin and her research group developed another type of software research that seems to be unmatched in adult software design: technology immersion, bringing users (the kids) together for 5 consecutive 10 hour days into an environment of almost unlimited technology.

The 2nd half of this book shows us how kids are extremely capable of not only participating in software evaluation, but also in programming and creating their own software and software for younger children.

This book clarifies the need for a different way to approach designing software for kids. Kids can and should be involved in creating children's software. They clearly are much more capable to assist, inform, evaluate and create software, and to use that technology, than software designers have thought. Druin has proved herself to be a leading expert in this research and the most of the other writers in this book base their research on her findings.

If you are interested in creating kids software or a teacher wanting to push the envelope of what kids can do with the right technology and support, you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good information, but dry style makes it hard to read
Review: For a book this expensive, I had high expectations that were ultimately not met. The very dry style of writing made it very hard to read. A subject this compelling should be made exciting--there was an opportunity lost here to deliver the material in a way that would continue to be meaningful over time.

Rating:
Summary: Beginning a discussion about kids, technology and design...
Review: From the editor, Allison Druin:

I noticed a few years ago, that it was much easier to find a book that summarized current computer technology for children, than find a book that told me how these technolgies were made. My students and colleagues continually asked me for tips on how to work with children in the design process and how to understand if what was made could be any good. Looking for a book to refer them to was useless-- there was none. And after realizing I had far from all the answers to give, I started asking colleagues I respected in the field to join me in putting together a new book that could answer these continual questions.

So a few years later, THE DESIGN OF CHILDREN'S TECHNOLOGY, contains 11 chapters from university researchers and industry experts. They talk about their academic and industry experiences, challenges, and successes. They offer diverse solutions to the technology design process for children. It is my hope that this is only the start of discussions that can consider new possibilities for the future of design, technology, and children.

Rating:
Summary: A reader enrolled in an HCI class
Review: The Design of Children's Technology is edited by Dr. Allison Druin and authored by a variety of researchers and experts that lend their experience to the pages of the book. The book is easy to read and gives practical examples of software design methodologies. The Design of Children's Technology has pragmatic models of step by step guides to making software better. Druin's writes about methods for developing and improving the design of children and adolescent software, however, I believe she could apply many of the concepts to the development of adult software. I wish Druin would have included more statistical data to validate that the concepts outlined in the book have a positive and lasting effect on the design of children's technology. If you are interested in the software development market, this book offers you suggestions on how you can enhance your talents.

J Calhoun