I have been doing some research and I have found out that kids could do with
different types of software on computers to make it easier for them to use one. Also
adults don’t like their kids getting in to mischief so they may want software that
prevents them from entering these bad sites as such. I have noticed while browsing
the internet that people have used games as a learning exercise for kids, bringing on
all the classics such as Tetris and Pacman.
I then decided to go into further detail about the subject and ask my self, what could
help children with working out a sophisticated computer. I came up with a few ideas
from my research and I have come up with a list of what kids need in order to help
them on using a computer.
Software for kids:
Colourful background
Pictures
Bigger and funky fonts
Easy access to areas
School access software
Themes
Educational software
Computer animations
I have examples of software that can helps kids with educational work and there are
ways of putting it in to use. There is a piece of software called “Cool Educational
Screensaver” it is a new entertainment and educational software especially for kids.
Adults can in fact use this as well which will cause less hassle and may remind a lot
of people what they have learnt back in educational times. This involves incidental
learning as a powerful method of self-education. Cool Educational Screensaver
downloads original easy-to-remember educational videos and shows them when your
PC becomes idle, every day a new video appears. Just select a subject from many
available on a wide range of different themes, and get an unobtrusive and fun
education for you and your kids. Available at home, at work, at school, Cool
Educational Screensaver is an effective solution to broad kids’ minds and satisfies
thirst for learning of kids.
Other examples from what my research has given me are that software can help kids
in many other ways such as picture drawing. This can help in school and out of
school. This could also include diagrams as such for adults and kids. Edraw Network
Diagrammer is a professional network diagramming software with rich examples and
templates. The software provides easy to draw detailed physical, logical, Cisco and
network architecture diagrams, using a comprehensive set of network and computer
equipment shapes. The Pre-drawn network diagram icon represents computers,
network devices plus smart connectors help design diagram network. This software
can create accurate network diagrams and documentations to be used in your network
diagram project. Abundant network diagram templates, network diagram symbols and
network diagram are examples that will help to quickly create most common network
diagrams. Intuitive interface helps to create accurate diagrams in minutes. Just drag
and drop pre-drawn shapes representing computers and network devices. Double click
and set equipment data. The software also allows you to create detailed physical,
logical and network architecture diagrams, using a comprehensive set of network and
computer equipment shapes. The uses of this software are educational work and fun.
Making different shapes and such or simply help with home work on making
diagrams. Edraw Network Diagram is useful for drawing detailed network
documentation. The Program has many examples and templates to ease everyone’s
work. You can create detailed physical, logical and network architecture diagrams
using numerous colours, fonts, shapes, styles, and symbols.
I have noticed that parents are worried about what their kids can view on the internet a
lot of parents like restrictions so they restrict their kids for going onto websites as
such. I have found in my research that there is software that helps adults block their
kids in entering these websites, instant messaging programmes as such. So if adults
were ever curious about what happens on their PC when they are not at home, they
may want to install a key logger if they want to protect their kids against malicious
persons. Active Keylogger Pro captures every keystroke typed on your PC and makes
periodic screen shots of your computer's desktop, saving this information to a log file.
If you are away from your PC, you can get your logs uploaded to an FTP server or
emailed to you silently and automatically. Active Keylogger Pro is user-friendly and
designed to be conveniently used at home. Instead of seeing a text-based log file that
contains every keystroke and every click of a mouse, it allows you to easily see
typical user activities such as chats and instant messages sent or received in AOL
AIM, ICQ, MSN and Yahoo messengers. Even if kids are more technically advanced
than the adult, without knowledge of your password, they will not be able to remove
Active Keylogger Pro. Active Keylogger Pro is the perfect product for people’s
homes to protect their kids and family.
While going deeper into my research I came across Microsoft Encarta premium. As
we know PCs can be a great outlet to learn about anything, from historical events to
interesting locations around the world. Reference software like Microsoft Encarta
Premium can enhance a PC and offer children a plethora of useful resources. The
wide range of interactive features and multimedia takes kids to new places and grants
them access to a wealth of reliable educational information. In addition to valuable
articles, Microsoft Encarta's features provide children with a PC pastime that's both
educational and fun. A library of Discovery Channel videos provides engaging clips
about cool things like volcanoes, sharks, or life on Mars. Microsoft Encarta Premium
has an activity called MindMaze, it is a trivia game in which players make their way
through a medieval castle by answering a series of trivia questions on a wide range of
subjects, from geography to sports and hobbies. Players are awarded points, and for
each question answered correctly, a door toward their destination in the castle opens.
Microsoft Encarta even includes virtual tours of historical monuments like Pompeii
and ancient sites like the Acropolis in 400 BC. I believe this is useful for kids as it has
educational purposes. I also believe this is a great idea as it asks questions for kids so
they can explore famous buildings/ temples/ castle etc. This software provides picture
examples which give kid’s more of an edge to learning than just plain text.
I thought of other system that a computer could have and I thought that being able to
change the pictures of the icons on the desktop may help kids understand more and it
will be easy for them to access areas. I also began to think that actually changing font
style and size and even colour will actually make the kids want to do more and
browse as it will be fun to look at all the different themes and pictures. Changing
these little things can help kids really understand a computer and there are many
systems to make a computer more child like, as it varies from education to playing
games on websites.
D2, discuss how the configuration of software will help a given user perform their tasks
M2, give reasons for the choice of components to meet a given need