Baby's First Windows

from the enjoy dept

In what looks like a reinvention of Microsoft's famously terrible "Microsoft Bob" super-simplified operating system user interface, Broadband Reports is pointing us to a story about an operating system designed for kids (ages 2-12). Basically, it puts a baby friendly shell over Windows, setting up everything to be whitelisted (the kids can only email with approved people and only visit approved websites). It doesn't sound like a bad idea. Part of the problem with Microsoft Bob was that it was targeted at adults, and kind of made them feel stupid by treating them as kids. This software has big, easy to understand icons, and includes supposedly educational games. However, as Broadband Reports notes, since it's built on Windows, the babies using this system may still get to experience "Baby's First Trojan".
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  • identicon
    Jambo, 13 Oct 2004 @ 8:22am

    No Subject Given

    Baby's first windows could be an Apple/Mac, preferably an older one. Back in 1995, when my son was an extremely absorbant 2 1/2, I was able to teach him how to navigate around the system. Point, point/click, click/drag. Very troublefree setup, minimal maintenance. At the age of 12, he is proficient with MS office products (Powerpoint and Word in particular), graphic design, video editing (created his own video business card at the age of 11). This year he wants to learn and focus on web development.
    Start 'em young so they can have an advantage in our ever-so-quick-changing world.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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