Comments on: Julia Steiny: The Jury’s In, Screen Time Hurts Little Kids

By: John

John — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:23:25 +0000

The main point of that was Jobs and Gates learned plenty and were highly successful computer innovators without being immersed in the technology as kids. “Duh” is socially rude and simple-minded. And then you missed the point anyway.

By: Julia Steiny

Julia Steiny — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:32:43 +0000

Okay, so Skyping with Grammy is a good thing. But precisely what’s cool about Skyping is that you have the feeling of having sat down and had a conversation, seen their faces and real reactions. No, no mirror neurons, but in this case technology facilitates a more personal, less abstract contact with someone not living in cyberspace. The technology promotes the sort of conversation that promotes empathy. So yes, there is an exception.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:32:15 +0000

What is your take on younger kids Skyping with grandma and grandpa?

By: e

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:47:44 +0000

Paul, FYI, computers have been around since the ’50′s… personal computers came along in the age of Gates and Jobs, but they didn’t invent them. Hardware vs. software.

By: e

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:45:25 +0000

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ARTICLE. IF YOU THOUGHT GLOBAL WARMING WAS GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO FIX, CONSIDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO CORRECT THE CONSEQUENCES OF A GENERATION OF KIDS WHO ARE UNEMPATHETIC, ONE DIMENSIONAL AND UNDERSKILLED.

I didn’t touch a computer until I was in college (they were hard to come by in the ’80′s). Yet I still made a career of systems design, software development, consulting and sales. Ironically, the skills needed to succeed in this arena come from problem solving learned by working with your hands, making up games and exploring your world. Not from apps-in-a-can. No app can contain the vast wonder that exists in your own backyard.

If they don’t develop an interest in the world around them when they are young, they perhaps never will. Is this why we see kids who grow up without empathy and without sufficient skills to make wonderful contributions to their communities/society?

Sheesh! My kids don’t need apps. They need to taste, smell, hear and feel the world with all their senses. They do not need to be spoon fed entertainment. They are in late elementary & early middle school and have no iphone, touch, pad, android, video game blah blah blah. They are straight A kids who are interesting to talk to, funny and get on great with other kids.

My mantra is “all in good time” when it comes to technology. This two cents, from a computer professional parent.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:53:11 +0000

No one said computers were invented when Gates was a child. If you read carefully–the author is just making the point that not having computers during that era contributed to the success of these innovators because they were exploring the world around them–not the world inside a computer.

By: What’s all the fuss? « black board, white chalk

What’s all the fuss? « black board, white chalk — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:30:24 +0000

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By: antharvedi

antharvedi — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 02:27:36 +0000

A very apt article for young parents

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 07:40:24 +0000

Jobs and Gates did not experience computers until they were 12!! Duh, there were no personal computers when they were 12, they invented them later in their lives.

By: Gavin Mather

Gavin Mather — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:06:58 +0000

The UNNOTICED, SUBTLE Destroyer and Robber of the MOST PRECIOUS thing that we ALL HAVE – REAL TIME with our Loved ones – Our SPOUSES, CHILDREN and EXTENDED FAMILY – Also with FRIENDS and STRANGERS.
I have sat on the Underground in London and observed so many people of ALL AGES with Earphones plugged in and Eyes CLOSED as they DISAPPEAR into a CYBER-WORLD of SOLITUDE and ISOLATION. One wonders WHAT the END-RESULT will be ? ? ?