By silicon.com, 6 April 2006 12:10
Much has been said about the malign influence of technology the young.
It turns them into dark-eyed ghouls that can only think about getting back online to slay other monsters in bloody cyber-dungeons, some complain.
It turns them into digital pirates, stealing music and video, and helps them communicate with unsavoury people the world over, warn others.
And so some people may raise an eyebrow at the level of computer-based learning in schools - and that it's on the increase. Why encourage kids to lock themselves away from the world by teaching technology, you might think.
But the evidence seems to suggest that technology can be a fantastic teaching tool.
Teachers say that kids are better at team working and collaboration - and even more creative as a result of using computers.
As ever, it's not the fault of the technology, but the use it is put to.
And there is a broader message in here for businesses, too. Are you using technology in a way that helps your staff to collaborate and work as a team?
Or are they chained to their desks, unable to share or create because the hardware or the software isn't flexible enough to let them? It's easy to tick the boxes about providing the infrastructure - but harder to prove you've got the right sort of stuff and are using it in the most creative way.
IT might be going down well with the kids but getting it right certainly isn't child's play.
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1. Richard
Where is children's creative output?
Widespread modern technology should allow children & youngsters to create and publish audio, video, images and writing.
Does this happen or are children largely consumers of mass-marketed products?
The "sausage-machine" of the UK's current state education system seems to stifle creativity and leave youngsters with too little time or energy.
Too often, IT & technology are seen as a boring chore rather than an opportunity.
Industry struggles to change this early impression.