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GUIs und kinder



thudson@cygnus.com wrote:
> I think
> that some elements of the current state of GUIs are not
> well suited to new users and children. Things like
> double-clicks, etc. I've often thought of a complete
> desktop environment geared more towards children.

I've often thought that a different input device, especially for the
very littlies, would be good. Somewhat easier under X than anything Bill
offers. Tracballs are probably impractical, unless the actual mechanism
can be completely sealed and easily cleaned, else it would quickly grind
to a halt on slobber, food, and the other disgusting substances which
abound in a child's world.

A large, clumsy nudge-joystick such as once adorned ancient Ataris would
be good, perhaps with a pair of buttons on the base and one on the stick
itself. You could interface it very simply through a parallel port
(parts count: one 74C14, one tantalum capacitor for power filtering,
plus one switch-and-resistor-and-ceramic-capacitor for each direction
and button). You could build the body at home from any decent plaster,
or even papier mache at a pinch, and paint it with enamel to seal it.

> I'm also a musician, and contribute
> to open source projects developing better multimedia
> capabilities for linux.

Great... do you have good references for _useable_ public domain
GM-based MIDI files?

> Also the advantage
> of being X windows based means that cheap obsolete hardware
> could be used as X terminals, saving more powerful hardware
> for central file/application servers.

It also allows you to tee any application or whole session so you can
monitor it remotely (e.g. while working in the shed, doing dishes at
other end of house etc) and quickly know (1) if the child needs help and
(2) if the child gets distracted.
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