[seul-edu] Cooperation on kid-oriented software

[Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

Phillipe Ambon wrote:

"My job at Mandrake is actually dedicated to propose a distro to the French
State Educational Minister. We are not exactly competing with a debian Jr
project cause our goal is more orientated to kids aged 10+.  Eventhough it
is in the interest of Linux in general to make it available with the most
user friendly graphical interface as possible.  Kids are probably the most
reactive people to a graphical interface. If it works with them it means
that anyone can do it (I hope you don't think I take kids for idiots, but I
think that they don't understand how the hardware works but have a great
intuition and yes this is what we're all looking for).

"In conclusion I would say that Kids are the solution.  Concerning how to
reach KDE I know that we have some developpers at Mandrake working for KDE.
I could perhaps put you in contact each other?"

I didn't have this message on my computer at home and had to cut and paste
from the email archives; please excuse.  Anyway, I think this is a good
topic to pursue.  We should keep in close touch with Debian Jr., Mandrake
(for this distro), KDE, GNOME, and Windowmaker to see if we can all agree
on standard ways to approach usability issues for children.  As you can
see, I'm still a little vague myself on how this should work.  Let's have
some discussion of it.  My initial thought is that we should revisit an
earlier discussion on expandable user interfaces.  Does anyone know of any
easily available studies on computer interface use among children?  Please,
speak up!

-- 
Doug Loss            There's no trick to being a humorist
dloss@suscom.net     when you have the whole government
(570) 326-3987       working for you.
                        Will Rogers