Optimizing the interaction of children with information and communication technologies

Abstract

This paper outlines the major changes in the lives of children in industrially advanced countries associated with the increased interaction with information and communication technologies. The potential opportunities and threats to the cognitive, social, physical and visual development of children are reviewed to emphasize the importance of optimizing the interaction. The change in children's use of technology also poses opportunities and threats for ergonomics that should be noted if the profession is to continue being relevant and useful into this century. The paper ends with a pathway to the development and implementation of guidelines about child information and communication technology use for different groups of guideline users.

Keywords:

• Children
• Educational environments
• Technology

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contributions of colleagues in the multidisciplinary IT Kids research group based at Curtin University (Courtenay Harris, Marina Wise, Geoffrey Kaye, Dr Kevin Murray, Sue Trinidad), our current and past research students and our two children Luke (7) and Guy (5), who have given us valuable opportunities to test our theories within an, at times, chaotic system.