So I'm supposed to be writing my 3-4 minute speech/debate for class tomorrow, but like any responsible college student, I'm putting it off until 1:30AM the night before.
Here's one reason why
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_merrill_demos_siftables_the_smart_blocks.html
These things have the potential to revolutionize communication, learning, and our everyday interaction with the world.
Siftables are like cookie sized computers that can communicate with each other. They can do things such as word games, math, and of course, make music.
The video is only 7 minutes long and is worth a watch.
Though reading a few reviews there are also seems to be some dangers.
"IMO those are toys for grown ups and learning aids for kids, but they can be devastating to children's creative and inventive potential because they simply overtax and bypass the kids' own creative powers too easily and quickly."
~claude pauly
I do hope they're picked up by some company and produced. These little things just have too much potential.
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so I just realized no one ever commented on this post, I watched the video and was shocked and startled by all the possibilities and opportunities uncovered by these siftables. I was impressed by the great how much the chips can "think". I agree with Pauly that these could cause more harm than good for the young minds but also think they could extremely useful to adults.
ReplyDeleteIn Cognitive Psych we have discussed the importance of keeping the mind active and how the brain exercises help to improve/keep memory skills. These definitely seem to give the brain a great workout.
The downfall I see is that it can limit a child's imagination. In a lot of ways, being externally stimulated and rewarded will kill the internal motivation to learn and think. Leaning so much on technology at a young seems to help everyone but if we aren't careful we will just put more limitations on our potential rather than actually unleashing it.
all in all, I think it is a cool idea but "with great power come great responsibility."
I agree that these tools are potentially dangerous for small children, because they are so advanced that a child could simply grab a hand-full of them and shake, with the end result being a cool new beat or something like that without the child actually doing anything. A baby simply doesn't have the rel capacity for these tools as was shown in the video when the baby just stacked them like regular blocks. On the other hand, I do think that they would be great for elementary-age kids on up to adults for any number of things ranging from a learning tool to musician in a studio trying to come up with a new beat. I agree that these devices have enormous potential, but it must be managed carefully.
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