1. Text input and young children
A study of current practice
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

2. Introduction
The purpose is to ascertain how schools use the PC as a tool for young children writing – identifying problems and suggesting strategies for overcoming these. In particular, to establish if any alternative input devices are being used.
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

3. Motivation
Lecturer in Computing at UCLAN – working towards a PhD – input devices and writing
Mother – ‘Where’s the ‘m’ on the keyboard mummy?’
Interest in language impaired children and their interaction with the computer
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

4. Topics of Discussion Three main areas Evidence from earlier research
Evidence from local survey
Investigation into possible future ideas
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

5. Research Evidence References Government and Dfee info 27/05/2019
J C Read - UCLAN 2000

6. References
King, John. Alloway, Nola.Young Children's Use of Microcomputer Input Devices. Computers in the Schools. v9 n4 p
Bangert-Drowns, Robert Promise in Impermanence: Children Writing with Unlimited Access to Word Processors
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

7. Government Statistics
Primary schools have £24 per child to spend on computers
13 children per computer
52% schools use computers ‘substantially’ for English
36% machines over 5 years old
source
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

8. Local survey findings Supporting information and examples
Availability and usage
Problems encountered
Typical applications used
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

9. Details of the Survey
Random selection of schools sent two questionnaires each
IT survey
Writing survey
Findings
Children typically have 30 mins. Per week on a machine
Between 1.5 and 2.5 machines per class
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

10. Input devices available
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

11. Input devices used
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

12. Problems encountered
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

13. Typical applications
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

14. Comments by teachers School tries to ensure equal access
Children get frustrated if the work looks different from their written piece – ‘a’ and ‘t’ typically
Infant children not familiar with the keyboard – getting capital letters
Some children are slow typists
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

15. Possible New Developments
Natural language technologies
‘Disobedient’ interfaces
Voice recognition
Handwriting recognition
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

16. Early results Keyboard usage Voice input Handwritten input
55 Characters in 12 minutes
Voice input
Low accuracy rates with young children
Difficult to train
Handwritten input
Little training needed
80%+ accuracy
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

17. What findings suggest further study?
Keyboard mastery may be especially hard for some children- which ones?
Voice and Pen input are the way forward for adult interfaces – is this the same for children?
How will children react to ‘disobedient’ interfaces?
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

18. Where to next?
Building a test environment to enable comparisons to be made between the performance of interfaces
Devising a method of measuring the satisfaction of children using devices
Making modifications to ‘intelligent’ and ‘disobedient’ features as required
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J C Read - UCLAN 2000

19. Thank you!
Any questions?
27/05/2019
J C Read - UCLAN 2000