Computers and childhood

Jay Lemke (JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU)
Tue, 12 Dec 95 21:48:05 EST

I have been reading, while too busy to write much. Two recent
themes prompt responses, one here, another separately.

Computers and Childhood

Deweyan developmentalism offers a valuable perspective on the
nature of our computational machines and their limitations when
asked to perform some of what humans, even children, easily do
(e.g. generate context-appropriate language). About 10 years ago
I was asked by some people who wanted a computer to write
sensible English if I had any radical suggestions. My suggestion
was that the program needed to be able to learn by conversational
interaction with a human, that it needed to grow developmentally
in a social exchange; that it needed a specific aspect of
'childhood': social learning. Further consideration, however,
made it clear that just verbal conversation would not be enough;
there would need to be some visual and motor interactivity as
well. That was then beyond the limits of the technology, but
modern 'robots' are perhaps capable of having a true childhood. I
hope they enjoy it!

JAY LEMKE.
City University of New York.
BITNET: JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM
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