I can't judge the Einstein ideas since I know them too poorly,
but I am very sympathetic to the idea that cultural mediation, e.g.,
mediation through material/ideal artifacts, changes/constructs
temporality in human life. I was blown away when I encountered Leslie
White's idea that owing to cultural mediation, humans experience time
as extending from infinitity to infinity "in either direction."
I believe that the heterochrony brought about by cultural mediation
is really central to development and I think this is the main message
of Ana's note (at least, it was one I read into it!).
Thanks to everyone who has chipped in with refs on computers and classroom
cultures. Really helpful. Chapter promised in the great by and by when
it written up (he says, planning to leave the country!).
mike