Children using touch-screen technology
Tablet technology is increasingly popular as a means of keeping young children occupied, but it presents risks along with advantages
At 10 months, Perry has only just learned to crawl, but he has no problems negotiating his way around his dad's tablet. The infant is among the many early adopters of touch-screen technology that is now the norm in devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.
Perry's father, Mark Pemberton, noticed how quickly the little boy learned to use his iPad, playing with apps almost intuitively.
Touch-screen devices have taken off since the release of the first iPad. It's unlikely that tablet makers had toddlers in mind when they developed the gadgets, but young children have gravitated to the new technology. A 2011 survey by US non-profit advocacy group Common Sense Media found that 39 per cent of children aged two to four years and 52 per cent of those aged five to eight have used a touch screen for videos, games or other apps. And software developers have taken note, along with producers of educational content.
The driving force for such early use of touch-screen technology is twofold. It used to be that children had to learn how to type on a keyboard, figure out how to use a mouse or a joystick and then have mum or dad negotiate the operating system to utilise educational software. Applications on tablets, on the other hand, open directly into play mode.
Moreover, interactive apps provide immediate feedback, unlike television, which is a passive experience for children.