Early adopters stay ahead of the game

There's not much time for nostalgia when it comes to technology, but buying "lapware" for my 2-year-old girl the other day brought back a few memories. It also raised some questions about the way we learn.

First off, software for pre-schoolers is called lapware and I bought Dr Seuss's ABC, which is rated suitable for ages 2-6. The Cat in the Hat, text and look of the original book is the same as it ever was, just piped in on a new medium. But it's more interactive and my girl quickly learned to click on music videos, play simple games and sing along with the ABC song.

It brought home the fact that today's toddlers live in a different world, not only to the one I experienced 40 years ago, but even compared with the childhoods of those born 20-odd years ago. According to Larry Rosen, professor of psychology at California State University, this post-80s generation is the Net Generation, whereas those born in the 90s and beyond are the iGeneration.