Scott Hanselman wrote the Babysmash! program in order to protect his computer when his small children banged away at his keyboard. The free program is the Windows equivalent of the Apple program, Alphababy. What the program does is "lock out the Windows Key, as well as Ctrl-Esc and Alt-Tab so your baby can't get out of the application. Pressing ALT-F4 will exit the application and Shift-Ctrl-Alt-O brings up the options dialog."
The alternative is to make the computer off limits to very young children but that would also reduce quality time with your children, especially if you work as much on the computer as Hanselman does. The program is a great way to introduce the computer to toddlers.
Would little children really enjoy this program? You bet. Just check out the Youtube video of this adorable toddler laughing away whilst he experiments with the keyboard. It is a valuable early lesson in cause ( touch a key) and effect (colourful letters and shapes appear).
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Baby-focused Computer Programs
- Developing specialized computer programs for babies to engage with can be a lucrative and untapped market.
- Childproofing Technology
- Childproofing technology can be applied in various ways such as developing specialized software that can enable a child-friendly computing experience that is both safe and engaging.
- Integrating Play and Learning
- Integrating play and learning in technology solutions targeted at young children can significantly improve literacy and numeracy skills that are critical to their development.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Educational Technology
- Developing child-friendly computer programs and technology can provide innovative and disruptive solutions for early literacy and educational needs.
- Parenting and Childcare
- Marketing, selling, and customization of childproofing solutions can provide disruptive innovations that can help shape the parenting and childcare market.
- Computer Hardware Manufacturers
- Hardware manufacturers can take advantage of the needs of parents for child-safe computing by building hardware with features that limit a child's ability to inadvertently damage a computer's hardware while offering a child-friendly computing experience.
