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2014 » Papers » Volume 2 » Relations between Familiarity with Touch Interfaces and Sensorimotor Skills in Preschoolers 1. RELATIONS BETWEEN FAMILIARITY WITH TOUCH INTERFACES AND SENSORIMOTOR SKILLS IN PRESCHOOLERS Authors: Schipor Maria Doina, Pentiuc Stefan Gheorghe, Cramariuc Gabriel, Clipa Otilia Volume 2 | DOI: 10.12753/2066-026X-14-121 | Pages: 430-433 | Download PDF | Abstract
Nowadays, ubiquitous technologies - devices surrounding us - claim a new, natural and intuitive interaction paradigm. This challenge becomes more emphases when it is about so-called "generation of digital learners" because their particular need to experience technology as an integrated component of their usual development scenario. However, despite of worries activated by possible negative effects of its irrational utilization, the computer is an accepted educational tool. In this context, one of the most recent and promising (from educational point of view) computer-like devices are touch screens. Without any doubt, these nowadays tools have known an unprecedented spreading among children and there are few researches who have investigate the developmental impact. For example, there are few documented (if any) answers for fundamental questions such as: What are the educational advantages of these devices? Do these "pros" outcome the drawbacks? What is the impact of touch interfaces on children's development and how can we measure it? Could this impact be controlled in order to enrich learning experiences and to endorse psychological development? In this paper we focus on highlighting the relations between the extent of using touch interfaces and the level of sensorimotor skills in preschoolers (N=90). A quasi-experimental design was conducted in order to test our hypothesis. The independent variables (i.e. familiarity with touch interfaces, motor skills observed by parents) were investigated with a questionnaire applied to the children's parents. The dependent variables (i.e. the rhythmic and sequential movements and the visuomotor precision) were measured through neuropsychological assessment using the Fingertip Tapping and Visuomotor Precision (subtests from NEPSY Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment). The obtained results have shown significant relations between the above mentioned variables. These outcomes encourage us to continue our research for both evaluation and improving children's sensorimotor skills through touch interfaces. | Keywords
touch interfaces, sensorimotor skills, sensorimotor assessment |
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