Defeat the Windows Monopoly, Teach Your Kids Linux
Fight the monopoly domination of operating systems and applications.
Teach your kids Linux. You, too, can fight the power.
It remains such a stereotype that kids learn to program VCRs while
their parents still have trouble setting the VCR clock, let alone
learning to program the machines. Kids learn quickly, and the so-called
high technology doesn't seem to stump kids at all. I know my four-year-
old can recognize the cancel button on dialog windows and she cannot
even read yet.
Kids don't seem to have much problems with Windows, launching programs,
and moving the mouse. So, take advantage of the great learning ability
of kids and teach them Linux. As they grow, they will be familiar with
Linux and hopefully won't want to use Windows as they grow.
To help teach kids how to use Linux, you might want to start with a
desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE and then add in some age-
appropriate games. You can find links to a number of Linux games at
http://www.linuxgames.com/ and http://happypenguin.org.
One program stands out for teaching kids on computers, GCompris.
GCompris provides a learning game for children that includes a number
of simple games intended more for the younger set than those who enjoy
Quake or Civilization. The games teach children numbers, shapes, and
telling time, although some of the games concentrate on algebra for
older kids.
Games are built on top of boards, which use the GTK Canvas widget.
GCompris comes with a number of boards, described at
http://www.ofset.org/gcompris/screenshoots.html. GCompris is named
after the French phrase j'ai compris, which means "I have understood".
The game supports a number of languages.
Download GCompris from SourceForge at
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=6865. A full
manual is available at http://www.ofset.org/gcompris/gcompris.html.
Hey, what better way to defeat the Windows monopoly than to train your
kids how to use Linux?
» posted by ITworld staff
ITworld
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
jfruh
Apple syncing patent can't come soon enough
pasmith
New Twitter features borrow from 3rd party clients
Esther Schindler
Open Source Changes the Software Acquisition Process
mikelgan
How to set up continuous podcast play on the new iTunes
David Strom
Five important Windows 7 mobility features
sjvn
Guard your Wi-Fi for your own sake
Sandra Henry-Stocker
Grepping on Whole Words
Sidekick: The Good News & the Bad News
Either way you look at it Microsoft Data Center management did not follow standards or best practices in this failure. In which case it makes me wonder more about the outsourcing of corporate data much less personal data.
- mburton325
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.












