> I don't know if this has already been suggested, but I have > recently learned the programming language R, and it seems that > it's exactly what you would like to use to teach your kids > how to use a computer: > > (a) it's free and available for _all_ systems [M$, Linux, Mac]
How about the good olde Apple ][, C64, or some other prehistoric computers? Wouldn't Logo be a better choice? OTOH, on more modern computers, one might teach the child OOA and OOP with some Smalltalk system. > (b) it's simple to use Logo's simple to use as well. Smalltalk even simpler, especially if it comes to debugging. > (c) it's powerful enough to treat numerical data Hm, never trated large amounts of numerical in Logo. Bit boring for children, no? Smalltalk, OTOH, can treat numerical data (even arbitrary fraction with no rounding errors, or arbitrary precision FP data), and it can do even _fully_ object-oriented! Ok, if you want complex arithmetic built-in, Python might be an option as well. > For example, if you want to show the plot of a point, > you just start R and type: > > plot(10, 10) That's overkill. For such simple tasks, I use a pencil. Don't teach your children how to perform stupifyingly simple takes with the aid of technological overkill! > and it plots a small ball at coordinates (10,10). If > you want then to add another point, just type: > > points(12, 12) For the price of a computer, I could buy a room full of balls! > and the plot will be updated, showing the two balls. > [notice that the first plot fixes the size of the graphic > window, so points will only show points inside the picture]. Yup, the balls in the room would also be visible from the outside, though the window. > Of course, rtfm and you will see that _much_ more can Balls often come without manuals, but they also can be used for a multitude of activities, including soccer, basketball, smashing of windows, attacking penguins, thwrowing at apples, whatever! Best regards, Klaus ;-) _________________________________________________________ This mail sent using V-webmail - http://www.v-webmail.orgg _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
