Windows for Kids

A few months ago, I setup a Hotmail account and Live ID services for my daughter.  Because she is a minor, there are a lot of hurdles that you must navigate in order to get it done.  After it was all over, I realized that all of the user experience for our Live services were not really designed with kids in mind. 

First, there is an expectation that you can read and understand what you read very well.  Second, you should already be quite familiar with the Windows Shell for navigating a computer.  Fundamentally, the Windows Shell has been the same since the Windows 95 operating system; most adults should have no problems at all. They have had at least 15 years to develop the prerequisite skills. 

But what about children? 

Can we do it a differently? 

Can power and simplicity both be wielded by young children? 

A user experience design shop in Europe seems to think it can be done!

Meet Microsoft Windows Tender by Plain Concepts

Plain Concepts worked on a complete redesign of the Windows Shell just for kids.  In contrast, Microsoft has gone in the opposite direction and designed Windows PowerShell for computing deities. To the best of my knowledge, Windows Tender is not an actual product that can be purchased and/or downloaded for Windows.  It is a prototype concept of what a Windows OS would look like for children being the primary user.  With the advent of Multi-Touch screens, Multi-Touch support, and other natural user interface options in the Windows 7 operating system, this seems a like logical next step and a wonderful new market opportunity.

Windows Live Messenger for Kids

Windows Button has a visual ripple effect when touched and the apps are subdued when the focus is on the Windows Button.

Windows Start Menu for Kids

The apps that kids love and the communications are front and centered; there’s no need to search for anything.

More than the mythical Courier device, I personally would love to see more investments like this for the Windows operating system.  Since Microsoft has made Windows open for developers, almost anyone could design a new shell for Windows that is geared towards children. Plain Concepts designed their Windows Shell using Windows Presentation Foundation, Expression Design, Visual Studio 2008, and Blend 2.0.  All of these developer/designer technologies are available to high school and college students at no-cost through DreamSpark.com.

During the Windows “codenamed: Longhorn” development, Microsoft Research designed several new Windows Shells for young children and teenagers.  The designs were intelligent.  The system was aware of its current location and user to allow different policy settings based on the use context.  Since the shell would grow with the learner, as the youth reached high school, she would have other options and latitude available that were not present as an elementary student.

The FCC National Broadband Plan calls for investment in personalized learning for students.  Perhaps the first thing we need to personalize is the user experience for learning and young learners. 

If any of the student innovators want to take a crack at a Windows Shell redesign for children, I would volunteer my heiress to beta test it.  Be inspired to go higher!

Resources:

• Windows Shell Developer’s Guide
• Microsoft Expression Design
• Microsoft Expression Blend
• Microsoft Visual Studio
• Microsoft DreamSpark