Toddlers who use touchscreens show attention differences

Nobody knows, but it happens and so we should research the effects.

So, per this page:

"The study followed them over the next 2.5 years, bringing them into the lab at 18 months and 3.5 years. At the 18-month and 3.5-year visits, toddlers took part in a computer task in which they were trained to search for a red apple amongst a varying number of either blue apples (easy search), or blue apples and red apple slices (difficult search). An eye tracker monitored their gaze and visually rewarded the child when they found the red apple, allowing them to perform the task even though they were too young to verbally describe what they were doing."

No discussion as to any other effect of screen use. Why did this need study? Humans who use a thing more often are better at working with thing?

Better studies on kids with screen time focuses on spatial development: https://digitalcommons.liu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1...

"Greater daily digital usage was associated with lower visual spatial performance. Spending even small amounts of time daily with integrated technology was associated with lower WPPSI-IV overall intelligence test scores, and visual spatial scores. Those with the least amount of resources are at the most risk for lower visual spatial abilities"

> The study followed them over the next 2.5 years, bringing them into the lab at 18 months and 3.5 years. At the 18-month and 3.5-year visits, toddlers took part in a computer task in which they were trained to search for a red apple amongst a varying number of either blue apples (easy search), or blue apples and red apple slices (difficult search). An eye tracker monitored their gaze and visually rewarded the child when they found the red apple, allowing them to perform the task even though they were too young to verbally describe what they were doing.

First off, this is brilliant use of eye tracking. I could see eye tracking being so useful for learning, such as tracking attention, knowing when to need a break, etc. Eye tracking is super useful in user testing - for example I was watching some user testing at a major corporation and we used eye tracking. We instructed the user to minimize the app and then open it again, and we noticed that when it was in the systray, people really got confused. It was really easy to see because we could see where their eyes were scanning. Using eye tracking for people who can't speak (for any reason, maybe physical or mental injury or disability, and here age / language barrier) could be huge.

The attention differences are certainly interesting, although I wonder how much of it might be training to use touchscreens, or the idea of a screen that it might change at any time, without related motion. This is completely unnatural, as you would normally think something will change when something walks over to it, or moves slightly. Fixed objects tend to fade more into the background of our mental landscape, which is the basis of a lot of sleight of hand. Like removing something when you can't see it. It'd be interesting to compare against something that doesn't change when you interact with it, like television screens. (is it the touch part, or the screen part?)

I also wonder how touchscreens are sometimes differently interpreted by animals, kind of like mirrors are. For example, some cats seem to think that the little toy apps are under them, or inside of them, or are just generally confused. It's really quite fascinating.

> at what cost to the future growth of the kid?

Does there need to be a cost? From my experience, it's just like most activities you do with your children.

You can use it as babysitter or you can use it as a learning tool by participating and engaging with your child.

Here's how I've done it and he's doing great:

- We mostly use the tablet together, especially when we try a new app.

- I avoid the crack-head apps. The ones with bells, whistles, popups, and other toxic rewards for simple actives. It's fine to rewards like that for something challenging.

- We talk about what he's doing. For example, why he chooses certain colors or why he likes the features. Anything to start a conversation.

- Moderation. 15-30 minutes once every few days.

- Reference what he learned from the app during real-life activities. For example, one app he likes is a virtual dog washing app. He uses soap, a brush, water, etc. When we're playing together, we pretend to clean his stuffed animals just like he did in the app.

My 1 year old twins have been trying to play with my wife and I's phones since they were old enough to start grabbing stuff. They also make for great little distractions during diaper changes when they'd otherwise try to sit up or flip around. We usually lock the screen before we let them play with the phones, but occasionally I'll let them swipe and tap around just to see what they can figure out.