Invited Contribution: CHIkids

Allison Druin, University of New Mexico, USA

What can happen when you mix computers, kids, and a variety of creative activities? We are exploring this question with "CHIkids". CHIkids is a new conference program for CHI 96 that will offer a week-long exploration for children (3-12 years old) in four areas of technology. CHIkids participants will have the opportunity to:

Create multimedia stories
Explore educational multimedia titles
Test emerging software technologies with CHI researchers
Act as conference reporters, using desktop publishing tools and the World Wide Web

The CHIkids Chair and CHIkids Technology Leaders will summarize the week's activities and share their thoughts on the experience. CHIkids will be supported by a volunteer committee that includes specialists in multimedia, publishing, and instructional technologies for children. Each technology chair will describe the many facets of CHIkids:

CHIkids/Childcare Chair for CHI 96

Allison Druin is the co-author of a new book, "Designing Multimedia Environments for Children".

CD-ROM Fieldtrips Chair

Barbara Coppola Jones is a teacher who currently works with classroom teachers on how to integrate technology into their work with children.

Multimedia Storytelling Chair

Michael Chanover is a developer of children's CD-ROM edutainment titles at T/Maker Company in Mountain View, California.

Publishing Chair

Vera Kark is a California based Multimedia consultant with an extensive background in electronic publishing and imaging.

Technology Workouts Chair

Vineel Shah is a multimedia developer at Imergy Inc.

chi96-webmaster@acm.org / 96-01-03