Even Toddlers Quite Adept at Using and Mastering the Latest Technology

Scientists from University of Iowa found that small babies are quite adept at using and mastering the latest technology, so much so that many toddlers can use an iPad when they are just one, and most of them master the gadget by their second birthday.

Researchers analyzed hundreds of YouTube videos of babies trying and quickly mastering the technology. They found half of toddlers can use an iPad when they are just one, with 90% mastering the gadget by their second birthday. The researchers admit they were stunned by the results.

"By age two, 90% of the children in the videos had a moderate ability to use a tablet," Juan Pablo Hourcade, associate professor of computer science was quoted as saying. "Just over 50% of 12 to 17-month-old children in the videos had a moderate ability," Hourcade said.

Hourcade and his colleagues defined 'moderate ability' as needing help from an adult to access apps but being able to use them while displaying some difficulty with basic interactions.

Hourcade hoped this study and others that follow would influence the development of newer apps which encourage interactive education for infants and toddlers.

"One of the biggest differences we found is that when children turn one year old, they switch from using both hands and all their fingers to interact with the tablet to using an index finger -- which is what adults do," he said.

Source: IANS