ToonTalk(TM)--An Animated Programming Environment for Children.
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| Title: | ToonTalk(TM)--An Animated Programming Environment for Children. |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Kahn, Ken |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 9 |
| Publication Date: | 1995 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Descriptive Speeches/Meeting Papers |
| Descriptors: | Authoring Aids (Programming), Autoinstructional Aids, Children, Computer Games, Computer Graphics, Computer Interfaces, Computer Simulation, Computer System Design, Independent Study, Programming, Video Games |
| Abstract: | This paper describes ToonTalk, a general-purpose concurrent programming system in which the source code is animated and the programming environment is a video game. The design objectives of ToonTalk were to create a self-teaching programming system for children that was also a very powerful and flexible programming tool. A keyboard can be used for various accelerators, but a ToonTalk user can get by with just a game pad, joystick, or mouse. Every abstract computational aspect is mapped into a concrete metaphor. The ToonTalk "world" resembles a 20th century city; an entire ToonTalk computation is a city. The programmer controls a "programmer persona" or robot in this video world to construct, run, debug and modify programs. In addition to a message-passing interface, ToonTalk provides a direct control of sprites (animated graphical elements); a sprite can be flipped over to reveal a notebook which contains remote controls for that sprite. Initial testing of ToonTalk use by children has revealed that it provides an entertaining way of constructing programs. (Contains 10 references.) (AEF) |
| Entry Date: | 1996 |
| Accession Number: | ED392435 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This paper describes ToonTalk, a general-purpose concurrent programming system in which the source code is animated and the programming environment is a video game. The design objectives of ToonTalk were to create a self-teaching programming system for children that was also a very powerful and flexible programming tool. A keyboard can be used for various accelerators, but a ToonTalk user can get by with just a game pad, joystick, or mouse. Every abstract computational aspect is mapped into a concrete metaphor. The ToonTalk "world" resembles a 20th century city; an entire ToonTalk computation is a city. The programmer controls a "programmer persona" or robot in this video world to construct, run, debug and modify programs. In addition to a message-passing interface, ToonTalk provides a direct control of sprites (animated graphical elements); a sprite can be flipped over to reveal a notebook which contains remote controls for that sprite. Initial testing of ToonTalk use by children has revealed that it provides an entertaining way of constructing programs. (Contains 10 references.) (AEF) |
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