This document discusses developing an interactive children's literature application to allow long-distance story time between children and parents. It would link two touchscreen devices so that parents could remotely control the child's screen to read stories together. This could help families spend intimate time reading despite being apart. The application may also use video calls or haptic technologies to enhance interaction. It would draw from classic literature and tales, adapting them for digital formats with animation and interactivity to engage children.

1. Innovation and Professional DevelopmentInnovation and Professional Development
ProjectProject
Sam Heisler - 0904806

2. How can long distance communication/How can long distance communication/
networking be implemented into digitalnetworking be implemented into digital
interactive children’s literature?interactive children’s literature?
Interactive ClassicsInteractive Classics

3. What role does “story time” play?What role does “story time” play?
 Important aspect in a child’s development. Reading a book to a child
advances the child on an emotional and social level.
 Large influence on the child’s reading habits and passion for literacy.
 A recent study [1] shows that the decline in reading affects culture,
economy, civic life and children’s educational achievement (USA).
This could be linked to a direct connection between the academic success
and reading books.
 Story time is also an intimate moment between children and
parents with lots of creativity and magic in the air to create a
great bonding experience.

4.  Parents that are unable to spend this special time with their children
because of: - work
- travelling
- divorce
or other reasons.
 Modern technologies can help people connect in difficult situations
over large distances. And the importance to connect with a child in
these situations and to be able to bond through an intimate story
time, despite being in different locations, is all the more
important.
 Grandparents, the favourite uncle/cousin or siblings could also make use
of this application.
Target audienceTarget audience

5. 1. Technology and Software Research1. Technology and Software Research
 So Let’s have a look at the core technology and software children’s
literature could use to create a working long distance
communication between child and parent, yet preserve intimacy.

6. Touch Screen DevicesTouch Screen Devices
 The target device for this project are touch screen devices
 Touch screens are very simple to use and even very young children
understand how to interact with them.
 Easy and intuitive

7. Link Between The DevicesLink Between The Devices
“TeamViewer connects to any PC or server
around the world within a few seconds. You can
TeamViewer remote control your partner's PC as if you were
sitting right in front of it. Find out why more
than 100 million users trust TeamViewer!”
(Teamviewer.com)
 Accessing the “story time” application will notify the parents device or vice
versa (by a message, call..).
 Parent opens the application. The two devices are now linked and the child’s
screen appears on the parents device. They can now interact with each
other. The parent shares full control over the child’s screen.

8. Instant Messengers & Video CallsInstant Messengers & Video Calls
Skype ICQ MSN Facebook ...
 The ‘story time’ application could also launch a video call in which the
parent can see and interact better with the child during story time

9. Haptic TechnologyHaptic Technology
 Tactile and haptic technologies allow us to
feel textures on a touch screen. A technology
that is currently in its development stages,
but could benefit many.
 It offers more interaction with the on screen
content and in relation to the project this
could be used in an educational and fun
based way.
 Blind people could also benefit from this
technology tremendously.
Links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUWy2GW7XQ4
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_26/b4234043549730.htm

10. 2. Classic Children’s Literature2. Classic Children’s Literature
 Tales used to be told or played dramatically and were passed down from
generation to generation
 Most classic children’s books originate from oral traditions such as fairy
tales, legends, myths and moral tales.
 Through these stories a child improves his or her ability to visualize a
spoken narrative. It also helps the child to remember the story as heard.
 Classic Interactive Children’s Literature: Volvelles, pop-up books,
coloring books, gamebooks, hidden object and picture books, touch and
feel books

11. Grimm Brothers’ Fairy TalesGrimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales
 The Grimm Brothers belong to the first to write down the oral traditions
and collect them.
 They edited many of the stories to appeal to children more. Before Fairy
Tales were aimed at adults as children likewise.

12. Walt DisneyWalt Disney
 Disney brought the stories to life
through animation. This was a
huge development in the way
stories are communicated.
 It is still a ‘one-way’ piece though
and has little interaction.
 The digital age offers animation
and interaction possibilities to
communicate stories in a more
engaging way.

13. Little Golden BooksLittle Golden Books
 Contains mainly American stories and a
few old tales from everywhere.
 Since 1942 Little Golden Books publish
children’s literature.
The New Basic Readers: MoreThe New Basic Readers: More
Times and Places. (1955)Times and Places. (1955)
Personal ValuePersonal Value

14. 3. Digital Children’s Literature3. Digital Children’s Literature
 Digital media allows parents to collect children’s books much easier and
faster than ever before. Often children are bombarded with information
from all directions these days.
 Therefore it is important to filter this content and to create a
personal connection with the children. Modern technology with its
interactive possibilities is able to improve this experience even
more.
(Although it can achieve the opposite outcome in some cases in which the
interactive stories and audio recordings entertain the child and allow the
parent to be absent.)

15.  The Night Before Christmas (Voice Recording, UI Design)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgrIkvR8m8k&feature=player_embedded
 Alice for the IPad (Tilting, “Gravity”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gew68Qj5kxw

16.  The Tale of Peter the Rabbit (Tilting, Scaling)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LGUqe9u56Xo
 Bridging Book (Digital Compass Sensor, Multimedia)
http://vimeo.com/64249658
Mixed-media picture-book that blurs the line between printed and
electronic books. Thumbing through the book’s pages triggers the
device to display the complementary digital content.

17. SummarySummary
The main idea is to connect children and parents, despite
distance problems, by linking two devices and enabling an
interactive and engaging story time experience.

18. Thank You. Any Questions?Thank You. Any Questions?