Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia.
Ergonomics. 2009 Nov;52(11):1386-401. doi: 10.1080/00140130903067789.
Computer use by children at home and school is now common in many countries. Child computer exposure varies with the type of computer technology available and the child's age, gender and social group. This paper reviews the current exposure data and the evidence for positive and negative effects of computer use by children. Potential positive effects of computer use by children include enhanced cognitive development and school achievement, reduced barriers to social interaction, enhanced fine motor skills and visual processing and effective rehabilitation. Potential negative effects include threats to child safety, inappropriate content, exposure to violence, bullying, Internet 'addiction', displacement of moderate/vigorous physical activity, exposure to junk food advertising, sleep displacement, vision problems and musculoskeletal problems. The case for child specific evidence-based guidelines for wise use of computers is presented based on children using computers differently to adults, being physically, cognitively and socially different to adults, being in a state of change and development and the potential to impact on later adult risk. Progress towards child-specific guidelines is reported. Finally, a set of guideline principles is presented as the basis for more detailed guidelines on the physical, cognitive and social impact of computer use by children. The principles cover computer literacy, technology safety, child safety and privacy and appropriate social, cognitive and physical development. The majority of children in affluent communities now have substantial exposure to computers. This is likely to have significant effects on child physical, cognitive and social development. Ergonomics can provide and promote guidelines for wise use of computers by children and by doing so promote the positive effects and reduce the negative effects of computer-child, and subsequent computer-adult, interaction.
儿童在家中和学校使用电脑现在在许多国家都很常见。儿童接触电脑的程度因可用的电脑技术类型以及儿童的年龄、性别和社会群体而异。本文综述了目前的儿童接触电脑数据，以及儿童使用电脑的积极和消极影响的证据。儿童使用电脑的潜在积极影响包括增强认知发展和学业成绩、减少社交互动障碍、增强精细运动技能和视觉处理能力以及有效的康复。潜在的负面影响包括对儿童安全的威胁、不适当的内容、接触暴力、欺凌、网络成瘾、替代适度/剧烈的体育活动、接触垃圾食品广告、睡眠移位、视力问题和肌肉骨骼问题。根据儿童与成人使用电脑的方式不同、儿童在身体、认知和社会方面与成人不同、处于变化和发展状态以及对以后成人风险的潜在影响，提出了制定基于儿童具体情况的明智使用电脑指南的理由。报告了制定儿童特定指南的进展情况。最后，提出了一套指导原则，作为制定关于儿童使用电脑对身体、认知和社会影响的更详细指南的基础。这些原则涵盖计算机素养、技术安全、儿童安全和隐私以及适当的社会、认知和身体发展。现在，富裕社区的大多数儿童都有大量接触电脑的机会。这很可能对儿童的身体、认知和社会发展产生重大影响。人体工程学可以为儿童明智地使用电脑提供和推广指南，从而促进电脑与儿童以及电脑与成人的积极互动，减少其消极影响。
