"What's a computer?"

[Heratnumber7]

I can't remember what it's advertising, but at the end of this ad there's a girl lying on the grass with an open laptop in front of her. The mum (?) asks "What are you doing on your computer?" And the girl answers "What's a computer?"

Can anyone explain what that means please?

I think that advert's silly too, primary school children ime know what computers are, they have them in schools.

I teach in a primary school. The only desktop computers are in the office. The children all use laptops or tablets.
When I talk about using my computer the children all tell me that I don’t have a computer, I have a laptop. They see it as a different thing.

It makes me think of Jen in The IT Crowd saying “com-pu-ter”. Possibly not the effect they were going for.

I'm using a desktop computer now. I had no idea there were deemed so archaic.

What is the child doing with her computer ipad on the shop counter? It looks like she gives it a hard bash before dashing off.

SimonBridges Fri 29-Dec-17 21:38:21
Children don’t see iPads as computers. The only thing young children see as computers now are desk top computers, and when did you last see one of those?

I see at least one desk top computer every day at my school.
The children aged 4-7y see them at least once or twice a week, if not more. They see a laptop daily in class, and iPads a couple of times a week.

I teach in an infant school and specifically teach computing.

We have just had the Media Room kitted out and updated everything and, for practicalities, I have selected desk top computers (to replace desk top computers.)

We also have two sets of iPads. One set for the Media Room, a second set for classroom use.

Every class aged 4-7y is scheduled 2 sessions, using a full morning or full afternoon) with classroom iPad time - used to enhance teaching and learning in whichever way the teacher feels is best each week. Classes are also scheduled a dedicated computing lesson each week, of approx one hour. I teach many of these sessions. About 60% of what we do is computer based, rest is iPad based.

I do end up with many 4 years olds starting school who have never used a desk top before - they try to touch the screens and have no idea how to move the mouse, and using the keyboard with capital letters is often a challenge. By the end of reception they all get there.