If you have children, then you probably already know that they are big fans of computer games. I have three nephews and all of them spend a lot of their free time in front of a computer or a portable gaming device. Indeed, if it wasn't for the insistence of their parents, they would happily spend all of their spare time playing their favorite games.

The key to understanding the appeal of these games is to realize that the computer provides youngsters with an escape hatch into alternative worlds. These digital worlds are filled with sights and sounds that stimulate their senses and imagination.

When my nephew James is tapping away at the controls of his Xbox, he is not simply playing a game. From his perspective, he is attempting to win a life or death battle against a powerful adversary. He is completely involved in his electronic surroundings, and the characters that inhabit that world are a very significant part of his life.

There are several reasons why youngsters find digital environments so engaging:

(1) They are in control

One of the things that young children love most about computer games is the level of control they have. The world of the computer game is based on simple rules and once a child masters these rules, they build a level of confidence and control that they often find difficult to replicate in the real world.

While the world of adults is complex and unpredictable, the world of 'Mario Kart' is predictably reliable. Children know precisely what to expect and the computer provides them with fun and entertainment every time they flick the on switch.

(2) They obtain a sense of achievement

Another thing youngsters look forward to about playing computer games is the genuine sense of achievement they gain from finishing a special challenge or level. The best games are designed to challenge and reward users as they develop their skills over time.

When a child spends hours of effort and time to develop the skills necessary to defeat a particular adversary or finish a difficult challenge, they receive rush of satisfaction when they finally achieve the objective they have been working towards.

(3) They can share the experience with friends

Computer games also help children develop friendships in the real world. I have often heard students talking about what level they are up to in Piano Is Fun and chatting about the rewards that they earn during the game.

As long as it doesn't become overly competitive, a little bit of competition is a good way to challenge children to stretch themselves.For example if Michael, knows that his friend John has achieved his Silver Medallion challenge, he will be extremely motivated to get his own Bronze Medallion before he next meets John.

(4) They can progress at their own pace

Another valuable aspect of computer games is that children can progress at their own pace. The computer does not become angry if a child needs to repeat a certain lesson twenty times, and a good game will provide opportunities to learn without criticism.

Analyzing how and why children play games can provide educators and developers with a valuable blueprint for creating more effective educational software.

When I sat down to develop Piano Is Fun, I began by examining the principles underlying some of my nephews favorite computer games.

I realized that in order to engage children, piano software should ideally:

• Be easy to control
• Provide them with a sense of achievement each time they complete a level
• Promote healthy competition between students
• Allow children of all abilities to progress at their own pace

By reviewing the piano software with my nephew and other students, I was able to produce a game that ticked all the boxes.

The feedback from thousands of parents, teachers and children around the world has confirmed that Piano Is Fun effectively taps into the inherent attraction of computer games to children.

This provides an effective solution to the difficult problem of learning to read music notes. Instead of agonizing over boring Flash Cards, children can now play an appealing game that allows them to have fun while learning to read music.

To find our more about how piano software can help children and adult beginners learn how to read piano notes, check out Dr. Anthony Fernando's website now!

JAKARTA - Aroma Indo-Belanda akan kental dalam timnas U-23 Indonesia yang akan tutun di di SEA Games 2011 November mendatang. Setidaknya, empat pemain keturunan bakal menghiasi skuad yang diharapkan bisa meraih medali emas itu. Mereka adalah Ruben Wuarbanaran, Diego Michiels, Joey Suk, dan Ste ...

JAKARTA – Target juara umum di SEA Games (SEAG) 2011 Indonesia memacu Forki untuk terus menggenjot karatekanya. Forki ingin pelatnas yang sudah digelar sejak Mei tahun lalu benar-benar maksimal.

BIRMINGHAM – Habis sudah ambisi Indonesia merebut emas di ajang bulu tangkis bergengsi All England Super Series 2011.Dua ganda putra yang tersisa gagal menembus semifinal.

Home >> Writing >> Writing Competition - Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards (Deadline April 2011)

Writing Competition - Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards (Deadline April 2011)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia tidak menyisakan wakilnya pada semifinal All England, Sabtu, setelah dua ganda putra yang tersisa di perempat final gagal mengatasi lawan-lawan mereka.

Pasangan unggulan keempat Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan yang tampil dalam pertandingan pembuka babak delapan besar di National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Jumat petang waktu setempat (pukul 24.00 WIB) kalah oleh pasangan Malaysia Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong 19-21, 25-23, 11-21.

Sedangkan adik Kido, Bona Septano yang berpasangan dengan Mohammad Ahsan, menyerah kepada pasangan China Chai Biao/Guo Zhendong 18-21, 17-21.

Pasangan Kido/Hendra sempat mengembalikan peluang mereka untuk menang saat bangkit setelah tertinggal 4-11 dan memenangi game kedua 25-23 sekaligus memaksakan digelarnya game penentuan.

Namun pada game ketiga, pasangan juara Olimpiade dan Asian Games tersebut melakukan banyak kesalahan sehingga tidak mampu mengulang seperti yang terjadi pada game kedua ketika kembali tertinggal 6-11 saat interval.

Ganda putra Malaysia yang menjadi unggulan kelima itu akhirnya maju ke semifinal setelah bermain selama 49 menit.

"Tidak tahu mengapa, mainnya sedang tidak enak nih," ujar Hendra Setiawan saat ditanya penyebab permainan mereka yang banyak menghasilkan kesalahan terutama pada game penentuan.

Sementara Kido mengakui, akibat tertekan oleh permainan lawan --yang mengalahkan mereka untuk keenamkalinya dari sembilan pertemuan-- mereka menjadi banyak melakukan kesalahan sendiri.

Kekalahan dua ganda itu membuat Indonesia tidak mempunyai wakil di semifinal turnamen bergengsi dengan total hadiah sebesar 350 ribu dolar AS tersebut.

JAKARTA - Titus Bonai kena batunya. Dia hampir dipastikan tak akan dipanggil Pelatnas jangka panjang proyeksi SEA Games 2011. Keputusan tersebut diambil setelah Titus melakukan tindakan indisipliner saat menghuni Pelatnas menjelang laga Indonesia versus Turkmenistan beberapa waktu lalu.

"Untuk sementara belum," terang Iman Arif, manajer Timnas U-23, kepada Jawa Pos, kemarin (11/3).

Tindakan indisipliner Titus memang sempat membuat berang jajaran pelatih timnas. Apalagi, Titus sebenarnya adalah salah satu pemain yang menjadi andalan timnas saat bersua Turkmenistan. Buktinya, dia mampu mencetak satu-satunya gol saat Indonesia kalah dengan skor 1-3 di leg pertama.

"Kita akan lihat kondisi ke depannya," tambah Iman.

Iman menambahkan, setelah Indonesia gagal di kualifikasi Olimpiade 2012, para pemain akan dikembalikan ke klub masing-masing. Nantinya, Badan Tim Nasional (BTN) akan memanggil para pemain yang dianggap layak masuk Pelatnas jangka panjang tersebut.

Namun, BTN belum memiliki kepastian kapan Pelatnas tersebut akan mulai dijalankan kembali. Termasuk siapa-siapa saja pemain yang nantinya akan menghuni Pelatnas proyeksi SEA Games 2011 itu.

Tapi, BTN sudah memiliki kerangka bayangan untuk pemain yang akan menghuni Pelatnas jangka panjang nantinya. Hanya saja, mereka masih menutup mulut mengenai identitas para pemain tersebut.

"Setelah ini para pemain akan kembali lagi ke klub masing-masing. Susunan nama pemain sementara timnas U-23 akan saya umumkan Senin (14/3) mendatang," tegas Iman. (ru)

Birmingham: Kekalahan dua ganda itu membuat Indonesia tidak mempunyai wakil di semi final turnamen bergengsi dengan total hadiah sebesar 350 ribu dolar AS tersebut.

« Augmented Reality Brochures & Games Nissan Indonesia @ Mal Kelapa Gading

Pada tanggal 4 – 6 maret 2011, AR&Co Indonesia turut serta mendukung acara Nissan Exibition di Mal Kelapa Gading. Nissan Indonesia telah menggunakan teknologi Augmented Reality untuk menarik minat para pengunjung di mal tersebut.

Teknologi Augmented Reality yang dihadirkan adalah Augmented Reality Brochures dan Augmented Reality Games. Dimana pada aplikasi Augmented Reality yang digunakan pengunjung dapat berinteraksi dengan sebuah brosur dan dapat bermain game simulasi dari mobil Nissan March.