The latest generation of children and young people live in the digital world as much as they live in the real one.
According to research from the Pew Internet Centre, up to half of children in the US have a mobile phone by the time they are 12 years old, and anecdotal evidence suggests that parents are more likely to buy their toddler a tablet than a cuddly toy.
The generation born in the age of computing differ from those born earlier, and experts believe it's important that schools and those working with young people understand the enormity of the change.
Rupert Murdoch has also spoken of the difference between digital immigrants and digital natives, saying: "We may never become true digital natives, but we must begin to assimilate to their culture and way of thinking."
What do the latest digital technologies mean for the way children and teenagers grow and learn, and how does that impact on how future new technologies should be developed?
It's often a complete mystery to many adults, even those just into their twenties, how today's young children and teenagers respond to, intuitively understand and embrace the very latest digital technologies. World-leading academic research and two ground-breaking master's by research programmes at UCLan seek to explore this area in-depth.
UCLan's Professor Janet Read, programme leader, MRes child computer interaction is a leading international researcher in child computer interaction (CCI) and is the holder of several UK and EU research grants pertaining to the design and evaluation of interactive products for children. In addition, she is editor-in-chief of the International Journal of CCI and chair of the IFIP Interaction Design and Children working group. She also authored the best-selling textbook on evaluating children's interactive products.
UCLan's master's by research (MRes) in CCI introduces applicants to the core concepts around academic research, advanced human computer interaction and child computer interaction and leads to a significant research or development project that brings together the critical learning that is introduced in the course.
Professor Read explains: "The programme is an ideal introduction to research in CCI and in HCI and is a great entry point for those considering PhD study in this area. This is the only MRes in CCI in the world. It is unique in that it is supported by staff from the ChiCI (Child Computer Interaction) group, which is the largest research group in the world, focussing on this area. Students studying CCI at UCLan will be taught by internationally recognised experts.
"In its part-time mode, the MRes in CCI is well suited to school teachers, youth workers and interaction designers, seeking to better understand how digital technologies are designed by, appropriated by and evaluated with children and teenagers."
A particular highlight of this course is the opportunity to get involved with world-leading research, and students are given an excellent platform on which to pursue further research. It allows them to work with an established research group, gain confidence and skills and become independent researchers in this exciting growing field.
Prof Read adds: "Students taking CCI will be expected to fully integrate themselves into the research environment of the ChiCI group at UCLan, taking part in evaluation and research studies alongside the experienced researchers. Half of the previous graduates of this programme, and its closely related predecessor course, have gone on to do PhDs."
UCLan's Dr Daniel Fitton, programme leader for MRes Interaction Design, talks about how research into human computer interaction is changing the way leading organisations in this sector are developing new technologies.
Daniel Fitton works within the field of human computer interaction (HCI) and specialises in interaction design, focussing on the design of new technologies with child and teenaged users. His PhD explored the design and use of situated interactive displays. Since then, he has carried out numerous research projects and worked with many companies such as BAE Systems, with whom he created technology demonstrators for future aircraft cockpit technologies. More recently, Daniel worked with local company, Remvox, to develop a new CCTV product. He is also a reviewer for all major HCI conferences and workshops and is on the committee of the BCS Interaction Special Interest Group.
Daniel explains: "This master's by research programme provides a solid grounding in the fields of HCI, interaction design and user experience (UX), enabling graduates to seek a career in any disciplines related to these areas. If you have a technical background and wish to focus on the design and use of interactive systems, or have an interest in working with technology users, then this is the course for you.
"We attract students from a range of backgrounds; some come straight from undergraduate study, while others are working in industry. This range of perspectives contributes to the richness of class discussion."
A large project element sets UCLan's programme apart, allowing students to explore a topic of their own choice in detail, whilst supervised by experienced academics.
Daniel adds: "The extended projects often result in the students authoring papers for submission to peer-reviewed academic conferences, and the creation of a portfolio of designs, technology prototypes and completed user studies."
The MREs gives graduates the foundation to pursue a career in the developing areas of user experience and interaction design, two specialist areas of expertise which are currently in demand in industry. Previous graduates have gone on to work for companies around the world. Dipti Antani is currently a User Experience Analyst at Tata in India and Kishan Salian is a Usability Analyst at the same company. In the UK, David Shaw is User Experience Designer at Mickey & Mallory in Manchester, whilst Jagruti Daya works in user experience at the BBC.
With interaction technology changing all the time, Daniel's top tip for prospective students would be: "To think about the exciting and inspiring range of new interaction possibilities – the latest mobile devices, multi-touch screens, Xbox Kinect, Apple Siri and brain-computer interfaces - and how they can be utilised to enable new interactive products and solve old problems in new ways."
Find out more about MRes Child Computer Interaction, the MRes Interaction Design and some of the research expertise and opportunities at UCLan in these dynamic areas.
