beyond the normal stuff: a microscope, speks mini magnetic balls, 3d pen, japanese snacks.

What microscope did you go with out of curiosity. That never crossed my mind but actually might be something my kids would be into.

Excellent work! Reminds me (though maybe inaccurately) of soundtracks from old CGI laser discs that were basically long demos.

Thank you! Ah cool CGI laser discs!! This is a great reminder.

The video linked in the top post is via HRIC's (Human Rights in China) youtube chan. I used to see them at 2600's HOPE conferences in NYC in the early 2000s. I figure some of you may have seen them there as well. Neat to see that they're still going strong.

That automation you cite in your #1 is advocated for because it is deterministic and, with effort, fairly well understood (I have countless scripts solidly running for years).

I don't disavow AI, but like the author, I am not thrilled that the masses of excel users suddenly have access to Copilot (gpt4). I've used Copilot enough now to know that there will be huge, costly mistakes.

hahaha this is so good

same, so good, so much wasted time also

Example:

https://x.com/LLMSherpa/status/1949959430465888446

So gay Zoomers can use AI to make meth but I can’t understand a thing?! I hate this future!

Meanwhile we’ve got Kanye and Kim teaching math using angry birds in split screen vertical video. https://youtube.com/shorts/puy_DBrhnyg?si=dRdbM9HPAS3cPJnu

Everything will be deep fakes soon, but even worse, the algos will have enough computing power to create deep fakes tailored to harassing just you and trying to change your views, most likely to sell you shit or vote a certain way.

Don't worry just pick any silly stereotype and accent and you're good to go! AI is utterly charmed by those types!

Oh no It’s high school all over again!

I experienced a similar situation and decided from then on to get a second adult involved before assisting a stranger's kid.

In my situation, a girl was stuck at the top of the highest climbing fixture I've ever seen at a public playground. She was crying for a couple minutes without aid, so I walked over to tell her that I'd try to find her parent. The mother sprinted over and yelled to leave her daughter alone, then left the playground w/ her daughter.

I loved your writeup. Thank you for taking the time to share what you've learned.

It's odd to see such nonsensical detractors here on HN.

How is this the top comment? The author's aim is making their app a joy to use because it is for their own children. You interpreted their comment about making things feel like real objects as them trying to hook users like big tobacco? Utter nonsense.

As a parent of a toddler, could not disagree more.

This article can be read two different ways.

A parent making an app for their own children is wholesome and making a list of UX finds is helpful to other parents in that position.

At the same time app stores are filled with games that hook kids on with bright visuals, sound effects, and basic button mashing.

That second use case is vastly more common.

I can't help but wonder if I'm being trolled. This app does not hook kids with garbage, visuals, sound effects, or basic button mashing. The author is also against ads, social sharing (due to child safety), and children being able to spend money in the app.

You say "that second use case is vastly more common", however the author is very clearly aimed at the first use case. Yet you are arguing that they fall into the second.

I am not arguing that.

You called a viewpoint that I share "utter nonsense". So I presented a counterpoint. A counterpoint to your opinion is neither a troll nor an attack on the original author's intent and/or character.

All I'm saying is we can both read the same article and one of us goes to build an app for their kid while the other goes and builds an app that gets other people's kids addicted to it while shoving ads. This has nothing to do with the author of the article.