After seeing SAM in class today, I was left with mixed feelings. As a child, I always played with another child, usually a sibling, and rarely watched television or played video games. I am intrigued by the idea of SAM, but at the same time, I believe this program needs much more work. I like the idea of children playing together as a way to develop language skills.
Children are able to communicate in a way that no other group can.
There are phrases, words, and even ways of speaking that are unique to children in general, and also to groups of children such as friends, siblings, etc. My problem with SAM is that this computer program is trying to be a real child. In order for this program to succeed even in the slightest way, many things need to be changed. The things I noticed in class were gestures, listening, and flow. A normal child would look from the toy to the child, and vice versa.