Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent 

Listen now: Tanya Byron, head of govt review into games

We spoke to psychologist Tanya Byron, who's heading the government's review into the affects of games on children. Listen to the interview now, and tell us what you think.
  
  


With the current swirl of speculation around video games and violence, Observer technology correspondent David Smith spoke to Tanya Byron, who is heading the government's review into the effects of games and the internet on children.

The piece explores her approach to the review, and you can listen to the interview here.

Byron's position so far is, let's say, open-minded. While she says that 'the fact that currently there exists no concrete evidence of harm does not mean evidence of no harm' indicates a sceptical mindset, she is not an enemy of technology.


It can already be forecast with some confidence that the Byron Review is not going to play to the antediluvian gallery by blaming technology for creating a couch-potato generation and driving down literacy. Quite the contrary, in fact.

Pilot schemes in schools, which have seen hand-held devices such as the Nintendo DS used by pupils to practise mental arithmetic, will be applauded.

Asked if she thinks these should become part of the daily curriculum, Byron says: 'Yes I do. These are the technologies that children are using and will continue to use more and more as they grow into the next workforce, the next thinking generation.


The review has called for evidence - but what would you tell them? Do you think it will succeed?

 

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