Re: LOGO-L> Re: Computer Language for Kids ?

[mikedoyle@cix.compulink.co.uk (Mike Doyle)]

In-Reply-To: <Pine.SV4.3.91.970721103403.15432B-100000@mesa5.mesa.colorado.edu-
>
gary mccallister wrote:

> Moving a mobile robot (turtle) about in three dimensional space is 
> not a trivial intermediate-technology type of problem (as evidence see 
> the difficulties with the Mars rover).

The point about the Floor Turtle is that it *only* moves and draws. It was 
devised before we had monitors as a means of visualising turtle graphic 
procedures. It is (strictly) an intermediate technology. There are so many 
things it can't do - try 'colourunder' with a floor turtle!

With LEGO/Logo you can build many different floor robots by adding a range 
of sensors etc. (You can even make your own robots out of junk - I once 
made a 'skin' with conductive plastic.) 

The Screen Turtle 'lives' within an active representational medium.
The LEGO/Logo robot 'lives' in the real world.
The original Floor Turtle straddled the two. It's evolutionary line has 
now split into two. These two lines are developing semi-independently. 

The Floor Turtle (and screen turtle when used to emulate it) is simply one 
means of teaching (exploring?) a mathematical domain called Turtle 
Geometry. The benefits of teaching Turtle Geometry are uncertain and 
unproven - as is the validity Papert's notion of it being 'body-syntonic'.

(Jeff?)

Micheal O Duill

---------------------------------------------------------------
Please post messages to the Logo forum to logo-l@gsn.org.  Mail
questions about the list administration to logofdn@gsn.org.  To
unsubscribe send    unsubscribe logo-l    to majordomo@gsn.org.