# Software idea **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [September 5, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852 "2007-09-05T16:31:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/1 "2007-09-05T16:31:01Z")
Anyone know of a software package that will (temporarily) turn my laptop (or computer) in to a children’s “gym”? These are things that are aimed at 0 to 2 or 3 year olds. All it needs is button presses and mouse swipes to be turned in to abstract or concrete visual and audio effects. I suppose there could be disclosure of being to actually do some systematic process, or even something useful (?), but simply holding down the “,” key for a minute should also be rewarding. Personally, I like to ensure that my Son plays with things grounded in real life, but he’s also interested in my laptop, and I’d like to be able to give him something he can bash away at that wont be destructive 🙂 Cheers, Benjohn ---
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/2 "2007-09-05T16:35:09Z")
Benjohn B. wrote: > Anyone know of a software package that will (temporarily) turn my > laptop (or computer) in to a children’s “gym”? These are things that > are aimed at 0 to 2 or 3 year olds. All it needs is button presses > and mouse swipes to be turned in to abstract or concrete visual and > audio effects. I suppose there could be disclosure of being to > actually do some systematic process, or even something useful (?), > but simply holding down the “,” key for a minute should also be > rewarding. Well, this is not a ruby app but I do know of such a thing: [http://www.raize.com/CProducts/SoftwareForKids.asp](http://www.raize.com/CProducts/SoftwareForKids.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/3 "2007-09-05T18:43:28Z")
You could build it with Gosu or Rubygame. You don’t have to make a “game” you can just make an interactive experience. ---
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/4 "2007-09-06T05:07:47Z")
Benjohn B. wrote: > able to give him something he can bash away at that wont be destructive 🙂 > > Cheers, > Benjohn [http://www.ofset.org/gcompris/](http://www.ofset.org/gcompris/) [http://pcburn.com/article.php?sid=471](http://pcburn.com/article.php?sid=471) [http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/6898](http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/6898) livecds – [http://www.linux.com/articles/27651](http://www.linux.com/articles/27651) [http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games](http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games) ← scroll down [http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html](http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html) ← english docs ---
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2007, 1:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/5 "2007-09-08T13:45:52Z")
In message [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid), Benjohn Barnes [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) writes > > livecds – > > [http://www.linux.com/articles/27651](http://www.linux.com/articles/27651) > > > > [http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games](http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games) ← scroll down > > > > [http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html](http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html) ← english docs > > 🙂 Wow, thanks - you’ve got a child too? > > And thanks too to John and Lloyd. Late, sorry. And not exactly what you were after (now). But FWIW Squeak is apparently powering Etoys in the OLPC, [http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Etoys](http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Etoys) and Scratch: > **[Scratch - Imagine, Program, Share](https://scratch.mit.edu/)** > > Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. Regards, Alec ---
**Author:** ![Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Benjohn\_B](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Benjohn_B)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 7:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/software-idea/113852/6 "2007-09-06T19:53:52Z")
On 6 Sep 2007, at 04:07, Reid T. wrote: > [http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games](http://www.ofset.org/freeduc-games) ← scroll down > > [http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html](http://ofset.sourceforge.net/freeduc/book/en/book.html) ← english docs 🙂 Wow, thanks - you’ve got a child too? And thanks too to John and Lloyd. Cheers, Benjohn