Das wirft natürlich eine sehr interessante wissenschaftliche Forschungsfrage auf, die ich mir erlaubt habe, in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur zu recherchieren:
“Does early exposure to different operating systems (macOS vs. Windows) correlate with differences in technological literacy and general problem-solving abilities among children and adolescents?”
The available research does not provide conclusive evidence that early exposure to different operating systems directly correlates with differences in technological literacy or problem-solving abilities among children and adolescents.
While studies reveal some interesting distinctions, the evidence is limited. Ronaldo Muyu et al., 2022 found Windows is more popular among university students (84.61% vs. 11.38% for macOS), suggesting potential usage differences. Shahid I. Ali et al., 2019 found no significant competency differences between Mac and Windows users in Excel skills. Cem Topcuoglu et al., 2024 noted that users’ perceptions of operating systems are often based on reputation rather than technical understanding.
Interestingly, Bijou Yang et al., 2003 found Mac users had significantly greater computer anxiety, which might indirectly impact technological literacy.
More targeted research is needed to definitively answer this question, particularly studies focusing on children and adolescents.
I think early exposure to several different OS’s means you’re at least not too poor, and lack of money does correlate a lot with illiteracy of all sorts.
I think you misunderstand: the question is not about exposure to different OSes, but about the correlation/causation of a given OS to later cognitive (and other) abilities. Please do apply adequate scientific rigor here!
The point I’m making is that I believe that people who have mac skills will need to also learn Windows skills just because it’s so much more commonplace.
Just like lefties can be more empathetic on scale, because they have to face the disappointment of things not being designed for them (us, but I’m more mixed-handed than pure lefty).
It’s not about the orientation of the hand, but the phenomena surrounding having to orient your hand / use a certain hand in a certain way.
Just like I don’t believe that Mac as an OS is inherently changing the kids significantly.
Please do apply adequate scientific rigor here!
And to be fair, I don’t really know anyone who’s only ever used a mac for those exact reasons. We had a few kids in graphic design school be like “well I mostly use Mac as my personal computer is a mac”, so they weren’t as used to using Windows, since they hadn’t done it since school.
Like if you compared the linguistic capacity of people in the US, I’m pretty sure that no matter what you choose as the primary language, those kids will still know English (as we’re talking about USA here), and if they know English, then they’re at least bilingual, which has a lot of cognitive benefits. But you wouldn’t be saying that specifically speaking some specific other language makes the kids smarter.
Some languages might give certain advantages, like say some aboriginal language which doesn’t have left/right but always uses cardinal directions. Due to them doing that it’s insanely hard to confuse their inner sense of direction, even if you chuck them if a van and drive them around blindfolded.
So I’m not saying using Macs can’t have some such small specific advantage, but I doubt it, and think it’s just general adaptation skills, which do correlate with positive cognitive development.
Das wirft natürlich eine sehr interessante wissenschaftliche Forschungsfrage auf, die ich mir erlaubt habe, in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur zu recherchieren:
“Does early exposure to different operating systems (macOS vs. Windows) correlate with differences in technological literacy and general problem-solving abilities among children and adolescents?”
The available research does not provide conclusive evidence that early exposure to different operating systems directly correlates with differences in technological literacy or problem-solving abilities among children and adolescents.
While studies reveal some interesting distinctions, the evidence is limited. Ronaldo Muyu et al., 2022 found Windows is more popular among university students (84.61% vs. 11.38% for macOS), suggesting potential usage differences. Shahid I. Ali et al., 2019 found no significant competency differences between Mac and Windows users in Excel skills. Cem Topcuoglu et al., 2024 noted that users’ perceptions of operating systems are often based on reputation rather than technical understanding.
Interestingly, Bijou Yang et al., 2003 found Mac users had significantly greater computer anxiety, which might indirectly impact technological literacy.
More targeted research is needed to definitively answer this question, particularly studies focusing on children and adolescents.
I did once have a Mac user describe the Bash terminal as “it looks like breaking things.”
I think early exposure to several different OS’s means you’re at least not too poor, and lack of money does correlate a lot with illiteracy of all sorts.
I think you misunderstand: the question is not about exposure to different OSes, but about the correlation/causation of a given OS to later cognitive (and other) abilities. Please do apply adequate scientific rigor here!
The point I’m making is that I believe that people who have mac skills will need to also learn Windows skills just because it’s so much more commonplace.
Just like lefties can be more empathetic on scale, because they have to face the disappointment of things not being designed for them (us, but I’m more mixed-handed than pure lefty).
It’s not about the orientation of the hand, but the phenomena surrounding having to orient your hand / use a certain hand in a certain way.
Just like I don’t believe that Mac as an OS is inherently changing the kids significantly.
And to be fair, I don’t really know anyone who’s only ever used a mac for those exact reasons. We had a few kids in graphic design school be like “well I mostly use Mac as my personal computer is a mac”, so they weren’t as used to using Windows, since they hadn’t done it since school.
Like if you compared the linguistic capacity of people in the US, I’m pretty sure that no matter what you choose as the primary language, those kids will still know English (as we’re talking about USA here), and if they know English, then they’re at least bilingual, which has a lot of cognitive benefits. But you wouldn’t be saying that specifically speaking some specific other language makes the kids smarter.
Some languages might give certain advantages, like say some aboriginal language which doesn’t have left/right but always uses cardinal directions. Due to them doing that it’s insanely hard to confuse their inner sense of direction, even if you chuck them if a van and drive them around blindfolded.
So I’m not saying using Macs can’t have some such small specific advantage, but I doubt it, and think it’s just general adaptation skills, which do correlate with positive cognitive development.