Most would agree, Lim Ding Wen is a pretty talented young man. Wen, who is just nine years old, is more than technology savvy. For one thing, he started using computers when he was two. Considering he is only nine, in just a few short years, Wen has become fluent in six different computer programmer languages. To date, he has completed over 20 projects. The chances are pretty good that this creative fourth grader has a very promising career ahead of him.
He struck programming gold when he came up with Doodle Kids, an application that allows iPhone users to "finger-paint" on the phone’s touch screen. Wen came up with the idea and wrote the program for his younger siblings who love to draw.
For those of a certain age, this popular application may be reminiscent of the old etch-a-sketches, simply kicked-up-a-notch! This finger painting application is simple to use and couldn’t be more fun.
Doodle Kids
Programming apparently runs in the family. His father, Lim Thye Chean, also writes applications for iPhones and teaches programming to children in his spare time. Chean, who is chief technology officer for a Singapore technology firm, said that each night, he and his son check the iTunes statistics to see which one of them has more downloads. Currently, Wen is ahead!
Some case notes about Doodle Kids:
- The application was released February 1, 2009.
- Users can paint and draw more than straight lines with Doodle Kids.
- By dragging and moving the user’s finger on the screen, a wide variety of random shapes, sizes and colors burst onto the screen.
- Although the screen is black by default, users can easily change the background color by tapping two times.
- Images can be saved by taking a screen capture. Just down the “Home” and “Power” buttons at the same time and a "picture" of what is on the screen will be taken.
- If the user wants to erase the drawing or start all over from scratch, simply shake the device and the image will clear.
- The application is compatible with iPhone and iPod Touch and requires iPhone 2.2 update.
- iTunes must be installed on users computer and registration is required.
Doodle Kids, which is totally free, is a bonafide mega-hit. The program has been downloaded from iTunes more than 4000 times in just a few weeks and that was before the news media picked up the incredible story. Although the application was written with Wen’s little sisters in mind , one doesn’t have to be a child to have fun with this free application.
