Thing #7 - Techno Blog - Early, Early Literacy?

In library circles, we have, of course, been pushing the value of building early literacy skills right from birth. However, I read an article in today's Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/28/AR2009092802893.html) Style section in which describes several devices which are now being touted as ways to give babies a head start in learning -- in utero. Those who swear by them say they've help their babies avoid now common conditions like ADHD and autism as well as put them ahead at some pediatric developmental milestones. Those on the other side say the results of using devices like BabyPlus and Ritmo, which send rhythmic patterns, music, and/or speech into the womb, are unproven and that in using them could even be harmful. Nothing has been proven either way at this point. Will this be the next big thing in learning? Will we someday be leading mommy-to-be storytimes and piping in our music and voices through these or similar devices? Stay tuned!