Scratch This

This sounds bloody fascinating:

Scratch is a new programming environment that kids can use to create their own animated stories, video games, and interactive art -- and share their creations with one another across the Internet.

Developed by MIT's Media Lab (by the Lifelong Kindergarten research group - what a great name) it appears that Scratch will introduce concepts such as computer programming to the Generation After YouTube (whatever that's called). Supposedly a version will be developed for the one laptop per child project.

What happens when millions of children have access to this capability?

BBC Report.
MIT news.
Getting started PDF.
YouTube promo.