That's too easy. Think of a game like Civilization. Granted, it's limited what you can learn from reading the in-game Civopedia, but probably thousands of kids have more awareness and interest in the historical progression of human civilization from playing that game.

And even if it is superficial awareness, those kinds of games exercise the fantasy-making faculties that make history itself interesting to learn about, even later as an adult.

Another example. There was this flop of a game in the early 90s, called SimEarth, that I have very fond memories of. It taught me about the Gaia hypothesis and the carbon cycle and stuff. Gameplay was pretty wacky though.

I remember SimEarth a modern version could be very educational, but not Gaia, isn't it a wacky theory?

Hehe, yeah. Worse, it's a wrong theory. But still kinda interesting, no harm learning about it.

Agree a modern SimEarth would be awesome.

The kids who enjoy Civilisation already understand history - that's why they enjoy Civilisation. The game isn't bringing history to anyone new.

What about a game like Age of Empires? I know lots of people who grew up playing that game, just as a game, and learned history along the way.

I think you're right. I didn't mean to make the implication that the problem was electrical vs paper. I eventually did get old enough to go to the hardware store to buy bell wire, knife switches and bulbs for my early experiments. I wish my kids had grow up more interested in building things. I feel like I failed in this.

With respect to using paper and pencil for math there is still no contest between doing math on paper and doing it with your finger on an iPad.