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Bbc Unveils Micro Bit Coding Device For Make It Digital Initiative


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The Micro Bit coding device.

The BBC plans to offer the Micro Bit coding device to more than 1 million U.K. schoolchildren, to try to inspire young people to become software engineers and technology leaders.

Credit: V3.co.uk

The BBC plans to offer a coding device to more than 1 million U.K. schoolchildren as part of its Make it Digital Initiative. The company wants to inspire young people to become the software engineers and technology leaders of the future.

The tiny computer board, called Micro Bit, is similar to the Raspberry Pi or MITS, and is small enough to be an Internet of Things device. The prototype uses light-emitting diodes to flash lettering and make messages, and can be clipped onto clothing to act as a wearable device.

The BBC has partnered with U.K. chip designer ARM and tech firms such as Google, Microsoft, Samsung, and BT to promote the digital initiative and make the device available to students for free and in time for the academic year that begins in September.

"The initiative is our big education project for 2015 to get people to talk about digital creativity, to code, to build games, and shape our future," says BBC director-general Tony Hall.

The BBC will tie the initiative in with programs such as "Children in Need" and "EastEnders."

From V3.co.uk (United Kingdom)
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