UK school kids to get free computers from the BBC
12 August 2015
News
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) has revealed the final specification for a pocket-sized computer that it will be handing out to about 1 million UK schoolchildren.
Created to help children get creative with technology and learn how to program, the Micro:bit system will be given away to every 11 and 12-year-old in the nation’s schools this October. According to BBC Learning head, Sinead Rocks, it’s all about young people learning to express themselves digitally. “As the Micro:bit is able to connect to everything from mobile phones to plant pots and Raspberry Pis, this could be for the Internet-of-things what the BBC Micro was to the British gaming industry,” she enthuses.
The Micro:bit will allow its users to write simple code via a new website, which will be used on both PCs and mobile devices. Users will be able to save and test their programs on the site before transferring them to the tiny computer via a USB cable or wireless Bluetooth connection. It can then be made to interact with its built-in sensors and buttons to make its 25 LEDs flash in different patterns, letting it display letters and numbers, for example.
The system can also be connected to other computing kits via its input-output rings – including the Raspberry Pi, Arduino and Galileo – to carry out more difficult tasks. The device was announced four months ago and it was then thought that it could be easily pinned to clothing, but a revision has involved replacing a watch-battery slot with a bigger battery pack, which might make that less practical. This add-on power pack, fitted with AA batteries, is necessary to use it as a standalone product.
Further reading:
SACEEC celebrates standout industrial innovation on the KITE 2025 show floor
News
Exhibitor innovation took the spotlight at the KITE 2025 as the South African Capital Equipment Export Council announced the winners of its prestigious New Product & Innovation Awards.
Read more...
SA team for International Olympiad in Informatics
News
The Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa has named the team that will represent South Africa at this year’s International Olympiad in Informatics.
Read more...
Anritsu and Bluetest to support OTA measurement
News
Anritsu Company and Sweden-based Bluetest AB have jointly developed an Over-The-Air measurement solution to evaluate the performance of 5G IoT devices compliant with the RedCap specification.
Read more...
The current sentiment of the global electronics manufacturing supply chain
News
In its latest report, the Global Electronics Association provides an analysis of the current sentiment and conditions in the global electronics manufacturing supply chain as of June 2025.
Read more...
Global semiconductor sales increase in May
News
The Semiconductor Industry Association recently announced global semiconductor sales were $59,0 billion during the month of May 2025, an increase of 19,8%.
Read more...
New president for Avnet EMEA
News
Avnet has announced that Avnet Silica’s president, Gilles Beltran, will step into the role of president of Avnet EMEA.
Read more...
DARPA sets new record for wireless power beaming
News
In tests performed in New Mexico, the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay program team recorded over 800 W of power delivered for about 30 seconds with a laser beam crossing 8,6 kilometres.
Read more...
Nordic Semiconductor acquires Memfault
RF Design
News
With this acquisition, Nordic has launched its first complete chip-to-cloud platform for lifecycle management of connected products.
Read more...
Trina storage demonstrates high efficiency and long-term reliability
News
Independent testing confirms 95,2% DC efficiency and 98% capacity retention after one year of operation.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: AI – a double-edged sword
Technews Publishing
News
As with any powerful tool, AI presents challenges, some of which, if not carefully managed, threaten to undo the potential that it can offer.
Read more...
printer friendly version