Paul RiddenMarch 5, 2015Hackaball teaches kids to code through creative play

Kids can control the behavior of the Hackaball through a companion iPad app

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We've seen a number of clever learning tools aimed at future generations of roboticists and programmers recently. The latest educational plaything to join the likes of DynePods, the Kibo and the Wigl bot is Hackaball. It's a computer in a ball that kids can program using an iPad, and then throw it around, bounce it off walls and kick it about in completely made up games.

Developed by Map (the design minds behind Kano) and Made by Many, the Hackaball computer in a ball is aimed at encouraging creative play and physical activity in 6-10 year olds. The ball is made up of two translucent plastic halves, which snap together around a silicone membrane. A perforated stretchy silicone outer skin is then placed over the orb for something a little more tactile and eye-catching.

Kids get their programming hands dirty by creating games using a free iPad app. The app has a number of games already loaded and ready for wireless transfer to the Hackaball, but also includes locked features and "broken" games that children will need to unlock or fix before they can play, teaching them the basic principles of game design and programming in the process. Pint-sized programmers can choose to get creative on their own, too, and use a building block interface to create entirely new games.

The Hackaball includes a rechargeable battery, onboard memory and built-in motion sensors that can detect when the ball is being dropped, bounced, kicked, and shaken. The device responds to such abuse by changing the color of the nine LEDs, playing sounds through the built-in speaker or creating a buzz with the help of the included vibration motor. Youngsters can control such behavior through the app.

Once a game has been loaded onto the Hackaball, it can be played without needing to carry the app-packing iPad to the park with you. And though weatherproof, the designers say that it's not waterproof, so games outside in a little rain should be OK, but bath time is off limits.

Each of the project's seven prototype iterations have undergone testing with children, parents and schools, and the team has found the Hackaball breaking free from its intended use when exposed to the creative minds of youngsters – finding use as props in plays, imitating an alarm clock, getting questions thrown at it like a magic 8 ball, and even being used as a robotic fart machine

The Hackaball project has launched on Kickstarter to get the little hackable ball into the playful hands of kids. An early bird package of one Hackaball and the free app is pitched at US$65, rising to $69 when those have been snapped up. The campaign is due to end on April 2 and, if all goes to plan, the first devices are expected to start shipping in December.

Have a look at the pitch video below for a little more on the Hackaball.

Sources: Hackaball, Kickstarter

Hackaball能夠通過創造性遊戲教孩子編碼技巧

hackaball教孩子代碼通過創造性的play

孩子可以通過同伴的iPad應用

圖片庫控製的hackaball行為（12幅）
我們看過許多聰明的學習工具，針對機器人專家和程序員的後代最近。最新的教育玩具加盟dynepods喜歡，Kibo和wigl BOT是hackaball。這是一個球，孩子們可以使用電腦iPad程序，然後把它周圍，反彈了牆壁和踢它完全彌補了遊戲。

開發的地圖（卡諾背後的設計思想）和由很多，一個球計算機的hackaball旨在鼓勵在6-10歲兒童創造性遊戲和體育活動。這個球是由2個半透明的塑料製成的，在一個矽橡膠膜上有一個單元。多孔彈性矽膠外殼，然後放上一些觸覺和醒目的ORB。

孩子得到他們的手髒通過創建遊戲編程使用一個免費的iPad應用程序。該應用程序有一些遊戲已經加載好的無線傳輸到hackaball，還包括鎖定功能和“破”的遊戲，孩子們需要解鎖或修複才可以玩，教他們的遊戲設計和編程過程中的基本原則。小型的程序員可以選擇去創造自己，也用積木接口來創建全新的遊戲。

的hackaball包括可充電電池，闆載內存，內置的運動傳感器，可以檢測當球正在下降，反彈，踢，動搖了。該設備通過改變九個LED的顔色，播放聲音通過內置的揚聲器或創建一個嗡嗡聲與振動電機的幫助。青少年可以通過App控製這種行為。

一旦遊戲已經加載到hackaball，它可以在無需攜帶iPad應用程序包裝公園與你。雖然防水，設計師說它是不防水的，所以遊戲之外一點雨應該是好的，但洗澡時間限製。

每個項目七的原型叠代，經曆了試驗與孩子、家長和學校，和團隊找到了hackaball打破其使用時暴露的年輕人–發現使用道具發揮創造性思維，模仿一個鬨鍾，被扔在它像一個魔術8球的問題，甚至作為一個機器人放屁機< / P >

黑客一個大球項目已經在Kickstarter上發起讓小XX球到孩子頑皮的手。一hackaball早包和免費的應用程序是定在65美元，上漲到69美元時，那些已被搶購一空。活動將在4月2日結束，如果一切按計劃進行，第一設備預計在十二月開始出貨。

看看球場視頻下麵一點的hackaball。