Kano first hit the scene back in 2015 as it rolled out STEM-focused coding kits centered around the popular Raspberry Pi computer. More recently, the kid-friendly brand has introduced its first kit with a display and even a Harry Potter wand. Fast forward to today, and Kano is taking the stage with a new build that centers around its first touchscreen display.
As iPads have filtered into schools, kids are more familiar with using their fingers as an input device. That makes Kano’s new release all the more suitable for STEM education and DIYers. More below.
When Kano unveiled its first DIY computer, it skipped the touchscreen display which was a curious choice at the time. For kids, iPads reign supreme and touchscreens are far easier to use. Today’s move to integrate this tech into Kano kits is a no-brainer and is sure to make it more approachable.
The Kano Computer Kit Touch arrives with the usual custom Raspberry Pi 3 computer that powers the entire system. An updated display driver board is the big upgrade here. It offers improved performance and enough power to offset the added touchscreen features. The 10.1-inch display connects via USB and interacts with the included wireless keyboard.
“Your first experience with computing and code should be simple, playful, and powerful.” said Alex Klein, Co-Founder and CEO of Kano. “The Computer Kit Touch takes the experience of building your own computer to a new level, by revealing the secrets of touch interaction. Combining block based and text based coding, it shows you how modern computing systems work. It gets you inside the screen, rather than just in front of it, and provides a set of art, music, and programming tools – not just toys.”
One of our favorite aspects about Kano’s products is their kid-friendly focus that is naturally approachable. Bright colors and simple instructions help make the build easier, particularly when compared to a typical Raspberry Pi setup.
As always, there will be a full set of apps that can be run on the Computer Kit Touch. That includes Google Chromium, YouTube, LibreOffice and more. Other models have supported Minecraft, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see that addition as well. There is 16GB of internal storage, which should be plenty given the added Google Drive storage option.
The new Kano Computer Kit Touch is available for pre-order today at Amazon for $279.99 shipped. It’s set to ship on October 1st.
Buy Kano Computer Kit Touch Now
[9to5-press-release]
LONDON – September 13, 2018 – Kano, the leader in creative computing, has revealed the most advanced DIY computer ever made – the Computer Kit Touch, is available today for $279.99 via Kano.me and selected retailers and e-tailers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia & New Zealand. It comes as a kit. You build a portable, touchscreen computer, and attach a keyboard, following a simple storybook. It comes to life. Inside, Kano’s unique operating system takes you through a world of tools and stories, where you make apps, art, games, music, and more, in multiple programming languages, with simple steps. Bridging the gap between block-based and text coding, the Computer Kit Touch is a complete system to take you from beginner to coder.
First, you build a fully working touchscreen computer following the storybook. Then, you embark on a journey from beginner to coder thanks to the step-by-step tutorials and challenges. The touchscreen helps you learn about tactile interfaces and how touch controls work across everyday devices like smartphones. Then you use the screen to paint with your fingers, hack Minecraft, create pieces of music and art with simple block-based coding editors, leading to more advanced environments with real Javascript or Python, at home or on the go.
“Your first experience with computing and code should be simple, playful, and powerful.” said Alex Klein, Co-Founder and CEO of Kano. “The Computer Kit Touch takes the experience of building your own computer to a new level, by revealing the secrets of touch interaction. Combining block based and text based coding, it shows you how modern computing systems work. It gets you inside the screen, rather than just in front of it, and provides a set of art, music, and programming tools – not just toys.”
The Computer Kit Touch includes a touch-enabled 10.1” HD touchscreen, as well as a wireless keyboard with trackpad. You build a USB board and equip it with a sound sensor. The brain is based on the award winning Raspberry Pi single board computer and comes preloaded with the latest version of Kano OS, a creative and educational operating system, with support for touch control, three hours of battery life, fast performance, mainstream apps like YouTube and Whatsapp, and increased storage capacity at 16GB.
Kano Computer Kit owners can then share their creations in Kano World, a free community where anyone can learn and remix the code behind thousands of artworks, songs, games and apps – over 600,000 creations, and 56 million lines of code.
Kano launched the first computer anyone can make five years ago, and since then it’s cemented its position as the STEM category leader. In 2017 Kano raised one of Europe’s largest educational hardware financing rounds of the year and released its range of coding kits in more than 4,500 retail stores including Best Buy, Target and Walmart. Kano announced the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit, a partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, in July 2018. The $99.99 kit lets you make your own wand, learn to code and make magic, on iOS and Android tablets as well as Windows or Mac computers.
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