What do you get when you combine the BBC’s Doctor Who with an open-source hand-shaped mini-computer? The HiFive Inventor Coding Kit: A Wi-Fi-and-Bluetooth-enabled Internet of Things learning platform for young engineers!
The HiFive Inventor is a visually stunning IoT-enabled hand-shaped mini-computer designed to teach young engineers how to control robots, interface with IoT systems, or build their own sonic screwdriver to investigate the world around them. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies, this strengthens the wireless data handoff between devices (or “HiFive”) that will power 21st-century technology applications of computing for smart cities, intelligent factories, and enhanced wearable technology.
Designed by the award-winning Tynker creative coding platform, the HiFive Inventor engages students to begin coding in a self-paced and learner-driven environment. The BBC Doctor Who HiFive Inventor lessons are narrated by Jodie Whittaker, the Thirteenth Doctor, as she takes students on intergalactic journeys and challenges, like learning to code and pilot an alien spaceship, control a robot, and program a musical instrument.
The HiFive mini-computer has several onboard sensors, along with a front panel LED matrix and two buttons. On the bottom is the familiar micro:bit-like edge connector for attaching additional peripherals, including a speaker. A battery pack, alligator clips, and a light-up LED USB cable are also included.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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