A Harvard University robotics team has developed an educational robot named Root to teach kids how to code. Root is a hexagon-shaped little robot that looks like the robotic vacuum Roomba but teaches programming languages instead of cleaning floors. It features scanners on the bottom, a touch interface on the top, and bumpers on the sides.
Root can learn when it is on a magnetic surface. Meanwhile, a little holder on the robot stores a dry-erase marker to draw on a whiteboard and erase writing, according to Wired.
Children can teach Root how to interact in the world. They just need the robot's whiteboard, an iPad tablet, and an easy programming language.
Root is not the first tool to teach how to code as past ones have included children's books and basic programming languages.
Harvard researchers have also developed an education robot in the past. Its AERobot unveiled a few years ago is a $10 programmable bot that teaches kids about science, tech, and engineering.
However, a big difference is that Root is designed for the retail market, while AERobot was mainly used in the academic world. The goal of Zivthan Dubrovsky and his team is to develop products to bring to market. In the past Dubrovsky worked at iRobot, which manufactures the Roomba.
The Harvard researcher shares that his team has met with teachers and visited classrooms. Thus, now it is time for Root to be introduced to the world outside Harvard University.
Programming jobs are skyrocketing in the United States. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2020 the country will have 1 million more computer science jobs than graduates to fill the positions.
In related news, university researchers in China have developed a human-like robot named Jia Jia. She looks like a female adult and includes moving facial features such as blinking, and facial expressions.
Jia Jia was designed to mimic humans in many ways. Her eyes look around a room and her mouth matches up with statements she is making, according to Yahoo.
The humanoid also processes events happening around her. For example, if Jia Jia notices that someone nearby is taking a photo she will ask for more personal space.