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能够通过创造性游戏教孩子编码技巧

hackaball教孩子代码通过创造性的play

孩子可以通过同伴的iPad应用

图片库控制的hackaball行为（12幅）
我们看过许多聪明的学习工具，针对机器人专家和程序员的后代最近。最新的教育玩具加盟dynepods喜欢，Kibo和wigl BOT是hackaball。这是一个球，孩子们可以使用电脑iPad程序，然后把它周围，反弹了墙壁和踢它完全弥补了游戏。

开发的地图（卡诺背后的设计思想）和由很多，一个球计算机的hackaball旨在鼓励在6-10岁儿童创造性游戏和体育活动。这个球是由2个半透明的塑料制成的，在一个硅橡胶膜上有一个单元。多孔弹性硅胶外壳，然后放上一些触觉和醒目的ORB。

孩子得到他们的手脏通过创建游戏编程使用一个免费的iPad应用程序。该应用程序有一些游戏已经加载好的无线传输到hackaball，还包括锁定功能和“破”的游戏，孩子们需要解锁或修复才可以玩，教他们的游戏设计和编程过程中的基本原则。小型的程序员可以选择去创造自己，也用积木接口来创建全新的游戏。

的hackaball包括可充电电池，板载内存，内置的运动传感器，可以检测当球正在下降，反弹，踢，动摇了。该设备通过改变九个LED的颜色，播放声音通过内置的扬声器或创建一个嗡嗡声与振动电机的帮助。青少年可以通过App控制这种行为。

一旦游戏已经加载到hackaball，它可以在无需携带iPad应用程序包装公园与你。虽然防水，设计师说它是不防水的，所以游戏之外一点雨应该是好的，但洗澡时间限制。

每个项目七的原型迭代，经历了试验与孩子、家长和学校，和团队找到了hackaball打破其使用时暴露的年轻人–发现使用道具发挥创造性思维，模仿一个闹钟，被扔在它像一个魔术8球的问题，甚至作为一个机器人放屁机< / P >

黑客一个大球项目已经在Kickstarter上发起让小XX球到孩子顽皮的手。一hackaball早包和免费的应用程序是定在65美元，上涨到69美元时，那些已被抢购一空。活动将在4月2日结束，如果一切按计划进行，第一设备预计在十二月开始出货。

看看球场视频下面一点的hackaball。