Apple Building Next Generation of Coders through AR

Apple launched an app that will teach children not only how to code but also how to build augmented realities. Swift Playgrounds Displayed on iPad. (Image via Apple)

Technology companies have been expanding their reach to the younger audience through their education tools. A study has proven that there are more jobs in tech than there are graduates to fill those jobs, so tech giants like Microsoft and Google started programs to nurture children’s interest in programing or coding. The goal of the program is not just to introduce new skills into kids’ curriculum, but they will also prepare the younger generation to work in tech jobs. The new comer in the competition for the attention of the little ones is Apple with its Swift Playgrounds, an app that teaches coding in the most comprehensible way for children.

Since Spring announces new beginnings, Apple chooses that season every year to announce its new creations and their progress. This year the reveal event happened in a high- school in Chicago instead of its usual Californian location. Swift Playgrounds is built using the Swift language characteristic of Apple operation system on many devices.

After using it for a short time, it seems anyone can build Swift codes necessary for developing actual apps, using the Swift Playgrounds. However, the code-teaching app is not rigid: it meets the “students” at their level of proficiency. In other words, even advanced learners can use the app. In addition, the app encourages kids in their learning experience by rewarding every accomplishment proportionally.

Swift Playgrounds connects to many off the shelf robotics platforms, like LEGO MINDSTORMS, Sphero, Dash, MeeBot, Parrot drones and others. (Image via Apple)

The word about Swift Playgrounds has spread so quickly that one hundred schools and districts from around the world have already incorporated it into their curriculum. For students in the schools and districts that have not embraced the SP yet, Apple is planning series of workshops entitled Get Started with Coding, to expose more people to the foundations of coding. Apple goes the extra mile by incorporating tutoring sessions for students who need additional help with solving some of the puzzles in the app. Many parents might take advantage of Apple’s workshop to get ahead of their children and also make sure they will be of help when necessary. In that case, the workshops are scheduled to take place in few Apple stores in U.S, Canada, U.K, Australia, U.A.E, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.

Apple also announced that Swift Playgrounds will soon feature an Augmented Reality tool. Basically, this AR tool will immerse the user into a world that will be a combination of the real world and that of the app. Some believe that Swift Playgrounds’ AR feature could be the remains of AR kit introduced a few months ago. At that rate, kids will not just become app developers, but they will develop AR building skills as well.

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