Sony is now exploring the realm of Education with its robotic toy KOOV. (KOOV kit displayed, image via SONY)
At first glance, the KOOV kit might look like confectioneries; but it is a new set of electronics fashioned to increase children’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The KOOV kit is one of SONY’s brainchildren, part of its global education program. Even though SONY’s new baby resembles the LEGO toys, the Japanese corporation is, in fact, running after a piece of a new market that aims at preparing the younger generation for a job market driven by computer skills. When the KOOV kit comes out by the end of the first trimester of 2018, every robot created will be programmable using two of the leading computer operating systems: iOS and Windows.
Despite being a hit in Japan and China since last year, KOOV failed to impress Americans, translating into the failure of its crowdfunding campaign. SONY, being a resilient corporation, turned the failure into a stepping stone to bring KOOV back as an educational kit directed toward families and schools.
With more pieces than the number of days in a year, the KOOV kit allows children, and probably even adults, to explore the lands of coding, robotics and design. Users are offered an opportunity to make anything they desire into a robot with the 322 KOOV blocks, 4 LED expressors, 1 buzzer, 2 IR photo reflectors, a light sensor, a push switch, an accelerometer, 2 DC motors, 3 servo motors, a KOOV Core, 2 base trays, a battery box, 5 3-Core cables of 20cm, 3 3-Core cables of 45cm and a 45cm 4-Core cable, a few 360 connectors and eyes, 4 wheels, the small and large gears, and the 2 rack gears. Not to mention, the 5 lessons of robot coding, the 6 lessons of block artist, the 12 lessons of programming and robot structure along with the 35 possible robot combinations and the quick start guide with the download instructions, which all certainly make the KOOV kit the best programming curriculum available. Even a class management software is offered in addition to the KOOV app, probably on the assumption that teachers will be assisting children with the building process during a STEM class. At a price of $519.99, it looks as if the only thing that does not come in the KOOV kit is imagination.
Here is another tool that will train future generations and prepare them for a world driven by technology. While science like mathematics is crucial for development, it will be a shame to not promote arts to the same extend. Psychologists will probably agree that when scientists and inventors feel burnt out, they don’t turn to more science. They turn to music, movies, and other forms of entertainment. So perhaps, this generation and the future ones will thrive faster when we learn the importance of the 2 sides of the human brain.
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