BBC MicroBit Announcement Now Live

Problemchild this is a more advanced CAD system than yours - Andy's features straight lines!

Not bad for a 14 year old. I do remember some kind of weird timing issue with the interface which was cunningly worked around with some machine code.

Here's the output from one of the test programmes, I have a feeling it was driven using cursor keys. A problem machining the screw threads meant that all of the straight lines had a sinusoidal component.

Mine does with the Ruler expansion pack....Otherwise you need to stick with the arbitrary Spline Auto Renderer option (TM)

ZX Spectrum For The Win :-)

Here's a new ruler you'll soon be able to buy, although I'm not quite sure of the scale used, perhaps that's the new decimalised inch we've been hearing about.

Watched the video at :

More Details On The New BBC Micro Bit Computer (Video)

rather than needing phones it would be much more fun if the kids could send messages to each other using the blue tooth for communication between two devices and the two buttons to enter the data in as binary.

Andy Clark (Workshopshed) wrote:

Rather than needing phones it would be much more fun if the kids could send messages to each other using the blue tooth for communication between two devices and the two buttons to enter the data in as binary.

With two buttons you can send Morse Code using the same trick as an Iambic Paddle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_key#Iambic_.28dual-lever.29_Paddles

Pressing one button gives you a series of dits, pressing the other gives you a series of dahs, and pressing both alternates dits and dahs.  You can send data really fast using this technique, and don't have to injure your neck staring at a tiny keyboard.  The buttons have to be really responsive, though.

3 IO pins, 0, 1 and 2 then 3V and gnd for use with crock clips, also 4mm banana plug compatablw holes so the minions will be covered, loads more io if you use the 0.1" pitch fingers into what has to be a propriatry connector wich sucks, not directly breadboard compatable

5X5 LEDs, 2 user IO buttons, BLE, USB and an ARM cpu so not bad capability overall

given to all year 7 kids this fall

what about the rest of us though, no mention of being available for sale or for other purposes like us to help with coding and getting the kids started (The teachers will be strugling on their own to teach kids this stuff)

I'd pay £10 for one to play with.

for sure, me too