RoadTest: Binary Bots: DIMM + micro:bit
Author: mykre
Creation date:
Evaluation Type: Development Boards & Tools
Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True
What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?:
What were the biggest problems encountered?: One thing That I Did find with the product was that it would have been nice to have some picture based tutorials in the box. In the current form you needed to have a connection to the web to see what it could do. I am thinking that a child would like to see these when they open the box for the first time.
Detailed Review:
The product arrived in great condition and I was able to get right into it straight out of the box. One thing That I Did find with the product was that it would have been nice to have some picture based tutorials in the box. In the current form you needed to have a connection to the web to see what it could do. I am thinking that a child would like to see these when they open the box for the first time. But other than that it was what I expected.
In the beginning I did want to try it out with my kids, but they were not really into it as I thought they would have been, But after a few days they did jump in.
The kit came with several different components that you could play around with and visualize those results. The sensors could have had labels in the bags to show what they where, this might have grabbed the attention of the kids ripping into it.
After the kit was together the coding couldn't have been simpler, I didn't go the line of connecting to an ipad or tablet but just went straight for the PC. The instructions point you to a web page to start coding. This interface was simple to use and understand. You are also able to try out the code in the web application without having to compile or push the code to the device. This made it simple to try things out and play. But don't get me wrong, pushing to the device was just as easy.
Being a coder myself I liked the idea that you also had the choice to download the python interface to get down and dirty with the code. Although the kids didn't want to go this line, I did for a couple of the samples. What I did find though is that the kids where learning a simular box based coding interface at school, so this sort of fit in with what they were doing.
I can say that the kit was fun to play with and get into, but my kids might have been a bit old for it and didn't have the push to jump in. (Kids are 13), It might have fit better with kids around the 7 to 10 mark or kids that are into the nerd thing...
