‘Piper’ DIY computer kit allows kids to make computers
Piper is a DIY computer kit that allows users (students and kids) to make computers that can take them on a Minecraft adventure.
Designed for kids aged 7-13, Piper teaches kids the fundamentals of computer programming, engineering and putting a computer together. Piper, available at Barnes and Noble, Toys R Us and other fine retailers along with the company’s website, promises to teach kids to build a computer from over 100 parts and a real engineering diagram. Kids will be able to build and program with immediate results. Then, kids can take the raw parts and create new projects.
The kit comes with everything for any 7-13 year old to put together a computer, including a Raspberry Pi 3, a display, a power supply, control buttons and a wooden case that snaps together for the computer. After the computer is built kids will find LibreOffice a document creation software suite, Rapberry Pi Edition of Minecraft, A web browser and even the Scratch programming software so kids can learn the fundamentals of programming in an easy to use and understand block programming language.
The entire Piper experience is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core, which makes it a great computer kit for the classroom.
One of the best parts about Piper is it’s designed in such a fun and easy to understand way, the learning is actually second nature.
“The Piper computer kit is like a Trojan horse for learning,” Piper co-founder Joel Sadler toldTechCrunch.com , “It combines a familiar video game with physical building. Ultimately we want to boost everyone’s creative confidence with technology, programming and engineering in a playful way.”
“I love Piper because it represents what enabled me to do all the great technology things in my life” Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says on the company’s website. Not only that but Piper claims that even Elon Musk’s children are big fans.
