Think coding is boring? Meet Hackaball, a programmable ball that teaches kids how to code by playing games.
Inside it are sensors that detect motions – it knows when it’s dropped, bounced, kicked, or when it’s still. Using the companion iPad app, you can program Hackaball to behave how you want.
It comes preloaded with games, but once you’ve mastered them, you can make your own using the app.
All you do is pick an effect, and assign it an action – light up when you double tap, spin, or shake it, say. Start playing with the Hackaball, and it’ll respond accordingly. As kids play with it, it will reward them by unlocking new features and challenge them with broken games to fix.
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Because it’s programmable, it will do anything you want it to. Kids have made it work as a magic 8 ball, alarm clock, and even a whoopee cushion.
Read more: Bitsbox gives kids a new coding project every month
It contains a gyro, accelerometer, vibration motor, nine LEDs, rechargeable battery, memory to save your sounds and a speaker.
And it’s tough too. Its brains are contained in a plastic case that’s surrounded by a silicone membrane which acts as a shock absorber. Plus the silicone skin is strong and stretchy, and diffuses the LED lights to make patterns.
Anything that teaches kids how to code gets the thumbs-up from us. It costs $69, and should ship in December.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
