Gallery: Google and Apple Alums Invent Adorable Robots That Teach Kids to Code
01play-Bo plays the xylophone 2
Play-i created robots that teach children to code. This is Bo, a three-wheeled creature that can be programmed to play a song on the xylophone, among other things. *Image: Play-i*
02play-Yana as a bunny
And this is Yana. *Image: Play-i*
03play-Bo gives a friend a flower
Children program Bo and Yana via an app or by puppeteering actions. The codes are recorded in various programming languages like Blockly, Scratch, Java and Python. *Image: Play-i*
04play-Bo pulls your toys 1
Play-i founders wanted to make the robots as gender-neutral as possible. "Getting girls into this field is very important, because that’s where we see the biggest lag," says Gupta. "We don’t have enough girls in science and technology." *Image: Play-i*
05Bo and Yana play hide and seek
The two robots can interact with each other and become more advanced as they are played with. *Image: Play-i*
06play-Bo and Yana go on an adventure
Kids as young as 5 years old can use the robots, but they're appropriate for people of all ages, says Gupta. *Image: Play-i*
07play-wu-hd-lego-attach-02
Eventually, Lego attachments will be available so kids can build and add on to Bo and Yana. This will hopefully prevent kids from getting sick of them. *Image: Play-i*
