U.S. startup builds toys to teach children how to code

Two small robots, Dash and Dot, are helping thousands of children learn the building blocks of computer coding by using four software applications, or apps, that program the bots to do a series of tasks.

Vikas Gupta, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wonder Workshop, a firm at San Mateo, south of San Francisco, told Xinhua that from singing to picking up small toys or avoiding obstacles, the bots engage children from ages five to 10 in programming and creative thinking.

As technology is progressing at astounding speeds, Gupta believed that "by the time these small children are adults, coding and programming will be essential in many professions."

What triggered the ex-Google employee's idea was his daughter's birth in 2012, when he began thinking about her future and the possibility of teaching the fundamentals of software technology. Gupta realized he had to make it fun and extremely easy to use, so as to engage any small child.

"Kids love it, but also do adults, because it's really fun to use, they are like games," he said. "We use interactive tools to get children involved in problem-solving situations, while they learn how to program through games."

The two blue robots can pick up tools, have lights, wheels and voice and combine different sets of movements and sounds as programmed on the apps. Schools in the United States and abroad are using them as part of the curricula and play time, Gupta said.

Wonder Workshop raised over 3.5 million U.S. dollars since December 2014 and an additional 6.9 million last week. The latest round of funding brings its total capital to 15.9 million dollars, which Gupta said would allow the company to expand market reach and try to influence children in different learning stages.

"We continue to build a platform that helps children learn through play, and the additional funding will help us invest even further in content for our community such as new apps, school curricula, weekly challenges, the monthly magazine," he said.

The startup has begun selling bots at Apple stores in the United States and its apps are available for Android and iOS platforms. Endite