Google’s Kid-Friendly Coding Toy, Trying To Outdo Microsoft And Apple

With Apple and Microsoft having already released their own offerings aimed at training novice coders, it was only a matter of time before Google decided to follow suit. However, unlike the other two, Google has decided to go for an even younger audience with their “Project Bloks,” which is aimed at pre-teens.

The project is meant to encourage young minds to view coding in a different light. Instead of the boring set of commands and sitting around all day in front of a computer containing squiggly lines, Google is introducing a more colorful and fun approach, according to The Verge.

As the name suggests, “Project Bloks’ involves toy blocks that kids can connect together to create commands. Now, it should be noted that the blocks do not contain typical commands that one associates with platforms like C# or C++. Instead, children will see an array, a flower, a pencil, and even a switch.

Obviously, these different blocks will have specific functions that will affect other blocks differently, which is the general idea behind coding. As such, the toys are basically meant to enforce the idea of programming instead of the specifics.

TheNextWeb provides a more detailed set of information regarding the specific blocks in the project and what they are for, which are divided into three sections; the brain board, the base board, and the Pucks. Each section has a specific role which the kids can easily learn and produces some interesting effects designed to engage their attention for hours.

The initiative is intended to be open-source as well, Popular Science reports. This should allow other companies to come up with their own approach to the “Project Bloks” initiative and encourage diversity. More than that, Google is hopeful that other developers will be the ones to proliferate the project even if the tech giant doesn’t reap the financial benefits.