Sphero SPRK Robot
Sphero's new robot is being introduced now, less than one year after the company launched its original SPRK (spark) bot that is controlled using a smartphone app. SPRK+ is a rolling ball like the BB-8 droid from the latest Star Wars movie. Sphero's androids help teach kids about computer programming, while SPRK+ is a tougher version that includes a newer Bluetooth version to pair the round robots with multiple devices.
SPRK bots are already used in 1,000 schools in the United States and Canada. They help teach kids about robotics and coding.
The price, size, and battery life of the new cute robot is close to the original version.
SPRK+ functions with the Lightning Lab app that makes it fun to learn how to code. Like Apple's new Swift Playgrounds app children use drag-and-drop commands to program series of actions, according to The Verge.
The new bot costs $129. It is very durable and includes features including being scratch and water-resistant.
There are also many Sphero accessories that snap onto the SPRK robots including the chariot accessory with a Lego-friendly top.
SPRK+ can do many actions include painting, dancing, swimming, and maze-running. It can also spin at different speeds and directions when remote-controlled by phones and tablets.
The new Sphero product also includes a myriad of free activities. They include those for coding, building things, or designing and completing mazes.
Sphero droids can also do activities that are Science, Technology, Education, and Math (STEM) challenges.
The original SPRK robot was launched in 2011. Meanwhile, last year Sphero released a reproduction of the BB-8 droid from "The Force Awakens", but it had few improvements from the original Sphero robotic toy ball controlled by iOS or Android smartphones.
In related news, Apple introduced its iPad app named Swift Playgrounds recently at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). This mobile app teaches kids and adults how to code.
The first lesson introduces a coding concept, then users learn how to apply the idea by writing code in an interactive world, according to iMore. Apple's new free app also includes a new coding keyboard.
The Swift Playgrounds app is now available to developers.
