The Kano Kickstarter project was started by Alex Klein and Yonatan Raz-Fridman in response to a challenge to create a buildable computer. It had two requirements – the project had to be as fun and simple as Legos, and no one should have to “teach” the user how to build the computer.
The Kano Computer Kit was made with these two requirements in mind and it is a product that is sure to change the way mass public views computers. The computer kit has no age limit and anyone can learn how to build a computer as well as basic coding skills using Kano. The kit is powered by a Raspberry Pi computing module and contains two instruction booklets, a custom case, an 8GB SD card, a keyboard, a speaker, a power plug, HDMI and mini-USB cables. The first booklet tells you how to assemble the PC, while the second booklet tells the user about the different levels of gaming achievements that can be reached. The PC, once built, is capable of sound, video, games and its own wireless server.
The software for the computer kit is call Kano OS and is based on the Debian Linux system. It is intended to be used as a creation tool rather than for entertainment purposes. It also comes with Kano Blocks that allows users to use predefined or commonly used blocks of code to write their own program and then output the results in Javascript or Python.
The project was started last year as a simple book, inspired by Lego and manga. The name of the product came from famed Japanese judo instructor, Kano Jigoro, and is a tribute to him. The computer kit is not only meant for children but for all those people who want to become technologically literate.
The project has been so successful that it started with a target of $100,000, but shattered that goal by securing $600,000 in the first week. The cost of one kit is $119, and will be available from July 2014.