Children use drag-and-drop software to program the toy-like device
Taibotics Inc. makes robots that can be easily programmed by kids. The company, which is based in Vancouver, helps children learn problem-solving skills through a robot using programming on a computer.
Todd Law launched the company four years ago with university professors Kuo-Yang Tu and Hansjörg Baltes. Users drag and drop icons to tell the robot to move forward and backward, to flash lights or make noise. Children learn problem-solving skills by linking their commands to the robot’s actions, all without requiring extensive knowledge of programming.DARRYL DYCK/The Globe and Mail
The latest version of the robot, which sells for about $150. The company is aiming the product at teachers, particularly those in after-school programs that Mr. Law compares to jukus, or cram schools, that he experienced during the nine years he worked in Japan.DARRYL DYCK/The Globe and Mail
Kids program the Taibotics robots, which are made in Taiwan. The software programming is handled chiefly at the University of Manitoba by Prof. Baltes. The product has been sold in five countries worldwide.
The older version of the Taibotics robot. The three founders have had trouble gaining traction against competitors, which include Lego and its education-based Mindstorms robots. And given the limited budgets of public schools, marketing the robots has been tough.
Mr. Law says the founders are aiming to convert the company’s current Windows desktop software to allow access to anyone with a Web browser. It also wants to hire a dedicated marketing and sales expert.DARRYL DYCK/The Globe and Mail