Little Hackers is an interactive experience that uses a workbook and Augmented Reality to introduce young readers aged 6+ to the foundational concepts of coding. The story features two Black lead characters: Kai, a popular and shy six year old who's just switched schools after his move to Giga Bay, and Nya, the six year old tech Unicorn who founded the Little Hackers crew.
Readers learn coding concepts by reading and writing directly into a workbook, helping the Little Hackers create fun solutions to everyday challenges. How do you stop a Balloon Bot –– a robot that’s programmed to throw water balloons at the Little Hacker Hideout? The Little Hackers can figure it out!
As they build their knowledge students unlock entertaining AR experiences that reward their efforts and provide direct feedback on their coding progress.
KAI, M
AGE 6
Kai's Dad was a star athlete and now coaches basketball at GBU. His Mom is an engineer, working for STAR_FLEET, the latest space flight innovation company. Kai's family moved to Giga Bay from Yokio City when his Mom took the new job. Kai is a natural leader and was a popular kid at his last school. He needs to find new friends in a new city, so sometimes he can come off as a bit shy at first. Kai is a wacky inventor. He got introduced to coding at six years old by his Mom, but really fell in love with coding when he met Nya. His fast learning ability and sense of adventure have turned him into a hacking prodigy.
LIKES Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
LIKES Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
NYA, F
AGE 6
Nya's Mom works in cyber security for Bit-Bank, the largest digital currency exchange in Giga Bay. Her Dad specializes in fixing flying cars. She learned 3D modeling through watching his designs and she now makes open source contributions to Blender. Nya grew up in Giga Bay and her parents have been encouraging her to become an engineer since she was three. Nya is a tech unicorn –– proficient in Python, Java, Swift and C++. Nya became interested in hacking during "bring your kids to work day" at her Mom's job. Nya started the Little Hackers at her school and would later upgrade the operation to the state-of-the-art Hackout Treehouse facility when her friend Kai moved next door. Nya is passionate about making the world a better place and is known throughout the hacking and open source communities by code name @rainbowsplitter.
LIKES Hoverboards, Blender, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES Waiting, TV, Standardized tests, Bullying
LIKES Hoverboards, Blender, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES Waiting, TV, Standardized tests, Bullying
GEOGRAPHY
Giga Bay
Earth
Year 2037.
Planet Earth.
Inspired by the history of the Black Fillmore District in San Francisco. Neighbored by Yokio Point, launch site of Space Y. Headquarters at "The Hackout" State-of-the-Art secret treehouse facility.
CHARACTERS
Kai, M
Age 6
Kai's Dad was a star athlete and now coaches basketball at GBU. His Mom is an engineer, working for STAR_FLEET, the latest space flight innovation company. Kai's family moved to Giga Bay from Yokio City when his Mom took the new job. Kai is a natural leader and was a popular kid at his last school. He needs to find new friends in a new city, so sometimes he can come off as a bit shy at first. Kai is a wacky inventor. He got introduced to coding at six years old by his Mom, but really fell in love with coding when he met Mia. His fast learning ability and sense of adventure have turned him into a hacking prodigy.
LIKES Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
CHARACTERS
Mia, F
Age 6
Mia's Mom works in cyber security for Bit-Bank, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Giga Bay. Her Dad specializes in fixing flying cars. She learned 3D modeling through watching his designs and she now makes open source contributions to Blender. Mia grew up in Giga Bay and her parents have been encouraging her to become an engineer since she was three. Mia is a tech unicorn –– proficient in Python, Java, Swift and C++. Mia became interested in hacking during "bring your kids to work day" at her Mom's job. Mia started the Little Hackers at her school and would later upgrade the operation to the state-of-the-art Hackout Treehouse facility when her friend Kai moved next door. Mia's passionate about making the world a better place and is known throughout the hacking and open source communities by code name @rainbowsplitter.
LIKES Hoverboards, Blender, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES Waiting, TV, Standardized Tests, Bullies
KAI AND NYA
KAI, M
Age 6
Kai's Dad was a star athlete and now coaches basketball at GBU. His Mom is an engineer, working for STAR_FLEET, the latest space flight innovation company. Kai's family moved to Giga Bay from Yokio City when his Mom took the new job. Kai is a natural leader and was a popular kid at his last school. He needs to find new friends in a new city, so sometimes he can come off as a bit shy at first. Kai is a wacky inventor. He got introduced to coding at six years old by his Mom, but really fell in love with coding when he met Nya. His fast learning ability and sense of adventure have turned him into a hacking prodigy.
LIKES Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
NYA, F
Age 6
Nya's Mom works in cyber security for Bit-Bank, the largest digital currency exchange in Giga Bay. Her Dad specializes in fixing flying cars. She learned 3D modeling through watching his designs and she now makes open source contributions to Blender. Nya grew up in Giga Bay and her parents have been encouraging her to become an engineer since she was three. Nya is a tech unicorn –– proficient in Python, Java, Swift and C++. Nya became interested in hacking during "bring your kids to work day" at her Mom's job. Nya started the Little Hackers at her school and would later upgrade the operation to the state-of-the-art Hackout Treehouse facility when her friend Kai moved next door. Nya is passionate about making the world a better place and is known throughout the hacking and open source communities by code name @rainbowsplitter.
LIKES Hoverboards, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES Waiting, TV, Standardized Tests, Bullies
KAI
LIKES
Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES
Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
KAI
LIKES
Baking Cookies, Sneakers, Yokio City, Hacking, Precision, Napping
DISLIKES
Moving, Changing Schools, The Dark, Homework, Rushing
Kai's Dad was a star athlete and now coaches basketball at GBU. His Mom is an engineer, working for STAR_FLEET, the latest space flight innovation company. Kai's family moved to Giga Bay from Yokio City when his Mom took the new job. Kai is a natural leader and was a popular kid at his last school. He needs to find new friends in a new city, so sometimes he can come off as a bit shy at first. Kai is a wacky inventor. He got introduced to coding at six years old by his Mom, but really fell in love with coding when he met Mia. His fast learning ability and sense of adventure have turned him into a hacking prodigy.
MIA
LIKES
Hoverboards, Blender, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES
Waiting, TV, Standardized tests, Bullying
MIA
LIKES
Hoverboards, Blender, Hacking, Swift, Python, C++, Big ideas
DISLIKES
Waiting, TV, Standardized tests, Bullying
Mia's Mom works in cyber security for Bit-Bank, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in Giga Bay. Her Dad specializes in fixing flying cars. She learned 3D modeling through watching his designs and she now makes open source contributions to Blender. Mia grew up in Giga Bay and her parents have been encouraging her to become an engineer since she was three. Mia is a tech unicorn -- proficient in Python, Java, Swift and C++. Mia became interested in hacking during "bring your kids to work day" at her Mom's job. Mia started the Little Hackers at her school and would later upgrade the operation to the state-of-the-art Hackout Treehouse facility when her friend Kai moved next door. Mia's passionate about making the world a better place and is known throughout the hacking and open source communities by code name @rainbowsplitter.
DO NOT DESIGN THE FLOWER.
Little Hackers stands apart from resources like Scratch, Tynker and other books because it emphasizes reading code structure rather than composing visual blocks or working through complex starter projects.
Additionally, Little Hackers allows kids as young as six to begin learning coding with
7x less screen time. By time gating the AR experiences we estimate 19 minutes (or 15%) of screen time per 2 hour book. Contrast with 2 hours (or 100%) screen time per 2 hours using a completely digital platform.
Most importantly, Little Hackers makes coding cool! The biggest takeaway from our early product testing was how much kids loved interacting with the AR experiences at the end of each exercise. In fact, kids in our focus groups, mostly Black and Brown children, responded with "is this me?" when using the AR.
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Kickstarter!
Little Hackers stands apart from resources like Scratch, Tynker and other books because it emphasizes reading code structure rather than composing visual blocks or working through complex starter projects. Additionally, Little Hackers allows kids as young as six to begin learning coding with 7x less screen time. By time gating the AR experiences we estimate 19 minutes (or 15%) of screen time per 2 hour book. Contrast with 2 hours (or 100%) screen time per 2 hours using a completely digital platform.
Most importantly, Little Hackers makes coding cool! The biggest takeaway from our early product testing was how much kids loved interacting with the AR experiences at the end of each exercise. In fact, kids in our focus groups, mostly Black and Brown children, responded with "is this me?" when using the AR.
