Sony unveils KOOV robotics kit for education
Sony recently announced it will be releasing educational kits through its new Koov system that will focus on robotics and programming. "The Koov system consists of blocks and a micro controller but can be assembled into a number of different shapes and configurations depending on what you would like to build,” according to Geeky Gadgets, and is the first offering of Sony Global Education’s STEM101 curriculum, which was announced last year. "The curriculum promises to stimulate children's intellectual curiosity through new forms and styles of learning, and it provides the opportunity to learn about living as a member of society through different program types that offer various hands-on experiences. Sony Global Education aims to offer STEM101-based educational services from spring of 2016,” Sony said at the time of the announcement.

Sony's new educational range of building blocks combines elements of LEGO, robotics, and video games to create a range of customisable and fully programmable playthings. The line consists of translucent bricks and microcontrollers, which kids can build into vehicles or other toys. They can then bring them to life by writing code on a companion app, which serves as a simple introduction to coding languages.

These programmable mini-robots are only the first offering from what Sony's Global Education division sees as a new worldwide curriculum. Announced in 2015, the STEM 101 initiative aims to develop "innovative way[s] of teaching STEM subjects in primary schools across the globe."

Sony Global Education partnered with Artec to create Koov and while the latter company isn't well known in the west, it's a powerhouse in Japan -- one of the country's top providers of educational materials for schools. The basic breakdown is Artec has created the physical elements, while Sony handles the digital side.

The name -- which, like LEGO, is officially capitalised, but.... sorry, no -- may require some explaining though. It comes from the programming roots of the range, with both the word "Koov" and the logo based around binary code, made up from ones and zeros. The K and V are also meant to evoke the triangular parentheses used in coding, while also standing for "key" and "value". The double O is meant to represent infinity, as in "the infinite combinations possible with Koov, limited only by the imagination."

Although the official site is live, it's devoid of info at the moment, such as when the Koov range is expected to launch. There are also no signs of the kits themselves yet, only introductory concept videos.

Whenever Koov does arrive, expect more from Sony on the educational toy front -- its STEM 101 project has three spearheads, "Think," "Make," and "Feel", with Koov being only the first.