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Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

jewelbots.com

91–100 of 173 posts

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#91
I'm all for making it more appealing for everyone to learn to code, but I was torn over this product by a comment made by Sara Chipps on the Giant Robots podcast (http://giantrobots.fm/246).

One of the use cases she mentions is "...4 buzzes means the guy you like is nearby...".

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#92
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks so much for your feedback! Sounds like we have some things to add to the FAQ! Jewelbots can be programmed just like an Arduino using C++. Real code! Because we believe that kids are super smart (Also, I starting writing C++ at 11).

I think the real C++ part is so important because it respects the abilities and intelligence of children to participate in the adult world using a real (yet approachable) technology that is also used in industry. This also makes these skills earned poking around with a fun toy transferable to solving their own problems, doing coursework at university, and later on entering the technology labor market. Other programmi…

I don't think that you need to worry about the transferability of skills from a 11-year-olds toy to professional software development. The far more important thing to transfer is interest/excitement, and that may (or may not -- you're the expert) be easiest to do with a language other than C++. Part of what makes Arduino so fun is how fast you can get to a blinky LED, and part of what makes Scratch so fun is how quickly you can get to interactive graphics. I feel like there has to be something (not necessarily existing today) which is powerful enough to make kids feel like they are in control of the device without annoying arcana like semicolon errors.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Identify as or are boys biologically?

It would seem rude for a toy maker to be asking children for their gender as assigned at birth (which is what I assume you mean) so they probably don't know.

As general practice, I never ask people about their genitals.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#94
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do girls want? (after being socialized for their entire young lives to only express and develop interests in traditionally "feminine" pursuits) might turn out to be a quite different question from What's the best way to encourage girls to see themselves as being equally capable as boys in technical areas?"

This x100. There seems to be a popular notion that "feminine" traits are innate and universal to people with a "feminine identity", rather than the product of culture with socialization that treats female people consistently differently than male people from birth. However if you think about things that prepare someone for technical success, so-called "feminine" traits like caring about your appearance more than is a…

Hi! I wrote all about this, you can read my thoughts here.

https://medium.com/thelist/papas-please-let-your-babies-grow...

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#95

As a proud dad of 3 incredible girls, I am very glad this product exists. I understand the argument that it would be great to not have gendered products at all meaning kids could choose what they want without any outside influence. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world yet (and it could be a while off) In the meantime, I can now buy a product that: 1. Encourages my girls to get into STEM. 2. Is not a hard sell.…

Even without socialization, I'd bet some girls will still like girly stuff.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#96
post #77
post #74

Congratulations on launch and I really, really want you guys to succeed. However, the copy below is a little off-putting. >Jewelbots patent pending bluetooth connection takes friendship to the next level by responding to your besties whenever you are together. a) What's the patentable invention here? If it's a programmable watch or something like that, I'd be very scared. b) Your target audience should be encouraged…

Hi! Our patent covers the ability to communicate from wearable to wearable using BLE. I hope that he fact that we're completely open source, from hardware to firmware to software, encourages others to share. As far as advertising, I get that. Feedback received. Thanks.

[deleted]

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#97

As a proud dad of 3 incredible girls, I am very glad this product exists. I understand the argument that it would be great to not have gendered products at all meaning kids could choose what they want without any outside influence. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world yet (and it could be a while off) In the meantime, I can now buy a product that: 1. Encourages my girls to get into STEM. 2. Is not a hard sell.…

Even without socialization, I'd bet some girls will still like girly stuff.

males can like girly stuff too

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#98
post #91

I'm all for making it more appealing for everyone to learn to code, but I was torn over this product by a comment made by Sara Chipps on the Giant Robots podcast ( http://giantrobots.fm/246 ). One of the use cases she mentions is "...4 buzzes means the guy you like is nearby...".

> Learn to code->it will help you get a guy.

I don't think I reasonable person would get this from the quote you posted. Does it even appear in any of the material on the site? Or was it an off the cuff example in an interview? Regardless, I'm unclear on why this is offensive, can you elaborate?

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#99
post #68
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was at a conference this weekend. A female grade school teacher, at a private school, tried to explain to me how "girls brains are wired differently from boys" and therefore "we need to teach girls to be more like boys." I am open minded. I've met and worked with women who are just as strong or stronger than men. I don't understand how we can simultaneously argue that men and women are fundamentally different but s…

Hi! That grade school teacher needs a few more science lessons. We have lots of users that identify as male. Boys love Jewelbots, two weeks ago at an event a boy came up to me after to tell me "this was more fun than coding Minecraft". Best compliment in a while.

How do you know the teacher is wrong based on science? Do you have citations?

"Boys and girls are wired differently" seems like an eminently plausible statement -- it applies to the rest of our bodies, so why not to our brains? I don't think it can be rejected out of hand without a solid argument (or reputable studies) to the contrary.

Re: Jewelbots – A Friendship Bracelet You Can Code

#100

As a proud dad of 3 incredible girls, I am very glad this product exists. I understand the argument that it would be great to not have gendered products at all meaning kids could choose what they want without any outside influence. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world yet (and it could be a while off) In the meantime, I can now buy a product that: 1. Encourages my girls to get into STEM. 2. Is not a hard sell.…

Why do men and women need to be the same? Isn't it ok to be different?
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