The new PiNoIR camera (which is like the regular camera module with the IR filter removed) has found it’s way over to the DesignSpark guys. (Well, they’re part of RS Components, so I expect it didn’t take long for it to find it’s way there!) They’ve created an outdoor wildlife camera with the PiNoIR and they’ve had some pretty decent results. Read more here
David Briddock has written an excellent introduction to the graphical programming environment Greenfoot. It’s aimed at ages 11 and upwards.
It’s not as simple as Scratch (hence the higher age) but looks to be a very interesting environment to learn Java and object-orientated concepts.
Chris Mobberley has written a tutorial on getting MongoDB (a NoSQL database server) up and running on your Pi.
UK-based PA Consulting Group have announced their 2013/14 Raspberry Pi project competition. Here’s what they have to say:
To create your project, you can use a Raspberry Pi as well as additional hardware up to the value of £100.
The closing date to submit your project is 31 January 2014.
While the format of the competition remains similar, this year we are challenging entrants to use the Raspberry Pi to help the environment. For inspiration, you may wish to consider some of the winning entries from the last competition:
An air quality and weather surveillance station made with a Raspberry Pi that takes in information about air quality through attached sensors and uploads it directly to the internet, where it can then be viewed and analysed on a smartphone or tablet.
A system that enables home owners to monitor the electricity consumption of their home. The electricity-consumption logging system was based on the communication protocol of an off-the-shelf wireless electricity monitor.
There are four categories open:
So, if you’re in one of those brackets, what’s stopping you? Remember you have until the end of January to submit your project, so there’s no time to lose!
The Observer has done a nice piece listing the top 10 places to go to learn how to code. Kudos to both Code Club and Rewired State, who get mentions.
Teacher, creator of Geek Gurl Diaries and all-round nice person Carrie Anne Philbin has written a new book – “Adventures in Raspberry Pi”. This 256 page book, published by Wiley, will be released on 22nd November and is available to pre-order on Amazon for £8.25 (which is a huge discount on the RRP of £14.99).
More details can be found on Carrie Anne’s blog.
Here’s the book description from Amazon:
Coding for kids is cool with Raspberry Pi and this simple guide Even if your kids don′t have an ounce of computer geek in them, they can learn to code with Raspberry Pi and this wonderful book. Written for 11– to 15–year–olds and assuming no prior computing knowledge, this book uses the wildly successful, low–cost, credit–card–sized Raspberry Pi computer to explain basic computing concepts. Young people will enjoy going through the book′s ten fun projects while they learn basic programming and system administration skills, starting with the very basics of how to plug in the board and turn it on. Each project includes a lively and informative video to reinforce the lessons. It′s perfect for young, eager self–learners—your kids can jump in, set up their Raspberry Pi, and go through the lessons on their own. Written by Carrie Anne Philbin, a high school teacher of computing who advises the U.K. government on the revised ICT Curriculum Teaches 11– to 15–year–olds basic programming and system administration skills using Raspberry Pi Features 10 fun projects accompanied by lively and helpful videos Raspberry Pi is a $35/£25 credit–card–sized computer created by the non–profit Raspberry Pi Foundation; over a million have been sold Help your children have fun and learn computing skills at the same time with Adventures in Raspberry Pi .
