On 1-Feb-06, at 11:05 AM, Douglas S. Blank wrote: > For example, Python now runs natively on Sony's AIBO. It used to be > the > case that one would write C++ code, compile it, reboot, upload, > run, in > order to program the AIBO. Now, it can be all Python (and the award > winning CMU team is doing just that). As a side note, the AIBO was > just > canceled by Sony. Bummer. It was a great platform.
Wow, that alone sounds like a great reason to get an AIBO (python is a great selling point for me--I never wanted a smartphone until Nokia ported python to theirs). > As one of the developers of Pyro, I wonder about going the other way > too, bringing RUR-PLE pieces to Pyro. In fact, not only can Pyro > control > OpenGL robots, AIBO, 2d simulators, but it can also be used to play > checkers, chess, and the like. Also, we have a "wumpus world" that > operates much like RUR-PLE's world. Mixing RUR-PLE and Pyro sounds like a good idea to me. My daughter likes to push things past their limits (she's a good beta tester for me), so if she was using RUR-PLE and found that it "unfolded" into a bigger, more complicated, but more powerful world, I think that would really get her involved. Does Pyro yet run natively on OS X (without requiring X windows/Gnome/ fink)? > Some of these points may be non-issues because RUR-PLE isn't > attempting > to teach robotics. But what if it were? Some of these points we could > explore by making RUR-PLE talk to the Pyro 2D simulators (one is > written > in pure-Python) and by having Pyro connect to the simulator in RUR- > PLE. > I'd be interested in sharing lessons learned from that software > which is > designed "for kids" versus "for young adults." Using robotics to teach programming, vs. using programming to teach robotics. Two sides of the same coin, IMHO. I think you've raised some good points to consider, but I know I'd like to see this combination work out (especially if it runs on OS X). > BTW, I use do use Pyro to teach cognitive science students how to > program. Questions of intelligence make a great way to motivate the > learning of programming, and of course Python is great for that. Would > young kids benefit from this same motivation? Not directly questioning their intelligence, but praising them for being smart when they figure something out, yeah, that's a heady motivator. --Dethe "Any idea that couldn't stand a few decades of neglect is not worth anything." --Gabriel Garcia Marquez _______________________________________________ Edu-sig mailing list [email protected] http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/edu-sig
