Farnell, an Avnet company and exclusive manufacturing partner of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, is now shipping a new BBC micro:bit, designed to open up a new world of opportunities for the next generation of students. Extended capabilities include greater memory capacity, a faster processor and, for the first time, “out of the box” sound and touch capabilities. The updated pocket-sized computer also provides future potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the classroom, paving the way for children to experiment with some of the world’s most transformative technologies.
Farnell has manufactured and shipped more than five million devices since 2016, helping the Foundation reach an estimated 25 million children in more than 60 countries who have learnt digital creativity and computing skills. The micro:bit has been adopted by educational organisations around the world to support Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) learning programmes.
The Foundation worked directly with teachers and the community of micro:bit fans to drive the selection of updates, ensuring the updated micro:bit meets current and future requirements. One of the most requested enhancements was the addition of a built-in speaker and microphone to allow children to be creative with sound and music. As part of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s commitment to keep the device as cost-effective and accessible as possible, the updated feature-rich micro:bit is available at the same price as the original version.
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