The rollout of the BBC micro:bit –- the credit-card sized device aimed at educating 1,000,000 kids about coding and technology in the spirit of the 80s BBC Micro computer -- has been delayed until 2016.
Originally slated to be given free to every Year 7 child starting secondary school in September, the device has been hit with manufacturing issues relating to its power supply. As such, it’s still unclear exactly when the device will arrive in schools early next year.
The micro:bit's delay isn’t unprecedented: in 1981 the original BBC Micro was also hit with lengthy delays due to a major component fault, leading to the launch being pushed back until 1982, to widespread outcry and even initiating questions in the House Of Commons.
The delay is a major disappointment for the BBC’s Make It Digital initiative, and the underlying tech industry alliance behind the partnership. It seems impossible to see how the device will be able to have the kind of impact initially touted in half a school year, particularly with teachers still without devices to plan lessons around.
It's also an entirely predictable slip up. The BBC only announced its insanely (and laudably) ambitious plans to roll out a million free micro:bits back in March. Then, the corporation –- and its several high-profile partners, from ARM to Microsoft and Samsung – launched a massive redesign, after the original 'Blue board' prototype was deemed as ugly and unfit for purpose in internal meetings. It has also suffered from vast feature bloating as more and more partners came on board. Internally, it missed targets to ship to teachers earlier in the summer in order to allow for an education programme around it. It missed the start of the school year in September. Now it may not arrive until the spring term is already underway.
The power supply, which has caused the delay, was also overhauled during the process – from a coin-shaped battery on the original prototype, to an external AA battery pack. (This wasn’t confirmed internally until late summer, weeks before manufacturing was due to begin.)
That’s not to say that the finished micro:bit is not a positive and important idea, and can't still succeed; manufacturing issues are common with any hardware launch and particularly common nowadays in the age of Kickstarter. But it does demonstrate the sheer absurdity of attempting to design, manufacture, test and ship a new hardware platform in the space of six months to hit a pre-organised media campaign, no matter how noble.
At the launch in March, BBC director general Tony Hall promised the autumn-long Make It Digital campaign would redefine the public discourse about technology. Instead so far we’ve had a dodgy and discredited Grand Theft Auto drama, a game show, and some tech references shoe-horned into its original programming -- some very well, some less so.
Inspiring the next generation of kids to embrace computer science, to think about technology not just as black boxes but as amazing tools and feats of engineering that they can hack and mould and create with, is an important and vital mission. There's no questioning the talent or goodwill behind the micro:bit. But kids can’t code on goodwill, and teachers can’t teach with it.
Let’s hope the finished product -– when it finally arrives –- can deliver on its promise.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
