(October 13, 2020) BBC news

The BBC Micro Bit mini-computer - used by millions of schoolchildren across the world - will receive its first major update since 2016.

The new model includes a speaker and microphone, as well as artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities. Formerly a BBC-led project, it is now led by a foundation that aims to make coding accessible for children. The device will be released next month with prices starting at £11.50. "The purpose of the Micro Bit is to help children unlock their creative potential and learn how to shape the world around them," Gareth Stockdale, chief executive of the Micro Bit Educational Foundation, said. "Learning coding and computational thinking can enhance their life chances in the 21st Century."

Global Impact
Since its launch, the Micro Bit has been designed for education, with an estimated 25 million children learning computer skills on the device in over 60 countries.
The previous model launched in the UK in 2016, with the BBC giving away a free Micro Bit to every year seven student. It is now used in most secondary schools, as well as primary schools, universities and libraries.

"The Micro Bit has a low floor and high ceiling - you can make it as advanced as you wish but it can also be very basic," said Keith Quille, a lecturer at the Technological University Dublin who runs free Micro Bit sessions for children and teachers.

Full Article at: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54514235