kano creates real-life harry potter wand to help kids learn how to code

DIY computing kit maker kano has unveiled today a partnership with warner bros, launching a new coding kit featuring a ‘build-it-yourself’ wireless wand. the device pairs up with a harry potter coding app via a mac, PC, iPad or android tablet.

images courtesy of kano

equipped with a manual on “how to make a coding wand” users must assemble the wand, which features a magnetometer, accelerator, and gyroscope. once complete these technologies allow the device to track hand movements, allowing users to control the action on screen.

with the coding app, users can unlock more than 70 challenges from across harry potter’s world, which have been designed to teach the basics of programming. in familiar locations like hogsmeade, diagon alley, the forbidden forest and, of course, hogwarts challenges such as flinging bertie bott’s every-flavor jelly beans into the air, or immobilizing the cornish pixies, are dictated by a corresponding javascript.

the wand connects to an online platform, called kano world, where users can share work and view other people’s. the app also lets you download, inspect and freely edit community spells. the harry potter kano coding kit is the first harry potter-themed STEM product (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and launches in the US, canada, the UK, australia and new zealand for $99.99/£99 on october 1st.