Robotify this month said it has partnered with Woz ED, the company of Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak, to provide more than 3,500 schools, coding clubs, and school districts across the globe with access to robotics technology.
Dublin, Ireland-based Robotify offers proprietary virtual education software so that students can learn how to code and how to control robots without having to ever purchase any hardware. The company said it gives students access to robots and environments that have never been accessible before through a Web browser.
Woz ED, founded and inspired by Wozniak, provides K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education around the world. However, during COVID-19, student access to physical robotics hardware has been severely limited, and the cost of physical hardware has made it a challenge to continue to provide robotics programming to students, said Robotify.
“I am delighted to partner with such a fantastic team at Woz ED,” stated Adam Dalton, CEO of Robotify. “I have always admired Steve Wozniak, so to be able to work with his team and share the same vision of nurturing the makers of the future by making STEM education more accessible to all students across the globe, is really exciting for me and the whole team at Robotify,”
Robotify, Woz ED plan to offer equitable access
Robotify said the deal is part of its commitment to providing robotics education in a cost-effective, accessible, and equitable way as part of its Robotify Enabled program. The company has set an ambitious goal of making its cutting-edge simulation software, content managent system, and virtual robotics competition software available to millions of students.
“Due to the [COVID-19] pandemic and the shift to remote learning, components of STEM education have been greatly affected,” stated Hannah Dobson, vice president of entertainment and media at Enterprise Ireland, Ireland’s trade and innovation agency. “The team at Enterprise Ireland is excited to support Robotify with this new partnership with Woz ED and to see them continue to grow and expand further into global markets.”
Robotify said it is providing its software to Woz ED so it can virtualize its STEM pathways. Robotify said this will provide students with a virtual robotics experience in addition to existing physical experiences. Both companies said they expect to give tens of thousands of students around the world equitable access to educational content.
“I’m impressed with the way Robotify makes coding engaging and accessible,” said Wozniak, founder of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Woz ED. “By virtualizing the technology, more young people will have the opportunity to learn and explore. Both Woz ED and Robotify focus on ensuring young learners are job-ready for the most in-demand tech-sector openings. We provide learners with the opportunity to engage in authentic projects to help them understand what work they love and excel at.”
The partnership will also include participation from Steve Wozniak at the upcoming virtual Robotify Expo on Sept. 23, 2021. The Robotify Expo will celebrate new advancements in STEM education, allow attendees to learn from key industry experts, and showcase new and exciting products from Robotify. More information about the Robotify Expo, including other high-profile keynote speakers, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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