The FUZE was specifically designed to make learning to code as easy and as accessible as possible. It is not just intended for young people, as students of all ages, including parents and teachers will find real text based coding is just not as complicated as they might have been led to believe.
Computer programming is now deeply rooted in the curriculum and learning to code using text based programming languages is the expected outcome.
The reasons are obvious. We’re entering a new age in technology. If you’ve not heard of IoT (the Internet of Things) then you soon will. Computing devices will be woven (literally) into the fabric of our daily lives in ways we can’t yet even imagine. Our interaction with computers is also changing from keyboard to mouse to touch to gesture to… how about predictive behaviour, and other methods yet unknown.
Who is going to be responsible for all this, who will inspire and create this new technology and most importantly, who is going to CODE it?!
Computer programming is now deeply rooted in the curriculum and learning to code using text based programming languages is the expected outcome.
The reasons are obvious. We’re entering a new age in technology. If you’ve not heard of IoT (the Internet of Things) then you soon will. Computing devices will be woven (literally) into the fabric of our daily lives in ways we can’t yet even imagine. Our interaction with computers is also changing from keyboard to mouse to touch to gesture to… how about predictive behaviour, and other methods yet unknown.
Who is going to be responsible for all this, who will inspire and create this new technology and most importantly, who is going to CODE it?!
Your children, that’s who.
But who teaches the children a technology we, as adults, have not been exposed to ‘how-it-works’. We’ve not focused on teaching programming skills for almost thirty years.
The FUZE requires no previous knowledge of programming whatsoever. It is a self contained programming and (simple) electronics workstation. Switch it on, follow the included projects, learn to code! Is it really that simple.
Already in use in hundreds of schools, not just in the UK but all around the globe, the FUZE has proven itself to be more than capable of teaching young and older minds alike, computer programming skills that engage, excite and stimulate computational thinking, problem solving and rapidly develop digital skills .
But who teaches the children a technology we, as adults, have not been exposed to ‘how-it-works’. We’ve not focused on teaching programming skills for almost thirty years.
The FUZE requires no previous knowledge of programming whatsoever. It is a self contained programming and (simple) electronics workstation. Switch it on, follow the included projects, learn to code! Is it really that simple.
Already in use in hundreds of schools, not just in the UK but all around the globe, the FUZE has proven itself to be more than capable of teaching young and older minds alike, computer programming skills that engage, excite and stimulate computational thinking, problem solving and rapidly develop digital skills .
The FUZE is as much for absolute beginners as it is for seasoned coders and electronics enthusiasts.
The FUZE is not only an extremely valuable educational device, it is fun and entertaining at home too.
From children getting to grips with the computing curriculum, to the more experienced technology whizz-kids, the FUZE provides almost limitless creative potential in a fast-growing world of understanding technology.
We need to create – not just consume.
Here are just a few examples:
■ Design, write and code your own games and programs
■ Create your own electronic projects from simple LEDs to proximity detectors, motor controls and endless others
■ Turn the FUZE into a controller for external robotics
■ Learn other languages like Scratch & Python
■ The FUZE is a computer with email, wordprocessing, presentations and web browsing
■ Play included games like Minecraft
■ Make a proximity detecting security system
■ Connect Raspberry Pi compatible add-ons like the senseHAT
■ Learn to read analog sensors and control simple circuits
■ Create your own spirit level or tilting maze puzzle game!
■ Create controllers for your games and robotic devices
■ Turn your FUZE into a synthesizer keyboard
■ LEARN to CODE!
This is only the tip of the iceberg – You write the code, you make it happen!
■ Design, write and code your own games and programs
■ Create your own electronic projects from simple LEDs to proximity detectors, motor controls and endless others
■ Turn the FUZE into a controller for external robotics
■ Learn other languages like Scratch & Python
■ The FUZE is a computer with email, wordprocessing, presentations and web browsing
■ Play included games like Minecraft
■ Make a proximity detecting security system
■ Connect Raspberry Pi compatible add-ons like the senseHAT
■ Learn to read analog sensors and control simple circuits
■ Create your own spirit level or tilting maze puzzle game!
■ Create controllers for your games and robotic devices
■ Turn your FUZE into a synthesizer keyboard
■ LEARN to CODE!
This is only the tip of the iceberg – You write the code, you make it happen!
We began by creating the FUZE for Raspberry Pi, an education focused personal computer, featuring a very accessible coding environment combined with simple, yet very engaging electronics, complete with content for teachers.
The FUZE has been widely accepted as an ideal resource for teaching coding across all ages and abilities. It has also won many accolades and received incredible press coverage.
■ Connect to a monitor, switch on and load FUZE BASIC
■ Use the tutorials provided to get started and learn how to code using a really accessible coding language
■ Learn about physical computing and how to interact with electronics and sensors using code you’ve written yourself
■ Get a huge amount of satisfaction from achieving a great deal in a short space of time
■ Either go on to a future in technology or just enjoy: learning, having fun and developing valuable problem solving skills
The FUZE doesn’t need an internet connection to code or play with!
In an attempt to keep up with the curriculum, schools are employing the likes of Scratch, an excellent introductory tool into the world of coding for young minds. Fast forward a few years and suddenly these minds are hit with Python, C++ and Java – fully functional and real world languages.
You can see the problem. Some are super-simple, others far more complex.
FUZE BASIC provides the perfect stepping stone between these languages and when partnered with the FUZE, learning a real programming language becomes far more accessible.
No previous experience using graphic based tools like Scratch is required before
you can start learning with FUZE BASIC.
From the ever popular “Hello World”
Hello World in FUZE BASIC compared to the same in Python.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation
“BASIC is a fantastic, intuitive language with which to learn programming.”
David Braben, CEO Frontier Developments & co-founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation
to controlling robot arms
to reading sensors
PC Pro Magazine – Recommended
“… the most coherent introduction we’ve seen to computing and electronics,
realising the full educational potential of the Raspberry Pi in one neat package”
PC PRO
to writing your own games
The FUZE comes with a spiral-bound workbook of ten coding projects, a 200 page reference guide with all the FUZE BASIC commands (at time of print) and examples of how to use them, plus extra lesson plans, additional project worksheets and, on top of all this, there are even more tutorials printed in Linux User & Developer, The MagPi Magazine and PC Pro.
Barrow Hills School
Rarely have I witnessed lessons where the children were that
engaged for that length of time. I went along to see what was
going on and I could not have been happier”
Matthew Unsworth – Head Teacher
Dunmore Primary School
The following day the children were still buzzing from the
experience and haven’t stopped talking about it.
I wholeheartedly recommend.”
Toby West – Specialist Teacher
Ickford Combined School
I can’t praise the FUZE enough and schools looking
for a robust, reliable, easy to use and
exciting tool to teach programming to invest”
John Ronane BA(Hons), MA, MBA, FCoT – Headteacher
Bentley Wood High School for Girls
“With such an easy to pick up language, our students
were controlling robot arms and interacting
with analogue sensors in less than an hour!”
Gavin Calnan, Head of Computing and ICT
Comments from a few young people that have used our FUZE computers
Ickford Primary School: Ages 10-11
Boys“When we first heard that we were doing programming we
thought it was going to be really hard, but now it’s really simple”
“It practically teaches us, like a teacher,
cause it’s got everything that we need on it”
“This is more fun than SCRATCH,
it’s more programming than scratch.
It’s so much easier than scratch”
Girls “I thought it was going to be harder, but it’s pretty easy”
“There’s lots of different things you can do compared to the computer”
“I like lighting up the lights, I like controlling it and making it”
“It makes you feel quite proud, that you’re actually able to do this.”
“It’s built up my confidence.”
Featherstone High School:Ages 14-15
“It helped me a lot to understand computer science and now I like it”
“The workshop was fantastic. I wish they could do it again.
“I know how to do some coding and how to control the robotic arm and LED now. Overall I give it a 5*”
If you don’t understand customer service then you shouldn’t be in business.
We’ve been dealing directly with our customers for more than thirty years. It doesn’t matter what the problem is, if there is one, then it needs putting right.
We’ve always gone the extra mile, beyond the call of duty, put the customer first or whatever fancy phrase is required to get attention!
Quite simply, we give great customer service because we like to. We operate a simple service ethic. If you look after your customers then they will look after you. It’s very simple and it is shocking that many companies fail to realise it, especially in today’s hyperactive social environment.
We answer our phones, and when I say we, I mean us, the humans here at FUZE, in this office and we don’t hide behind email.
It’s not rocket science is it!
A FUZE customer (John Leonard from Germany – with permission) recently quoted;
“Your customer service is simply stunning! After over 40 years in
the IT field I can say without doubt that I have never
experienced such prompt and good service as with FUZE”
The FUZE platform was originally conceived one afternoon when I, (Jon Silvera – CEO & Founder) thought it would be a good idea to show my kids what computing was like back in my day. So from the attic (loft) I brought down an old BBC Micro and soon had them typing in simple BASIC programs. I was more than a little taken aback at the level of interest and enthusiasm displayed towards what is basically an antique home computer.
It was their reaction that sparked the idea. Could we release a computer today in a similar style? Could we present users with an accessible programming environment like BASIC and would it achieve anything if we did.
The FUZE was the outcome. What began as a foam-board cut-out became a working prototype became a fully realised and professionally produced aluminium cased home computer built around the then newly released Raspberry Pi.
A year of very successful press coverage, awards and outstanding testimonials followed. We then refined the product even more, focused on producing high quality educational content in the form of project cards and tutorials.
Since then around 4,000 FUZE systems have been sold. More than 300 schools are actively using suites of FUZEs to help deliver the new computing curriculum. FUZE is on sale in Maplin, Argos, Toys ‘R’ Us (online), Amazon and a number of education resellers.
The last two years we have also delivered an incredible number of workshops for schools along with computing focused days, teacher training, science fair workshops and events all around the country.
The experience we have gained these last two years has been instrumental in defining our future plans for the FUZE.
The only negative comments we receive from schools is that it is sometimes difficult to justify adding another computing device to an already cramped IT suite. Those already equipped with Windows laptops and Android tablets for example need to buy extra monitors for the FUZE, or they might already have big desktop PCs taking up lots of space.
However, the FUZE approach of putting a very accessible text based programming language in front of students along with simple to follow worksheets and the inclusion of non-technical very engaging electronic and robotic projects quite simply, just works! Many schools have discovered this and made space for the FUZE as it delivers on all its promises.
We believe, the FUZE and FUZE BASIC brings the concept of ‘learning to code’ closer and more achievable than any other method.
