Abaco Computer Board was designed around a simple belief: digital learning becomes more meaningful when it engages the body as well as the mind. Developed as an educational device for the MIT Scratch platform, it transforms coding and gaming into a tangible experience, allowing children to interact with software through physical sensors, buttons, and controls.
More than a controller, Abaco is a cognitive object that helps children understand the relationship between action, logic, and outcome. By turning abstract programming concepts into hands-on interactions, it encourages an intuitive learning process in which experimentation, play, and discovery become powerful educational tools.
The product's identity is deeply rooted in its form. The ergonomic arrangement of sensors, buttons, and sliders creates a composition that subtly resembles a human face: two "eyes", a central "nose", and a linear slider that suggests a "mouth". This visual language makes the device immediately approachable and relatable, fostering an emotional connection that invites exploration and interaction.
Materiality and color play an equally important role. Contrasting PMMA and ABS surfaces create a rich visual and tactile experience, while the bold, playful palette enhances readability and accessibility, even for children with perceptual difficulties. Every control is positioned to support both ergonomic use and the overall character of the object, seamlessly blending functionality with expression.
By bridging physical interaction and digital creativity, Abaco Computer Board expands the way children engage with technology. The project reflects 21AM's vision of educational innovation, where product design, cognitive development, and play come together to transform learning into an engaging, inclusive, and memorable experience.