Discover how today's amazing inventions and technologies work while developing your coding skills In SMART HOMES, find out about the technology that lives in our homes and buildings. Learn about motion sensors, create burglar alarms for your computer that use sound and motion to detect intruders. Each book goes inside a different machine or technology and explains the key computer code and systems that are controlling them. Step-by-step activities teach you how to create your own versions of these machines on screen, and bring them to life - with code! The focus is placed on modern technologies that actually use code to work, rather than looking back at steam engines, etc. This will keep the practice of coding firmly in the contemporary. Each book assumes readers have reasonable general computer skills. The series uses Scratch as the coding language, as this is still the most used, user-friendly and flexible in building projects, however no prior experience of Scratch is expected and each book will include a spread introducing Scratch. Teachers have always used ICT across the curriculum and are looking for contexts to teach coding in. Kids that are interested in STEAM and the high-interest topics covered, will be engaged by the opportunity to explore the STEAM concepts creatively with code. Perfect for readers aged 9 and up.

Author Biography

Max has written over 20 educational software titles for children. His programs and websites have won a number of awards including BETT, ERA and Practical Pre-School Gold Awards. Max also used to be a primary school teacher. He lives in London with his wife and two children.