³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

When I heard 'raspberry pie computers' mentioned in the news recently, I rather hoped we had finally found the Willy Wonka of the computer world – something that could churn out desserts at a moment's notice. But this fruity sounding device is the Raspberry Pi, a credit-card sized computer that is set to help children learn the basics of programming, at a cost they could save up for themselves.

The stripped down computer features basic components like a processor and memory, with ports to connect to peripherals like a keyboard, monitor and router.

It's hoped that the device, priced at just £22 will be rolled out to schools and encourage children to learn the basics of computer programming.

Several months ago, a government-backed report found that children's ICT learning was focused on how to use software rather than on learning programming skills. The recommendation of the report was to put computer science on the curriculum alongside maths and science, with the expectation that it would broaden a child's career prospects and place the UK in a better position in the video gaming and visual effects industries.

As the government considers the best way to teach computing in schools, Raspberry Pi and other similar products, like Beagleboard and Omnima Mini EMBWiFi, look like they could go a long way in addressing the issue.

It certainly seems like the public are intrigued by the Pi - when the device finally went on sale at six in the morning on 29 February the websites selling them were already overwhelmed by 6:01. The Raspberry Pi Foundation who are behind the Pi have been criticised by some for manufacturing too few devices, meaning that the only people with access to the Pi are adult hobbyists, rather than its intended younger audience.

Even once the supply problems are solved, If you're hoping to grab a bargain to meet your software needs, this isn't likely to be the computer for you. The Foundation aims to 'build the cheapest possible computer that provides a certain basic level of functionality' so if you're after a cheap computer to run music software on, you should still stick to the high spec varieties!

Computers have come so far in the last twenty years and advanced in capability and functionality that it’s sometimes easy to forget that they’re a human invention. As complex as they may seem, by stripping away the fancy software and flashy features, we can make learning about them far less intimidating for children and adults alike.

For more information on Raspberry Pi go to its , or check out the full ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ report.

Hajar is a regular contributor to the WebWise blog and has also made award-winning programmes for ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio. In her spare time she loves reading, writing and singing.