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Kids Can Now Learn To Code With Pocky, the Delicious Japanese Snack (theverge.com)

Dami Lee, writing for The Verge: Even if you didn't grow up in Asia, chances are you've had this ubiquitous Japanese snack before. Walk into most grocery stores in America and you'll find a box of Pocky, and in multiple flavors like strawberry and green tea if your supermarket is fancy. With over dozens of flavors and variations, there's a Pocky for all occasions! There's a Pocky for Men. Now, there's Pocky for kids, with an educational aspect. Pocky's maker, Glico, has made a game called Glicode (Like if Wilco made a coding game called Wilcode) that gets kids coding by having them arrange actual cookies and snacks, then snapping a photo to translate them into digital commands. Glico's other products like Almond Peak chocolates and Biscuit Cream Sands are also featured in the game, representing "if" and "sequence" commands, respectively. It's a lot like Apple's Swift Playgrounds, with simple programming tasks commanding a funny-looking blob to walk around on platform blocks. The app is only available on Android for now.

51 comments

  1. paging General Mills to the white courtesy phone by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    They just need to add arrows to Luck Charms and then I can program my Big Trak at my breakfast table!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  2. Logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Already been done.

    1. Re:Logo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is Minecraft that you can eat....

  3. Wheres the floating point library ? by Crashmarik · · Score: 1

    It was delicious.

    1. Re: Wheres the floating point library ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You eat it after you're done, then 24 hours later it translates itself into perl.

  4. Re:paging General Mills to the white courtesy phon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's the red phone, captain.

  5. Because everyone can code. by HBI · · Score: 1

    True, most people have trouble putting their shoes on in the morning and find talking about other people's sports exploits to be enjoyable. But they can code.

    --
    HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
  6. When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I've always used the verb 'program' and I'm not sure when 'code' started being used as a verb. For me 'program' is a more accurate term when you look at the definition:

    1. a plan of action to accomplish a specified end.
    2. a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.

    A computer program is essentially a series of commands to achieve a specific task, which fits with the meaning and is clearly the correct verb to use. 'Code' is far less accurate and it sounds like you're simply trying to make the information difficult to decipher father than actually achieve anything.

    When I see the term 'code' I always think it's written be some moron from middle management who wants to sound trendy, but really doesn't know anything about anything. Using 'code' is a lot like replacing 'write' with 'word'. Words are what you write, while writing is the verb. Likewise, code is what you write and programming is the verb.

    Anyway, from this point forth a declare that anyone who uses 'code' as a verb will be summarily executed.

    1. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It's from BBS-era leetspeak. That's when "software developers" became c0derZ!!!

    2. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you mean k0d3rZ, kid.

    3. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yew r b0th llamaz

    4. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yew r b0th llamaz

      k-r0d.

    5. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by halivar · · Score: 1

      Planning and Coding of Problems for an Electronic Computing Instrument, written by Von Neumann and Goldstein in 1947. You'll have to dig them up to see if your neck-beard is longer than theirs.

    6. Re:When Did Code Become A Verb? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Von Neumann clearly thought that "coding" was a menial, clerical task, hence suited for women. the first programmers were women. and they were better at it than anyone anticipated.

  7. Pocky and programming by Sowelu · · Score: 1

    It's like seeing everyone I knew in junior high, all over again.

  8. Not even trying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even if you didn't grow up in Asia, chances are you've had this ubiquitous Japanese snack before. Walk into most grocery stores in America and you'll find a box of Pocky

    Nope. Never seen them or heard of them. Nice ad though. I like how this summary is basically the entire article as well.

    1. Re: Not even trying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One data point must be the Whole Truth. AC has neither seen nor heard of them, therefore they don't exist. Must be an advertisement. QED.

    2. Re: Not even trying by Toonol · · Score: 1

      I wonder what regions don't have them? I wouldn't be able to find a decent size grocery store within a hundred miles of here (Pacific Northwest) that didn't have Pocky.

  9. Forget rainbows & hearts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want my APL character set breakfast cereal.

    1. Re:Forget rainbows & hearts by istartedi · · Score: 1

      Advertising slogan: An incomprehensible data processing algorithm in every spoonful!

      --
      For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  10. Why is pocky popular? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I just don't get it. Is it the shape? Certainly can't be the taste. There are far, far, FAR better chocolate covered cookies around. Pocky is more like a cheap, flavorless bread stick barely covered in chocolate.

    1. Re:Why is pocky popular? by Lord+Apathy · · Score: 1

      Pocky is awesome. Other than fan service based anime and Pokémon games its by far Japan's greatest contribution to civilization.

      --

      Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification

    2. Re:Why is pocky popular? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 1

      It's cultural. People want something that is JAPANESE! OMG! Plus you feel cool (LOL) for paying the outrageous markup on imported foods. Pocky is just dry breadsticks with hardened cake icing on them. You can buy them without any coating and they are like the crackers you crumble into seafood soup. I'm not saying they don't deserve a place on the candy shelf, but it is odd to have such an obsession with a second or third-tier candy, it would be like if Zagnut or Necco wafers had a fanatic following.

      I have to say, though, it is oddly satisfying to crunch them down to stubs, one after another.

      --
      Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
    3. Re: Why is pocky popular? by BlytheBowman · · Score: 1

      Not to mention the male/male pocky kisses

  11. Since when is Pocky delicious? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean, come on...

  12. Waaah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Waaah! We basement dwellers are members of an elite few that are smart enough to code! Average people can't . . . and I have to keep believing that because it threatens my sense of adequacy if it's not true!

    Sincerely,
     
    The Average Slashdotter

    1. Re:Waaah! by HBI · · Score: 1

      It's a true statement. You obviously haven't had to maintain any of that "code" you speak of.

      --
      HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
    2. Re:Waaah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Average people can't

      You're technically correct, but in this case, that's the worst kind of correct.

      Any asshole can build a cabinet. Hope you like drawers that are both too loose and too tight.

      Any asshole can paint a house. Looks like you missed a rather large spot over there.

      Any asshole can cook a steak. I'll see you in the Hague for crimes against meat.

      Any asshole can remove a mole. Oh god, should there really be this much blood?

      Any asshole can code, this is true. Now, ask yourself, do you really want any asshole to code for you?

    3. Re:Waaah! by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 1

      Anyone can write code. It's no different than learning a foreign language.

      What most people CAN'T do, is learn to say something intelligent in their chosen language.

      do u thnk millaniels ken L2 use C sintax proparly?

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    4. Re:Waaah! by narcc · · Score: 2

      Like all skills, you get better with practice.

      Any idiot can build a cabinet. The second will bet better than the first, and so on.

      Any idiot can paint a house. Again, you get better as you go along.

      Any idiot can cook a steak. The first few might be a bit rough, but it won't be long before their preparation is near expert.

      Any idiot can code, this is true. Programming is ridiculously simple. Children can, and often do, teach themselves. You probably taught yourself when you were a preteen, like millions of other kids. If you kept at it, you got better. Like all skills, you improve with practice.

      Now, ask yourself, do you really want any asshole to code for you?

      Well, I wouldn't hire you, for reasons completely unrelated to your skill as a developer.

    5. Re:Waaah! by Toonol · · Score: 1

      I think 'all those assholes' out there will be a little smarter in many aspects of their life once they learn to code. It's a reasoning skill. Just like, yes, a little bit of knowledge in ALL those fields you mentioned makes everybody a little better, and should be encouraged.

    6. Re:Waaah! by Toonol · · Score: 1

      do u thnk millaniels ken L2 use C sintax proparly?

      Yes, and some of them will be better programmers than you or I.

  13. Not again by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

    Not this shit again.

    Look, if you want to teach someone programming, even kids, teach them the actual basics of programing: loops, if/then, and what variables are. Most 6-year olds are able to grasp this stuff.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:Not again by JoeMerchant · · Score: 1

      Click the link, watch the video - If, Loop, etc. was illustrated.

  14. Meh. by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

    I know this is just going to blow people away... But the world can not function with programmers alone. I know, right? MIND BLOWN!

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:Meh. by Killall+-9+Bash · · Score: 1

      the microsofts and googles of the world want cheap labor, so get used to the "everyone's a coder" movement.

      --
      "Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
    2. Re:Meh. by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      the microsofts and googles of the world want cheap labor, so get used to the "everyone's a coder" movement.

      Cheap coder labor and "everyone's a coder" is why software today is for the most part shit.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    3. Re:Meh. by Toonol · · Score: 2

      I know. Teaching people arithmetic has destroyed the careers of so many mathematicians, and don't get me started about the ill-conceived notion of mass literacy.

  15. Re:paging General Mills to the white courtesy phon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's no parking in the red zone.

  16. COOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More male/male emo lip kissing (look up pocky kiss)

  17. stupid by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i initially learned to code when i was 8 by reading some books about BASIC

  18. Pocky for Men by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For this product to take off, it really needs to be Pocky for Men GO.

    1. Re:Pocky for Men by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Pocky Men GO? Sounds familiar.

  19. Re:paging General Mills to the white courtesy phon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Captain Oveur: You ever been in a cockpit before?

    Joey: No sir, I've never been up in a plane before.

    Captain Oveur: You ever seen a grown man naked?

  20. And the nonsense goes on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This emphasis on teaching coding skills to children is become beyond irritating. First, because what the forces behind this fad are pushing for is code monkey skills - an altogether different proposition. Second, teaching children to become code monkeys, to the detriment of other subjects far more effective to foster mental discipline (most notably, mathematics) is a huge mistake.

  21. Superchunk by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

    No Pocky for Kitty.

  22. Pocky isn't for men? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Someone should have told me years ago!

  23. Ubiquitous? by PJ6 · · Score: 1

    I haven't been living under a rock all my life. I travel. I'm not blind. I wasn't raised by wolves.

    I've never seen or heard of these things before reading this article.

  24. Re:paging General Mills to the white courtesy phon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used to program my Big Trak to *bring* breakfast to me.

    I also think the idea of Wilcode would be cool. Imagine being taught to program by Roger himself!

  25. All i can say is NO WONDER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No wonder the FBI are always worried about the iPhone on Slashdot?!!

    The FBI ARE SLASHDOT!

    Read this!
    https://yro.slashdot.org/story/16/08/05/2154216/1000-us-spies-are-protecting-rio-olympics-says-report

  26. old poem by Quirkz · · Score: 1

    I've never had pocky, but ages and ages ago I ran across this poem that I loved so much I kept a copy. Recently I realized it had fallen off the internet, so now I'm reposting it out of civic duty.

    Koala’s march:
    The flavor of strawberry, of Koala’s march
    Do you know?
    In the inside of Koala’s march
    A part of chocolates tastes of its flavor of strawberry.
    Eat it,
    And you taste giant strawberry pockey.
    Therefore, next time, part 2 (last time)
    I wish you are looking forward to.
    I have what it must say to you by all means.
    The koala’s march, the flavor of strawberry,
    Is not sold in Hokkaido regrettably.
    The taste was written last time.
    But its koala has eyebrow,
    And you may feel tasteless.
    Bye.