The Manx ICT Association (MICTA) recently launched the Code Club Bus at the Sound Cafe and welcomed its sponsors on board for the first time.
The former Manx Gas Conversion Bus was kindly donated by Manx Gas and is hardly recognisable after its extensive refurbishment made possible by the Big Lottery Fund and AFD Software.
David Dorricott of AFD Software commented, “After all the planning and hard work by so many people, it is great to see the launch of the Code Bus on the Island. It is our hope that many, many young people will catch the IT bug – which will stand them in great stead in an increasingly technologically-driven world.”
The Steam Packet generously transported the bus to and from its refurbishment in Blackpool.
The bus provides state of the art technology in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to develop coding skills or work on the latest Minecraft project or just talk tech with fellow coders.
The Bus facilities include 6 Touchscreen PC’s, 2 HD LCD Screens, 2 Projectors, Amazon Fire TV, 3d colour printer and scanner, Drones, Sonos sound system connected to Spotify and Data Connectivity is kindly supplied by Sure and Bluewave.
The state of the art bus will provide training facilities to Island Schools and its first assignment is EU Code Week. The week is dedicated to raising awareness of how coding can help people to develop both technical and transferable skills for life.
You can take part in the Code week between the 10th — 18th October 2015. Visit www.micta.im and click on Events - EU Code Week for venues and more information.
Kurt Roosen of MICTA explained:
“Today we live in a world that has been affected by rapid advances in technology. The way we work, communicate, shop and think has changed dramatically. In order to cope with these rapid changes and to make sense of the world around us, we need to not only develop our understanding of how technology works, but also develop skills and capabilities, that will help us to adapt to living in this new era.
Learning to code helps us to make sense of how things work, explore ideas and make things, for both work and play. What’s more it helps us to unleash our creativity and work collaboratively with wonderful people both near us and all over the world.
The Island has a short fall of IT Professionals and MICTA working with the Code Club aims to ‘grow the Island’s talent’ to fill the Island’s increasing IT Vacancies.”
For more information about Code Club visit www.codeclub.im
For more information about MICTA visit www.micta.im
Photo -
Left from front: Kevin Paige, Board Member MICTA – David and Allison Dorricott, AFD Software – Kurt Roosen, CEO of MICTA - Steve O’Hara, Sure.
Right from front: Julie McNicholl, Manx Lottery Trust - Renee Caley, IOM Steam Packet - Malcolm Kelly, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust - Chris Hall – Board Member MICTA, Aidan Baglow – Manx Gas .
