International kids’ robotics tilt set Nov. 23

The robots of the future might as well be created by today’s kids.

This early, Southeast Asian children’s imaginations will be allowed to click and whir freely, as 72 teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are set to compete in the Digital Youth Award: Robotics for Children 2013 (DYA2013), a technological and educational competition providing an applied information technology and science platform for children.

For the competition, the Philippines will field in 25 teams, Malaysia 24, Vietnam 21, while Indonesia and Singapore will have one each.

DYA2013 aims to inspire creativity and encourage team spirit, as children are given the opportunity to solve problems, transform abstract concepts to practical resolutions and strategies and compete in an environment different from the usual.

The event will be held on November 23 at the Bellevue Manila.

The materials and technologies to be used at the DYA2013 include Lego Mindstorm NXT robotics sets, Lego Mindstorm NXT G and Robolab programming.

The event is a joint venture between Malaysia’s Eduspec Holdings Berhad and Philippines’ First Eduspec (which supplies learning curriculum in private schools).

Last year’s DYA competition had 46 participating teams. Two teams from San Beda College Alabang represented Team Philippines.

DYA2013 competitors will be divided into three categories: Apprentice (age 6-9), Veteran (9-12) and Expert (11-18). Tessa R. Salazar