Carl Bärstad: “Learning is an emergent phenomena that comes naturally with curiosity and the desire for creative expression”
We are starting a series of interviews with Playtronica friends — people from all over the world who believe that we can transform the physical world with the help of creativity and technology. Recently, we spoke with Carl Bärstad. Her is a passionate engineer, entrepreneur and dreamer with an intense desire to change the world for the better. His current projects are Kids Hack Day, Quirkbot.
How do you imagine the future of the material world? Will it be interactive?
Interactive and intelligent like the smartphone, but also malleable like play-doh. Interactivity will be everywhere and the toy industry will gradually be taken over by the growing ed-tech industry as more and more parents understand the new skills necessary for their kids prosperity and can’t find these skills are nurtured enough in school. The fact that the DIY computer kit is now selling at Toys R Us is just one example of this shift.
What have you learned about education while creating Kids Hack Day?
That learning is an emergent phenomena that comes naturally with curiosity and the desire for creative expression.
Which skills will be in demand in the future?
Adaptability, social skills, the skill of learning & thinking creatively.
How do you imagine the future of tech industry?
Like all other fields powered by the open source hardware and maker movement more and more consumers will also become producers, just as we’ve seen in the information age but now also with hardware.
