The BBC has a slew of partners for the Micro:bit, including ARM, Microsoft, Samsung and Barclays. The broadcaster will be giving away 1 million devices to every year 7 student (11 and 12-year-olds) in the UK this October, with the idea being that they'll form the core of their learning and projects. Being so small, students will be able to carry them between classes, compare modifications in the playground and collaborate on assignments. The BBC will also be launching a website later this summer where students can learn how to program the Micro:bit and simulate creations before transferring them to their device.

If, like us, you're not in school anymore, there should still be a way to jump on the Micro:bit craze. The BBC says it'll open-source the specs and launch a not-for-profit company later this year tasked with overseeing the initiative. Eventually, that'll involve creating new Micro:bit computers and making them commercially available in the UK.