JavaScript, VR and teen-driven robots: Here’s what happened at I/O Tech Fest

Not gonna lie, if you missed Saturday’s I/O Tech Fest — an event combining innovation (I) and outreach (O) developed by Zip Code Wilmington educator Tariq Hook in partnership with Technical.ly — tweets aren’t going to do it justice.

The teen-targeted event took over the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center in New Castle with virtual reality demos, gaming, robotics and hands-on coding, plus lunch, all for free.

Much of the event took place in R9L’s Black Box Theater, where lots of digital interaction (and tunes) took place:

Whoa 🤩🥳 I/O Tech Fest here @DELibraries is v cool! Bring that future STEM 👩🏽‍🔬 👨🏾‍💻leader in your life! All day at Route 9 Library! 📚

🤖 Robotics groups like @MOE365FTC
📺crazy VR dome @DrexelUniv
🕹video and other games
🖥computer classes and more
https://t.co/jWW30rFpFp pic.twitter.com/nJCMWJywPf

— Technical.ly Delaware (@technicallyDE) March 2, 2019

Kids are climbing 🧗‍♀️ in a VR dome. Yes, we said VR DOME from our friends @DrexelUniv Ace Lab pic.twitter.com/hPMSidgTUt

— Technical.ly Delaware (@technicallyDE) March 2, 2019

Great experience at Tech Fest today! #iotechfest @DrexelUniv @OculusRift pic.twitter.com/EbqfNdhhef

— 🍎Rebecca Richardson🍎 M.Ed (@timetoteachstem) March 2, 2019

Parents and their kids are playing @shapesthegame a 3D printed game made in the region. It’s also a chance to show off how 3D printing works pic.twitter.com/M2ccRh29Tl

— Technical.ly Delaware (@technicallyDE) March 2, 2019

Of course, no STEM event is complete without robots. Delaware FIRST Tech Challenge teams, including Razor Steel Robotics and MOE, had their own room at I/O Tech Fest where kids could check out some creative robotics creations and learn how to join a robotics team themselves.

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A post shared by Holly Quinn (@harlequinn823)

And, finally, kids (and a few adults) learned how to code their own Alexa skill in a JavaScript class that turned out to be the hottest draw of the day.

Had a blast teaching a bunch of kids how to build their first Alexa Skill (voice app) at the Zip Code I/O Techfest at the route9 library in Delaware. #smartkids#iotechfest #zipcode I/O #netde
final code can be found herehttps://t.co/dnvAPAW754

— techfive52 (@techfive52) March 2, 2019

Heaven = seeing your 12 year daughter code in JavaScript the first time at the <IO> TechFest with 100 other kids/future coders. Thank you: @DELibraries @zipcodewilm @MattMeyerDE @DrexelUniv @technicallyDE @MOE365FTC @shapesthegame #NetDE pic.twitter.com/C77rljZTiA

— Ben duPont (@BenjaminduPont) March 2, 2019

Sound like a cool scene? Zip Code is planning on more I/O events — keep an eye out to help the youth in STEM movement grow.