computer science

Kano Computing

Kano Computing is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Kano Computing rather than just read about it. In short: Kano Computing is a London-based startup that specializes in computer hardware and software. Founded in January 2013, the company focuses on creating educational kits that utilize Raspberry Pi single-board computers to teach STEM subjects to children.

Key takeaways

Kano Computing belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Kano Computing to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Kano Computing from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Kano Computing is a London-based startup that specializes in computer hardware and software. Founded in January 2013, the company focuses on creating educational kits that utilize Raspberry Pi single-board computers to teach STEM subjects to children. Kano Computing is known for its innovative approach to technology education and has gained recognition for its products and initiatives in the tech industry. The company received recognition for its approach, securing funding through crowdfunding campaigns and a £14 million investment from HSBC. Collaborations with Kanye West and Novak Djokovic highlighted Kano's impact in the tech and education sectors. Accolades include Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies list, Time's Invention of the Year awards, and the Golden Lion at the Cannes Lions global marketing awards.

History Kano was founded in January 2013 by Alex Klein, son of Getty Images co-founder Jonathan Klein; his cousin, Saul Klein, a major tech venture capitalist; and Yonatan Raz-Fridman. The company's name originated from Kanō Jigorō, the creator of judo. Kano was a computing company that sold kits consisting of Raspberry Pi single-board computers and various accessories for teaching STEM, computing, and robotics to children. In 2023, Kano split its business and formed a second company named Kano World. Ollie Dotsch, former head of sales and education at Kano Computing, served as CEO.. Kano World limited filed for insolvency after 6 months, and was wound up in 2025.

Products

In August 2013, Kano launched an initial Kano Computer Prototype box. It consisted of a small USB keyboard, several prototype booklets, a case, a Raspberry Pi 1, and an SD card loaded with an early version of the Raspbian OS. All 200 prototypes released were sold. In 2014, the firm launched the Kano Computer Kit, an educational computer kit to teach hardware assembly and basic programming skills. It was built on Raspberry Pi circuit boards and the company's custom open-source operating system, Kano OS. In 2018, the firm partnered with Warner Bros to release an electronic Harry Potter wand. Kano themselves stated the aim of the firm was to teach the basics of languages such as JavaScript. Also in 2018, the firm released motion sensor kits with Frozen and Star Wars themes in a multi-year partnership with Disney. The USB motion sensor detects movement in front of the sensor's receptacle and users were given the ability to program objects based on the motion used above the device. In 2019, the company partnered with Microsoft to release the Kano PC, a laptop and tablet pre-loaded with both Windows 10 and Kano's educational tools. Later in 2019, Kano launched its first educational subscription, Kano Club, where users can access programming and animation software, lessons and tutorials online. The service also includes a multiplayer component, and a community section. Kano launched a line of computer accessories in 2020 to coincide with its Kano PC release. These included a mouse, headphones and webcam. In October 2021, the firm began shipping of the Stem Player in partnership with Yeezy Tech and Kanye West. In June 2023, Kano Computing went into administration, and its assets were sold to Ashdust LLP, a company connected to Kano Computing's CEO, Alex Klein. Under Ashdust, the company continues its operations and intends to launch new products under the Stem brand, including the Stem2 Speaker and Stem3 Projector.

Funding Kano launched a crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter platform in November 2013. The company raised over $1.5 million from 13,387 backers, at the time becoming the crowdfunding service's largest learning campaign. Initial backers of the Kano were users from over 80 countries. In May 2015, Kano secured $15 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Breyer Capital, with additional participation from Collaborative Fund and Jim O’Neill, former chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

In 2016, Kano initiated a second Kickstarter campaign to fund products including a pixel art kit, motion sensor and webcam. The campaign generated $643,030 from 2,399 backers. In April 2019, Kano announced a £14 million funding package from HSBC. In July 2020, Microsoft invested £800,000 in Kano Computing. This funding supported the development and release of the Kano PC, a modular Windows 10 laptop designed for educational purposes. Alex Klein served as the company's chief executive officer (CEO).

Links to Kanye West In January 2019, American musician and businessman Kanye West met Alex Klein during a chance encounter at the CES technology show in Las Vegas. Through early 2019, the company was said to have been collaborating with West on an undisclosed technology product, later revealed in August 2021 to be the Stem Player. In November 2019, CEO Klein contributed lyrics to the Jesus Is King track "Water". In October 2021, Kano began shipping the Stem Player. In January 2023, in light of West's antisemitic remarks, Kano announced that their collaboration with West has ended, and that the Stem Player would be discontinued.

Recognition In 2015, Kano won the Red Dot Design Award in 2015. In October 2016, the company began to work with Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic and his charitable foundation to deliver computer kits to Serbian children. In 2019, Kano was ranked number 24 on Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies list. The company also received Time's Invention of the Year awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2014, the company was awarded a Golden Lion at the Cannes Lions global marketing awards. They were also the recipient of a Webby Award and a CES Award in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Kano Computing

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Kano Computing claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Kano Computing before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Kano Computing ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Kano Computing

In research: Kano Computing appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Kano Computing in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Kano Computing is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2013 establishments in the United Kingdom, 2023 disestablishments in the United Kingdom, Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Kano Computing outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Kano Computing in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Kano Computing means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Kano Computing out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Kano Computing in simple terms?

Why does Kano Computing matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Kano Computing?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Kano Computing.