GLICODE is the first ever educational app that uses advanced image recognition to turn real candy into code to teach kids the fundamentals of programming.

Every packet of Pocky, Bisco and Almond Peak turns into bite-sized programming lessons where kids can lay out and arrange their snacks, capture the sequence and watch it turn into code that moves a character through increasingly complex challenges.

The app covers three basic programming principles: ""Basic Syntax"", ""While Loops"" and ""If Statements"". We designed this easy to understand visual language so that kids can automate repetitive instructions and assign actions to specific triggers, making GLICODE a real programming language with endless possibilities.

The GLICODE app was developed for both Android and iOS in Unity.

The OpenCV image recognition library was initially used to power the image recognition, although the latest versions use Google’s Tensor Flow technology for better object recognition and is the first Unity application in the world to do so.

The app has been through extensive testing and many iterations over its life cycle - and is still being improved based on user feedback. The latest updates include a Pocky only English version.

Together with elementary schools across Japan we’ve conducted workshops and extracurricular programs in cram schools to increase awareness amongst children and teachers. Starter packs, including manuals and lesson plans were distributed nationwide.

GLICODE generated attention in and outside of Japan, earning praise from CS organizations like Hour of Code for fostering programming education in such an innovative way.

More than 200 local and international media sites published the story, and together with its social media reach, produced an estimated media value of over 3 million dollars.

Japan’s Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications even saw it’s potential, giving GLICODE an MIC grant and adopting it as an official government program.

GLICODE reached over 10,000 downloads in the first 3 months and continues to grow as more schools adopt it into their curriculums.

Across the hundreds of workshops conducted, 95% of children who experienced the application answered ""It was fun"" and continued the educational game at home. 75% of parents replied that ""I think GLICODE is useful for children's programming education.""

A global English version has now been released.