Chobitto

Chobitto is a research project for learning to enjoy getting big ideas from a little bit of making, creating, and expressing through technology.

Chobitto is also a word that represents our wish that “Chobitto” means “a little bit” or that “a little bit” goes beyond “a little bit” through technology.

We tend to have big goals and focus only on working toward them. Of course, the process of setting a firm goal, making a proper plan, executing the plan, reviewing the activities, and repeatedly improving the activities to achieve the goal is a very efficient and effective method. However, there are many people who are so preoccupied with goals and methods that they cannot take the first step, or cannot find the big goal itself, and therefore cannot make a move. This applies not only to us as adults, but also to children.

The modern education system is also designed with an emphasis on guiding as many children as possible toward their learning goals in an efficient and effective manner.

Children are accustomed to learning in classrooms designed by teachers to achieve their learning goals. In other words, many children may be good at reaching goals designed by adults, but they may not be able to think of their own goals, or they may be given goals by adults, and these goals may be so big that they have become goal-phobic.

Of course, it is important to have big goals. However, the concept of the CHOBITTO project is to try to do a little bit of something, without getting stuck in the goal-oriented mindset.

Creating, expressing, experimenting, playing, and communicating are things we all did when we were young. And we have learned and grown through the activities of CHOBITTO. For example, a baby can learn to walk by continuing to do what he or she can do, little by little, without a clear goal of walking.

For example, does a baby look at an adult and set a goal to be able to walk like the adult, and then move from crawling to standing up and finally being able to walk? Of course, trying to imitate a walking adult may be a goal for the baby. However, babies can learn to walk by continuing to do what they can do, little by little, without a clear goal of walking in mind.

The purpose of the CHOBITTO project is to provide children with the opportunity to do a little bit again through making things and expressive activities. Technology is a tool to create great fun with a little bit of activity. By embedding a small computer into a craft using everyday objects, the work becomes exponentially more enjoyable. Not only that, but creating little inventions for activities that children usually do, such as attaching a small computer to the toothbrush they use to brush their teeth and counting the number of times they brush, provides an opportunity to review and enjoy their everyday lives.

The purpose of the CHOBITTO project is to once again provide children with the opportunity to have a little bit of fun through making things and expressive activities, technology is a tool to create great fun with a little bit of activity. By embedding a small computer into a craft using everyday objects, the work becomes exponentially more enjoyable. Not only that, but creating little inventions for activities that children usually do, such as attaching a small computer to the toothbrush they use to brush their teeth and counting the number of times they brush, provides an opportunity to review and enjoy their everyday lives.

The CHOBITTO Project will introduce and provide tools and workshops to realize Chobitto activities for schools, after-school children’s clubs, and museums in Japan, including elementary schools where one information terminal is provided per student and programming education has been made compulsory. We will also introduce recipes for ChobiTotsu activities by teachers and educators, as well as ChobiTotsu works by children.

Hideki Mori, Chobitto Project