TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

81-year-old learns to code, creates first game app

An 81-year-old Japanese woman Masako Wakamiya created her first game app called “Hinadan”.

Alfred Bayle (Inquirer.net/Asia News Network)
Wed, March 1, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

81-year-old learns to code, creates first game app Hinadan is now available for download in the Apple App Store. (Shutterstock/Ellica )

T

hese days, coding has slowly been demystified to allow access to a wider range of individuals, and not just the supposed nerds. So much so that even an 81-year-old Japanese woman can learn to code and even create her own app.

Masako Wakamiya had spent six months studying programming while staying in regular contact with her teacher. Afterwards, she created her first game app called “Hinadan”, reports RocketNews24.

The app is based on a Japanese tradition that’s celebrated annually called Girl’s Day. On this day, display stands are decorated with dolls dressed in Heian-era clothing.

Read also: Chatting robots and music: fun gadgets on show in Barcelona

Hinadan (a combination of words: hina for a type of doll, and dan which means tier or level) tasks the player to position 12 dolls on the four-level display stand correctly. An aggressive buzzer will sound off if a doll is placed incorrectly. It pays to have knowledge of the Girl’s Day festival and its traditions. The clip below shows Wakamiya demonstrating her app.

For those who are not knowledgeable about the festival, voice guidance has been made available. Once all the dolls are in place, a congratulatory message will be displayed.

Hinadan is now available for download in the Apple App Store.

It is said that it’s never too late to learn something new. The accomplishment of Wakamiya shows without a shadow of a doubt that the old saying rings true, and that old folks can be really cool.


This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.