A Computer Company Makes Digital Literacy Accessible, Affordable, and Fun

Tanoshi co-founders Brad Johnston and Lisa Love grew up around educators, opening their eyes to many of the systemic issues impacting US public school systems. Together, they created Tanoshi – named after the Japanese word for “fun” – to harness technology to help give every child an equal shot in the classroom. 

Today, too many kids still lack access to a modern, affordable computer or reliable internet at home, making it challenging for too many children from low-income households to achieve digital literacy.

Tanoshi 2-in-1 laptop computers help to bridge the digital divide by offering families a fun, age-appropriate, educational, and affordable device to learn computer skills and help kids complete their school assignments. Tanoshi laptops, designed for kids between the ages of 6 and 12, offer common work productivity platforms and learn-to-code resources. They also provide access to the entire Google Play Store and more than 3 million apps. Together, the hardware and apps retail for approximately $200. 

“My mom taught in South Central Los Angeles for 50 years,” said Love. “I watched my mom persevere through systemic challenges just to bring her students up to grade level. My mom’s passion for education opened my eyes to the issues surrounding our education system and how I can do my part to help solve these issues through technology.”

Tanoshi has partnered with nonprofit organizations the Bresee Foundation, Girls Inc., and iFoster to distribute more than 500 computers, free of charge, into the hands of children from under-resourced communities.