Our Vision

We are building a new kind of math learning app experience that is a lot more like learning on paper with a 1-on-1 instructor. Paper lends itself well to math learning in that it gives students space to manipulate signs, store intermediate information, and arrive at a solution. Exercises may have multiple steps or more than one possible approach. With the right level of instructional guidance, students have room to explore, be creative, and build intuitive familiarity with foundational math concepts. We believe a critical part of this environment is missing in today's math learning apps.

The use of a tablet screen as a writing surface allows students to perform their work directly on the device. Corrections and instructions can be delivered through spoken words and handwritten annotations directly on the same work surface the student is utilizing–resembling the guidance of a teacher or parent. Exercises can be curated and sequenced according to each student’s individual needs.

Recent advancements in hardware, deep learning, knowledge tracing, and generative modeling have paved the way for a more natural, personalized digital learning experience that was not possible even a few years ago. Abacus aims to merge the strengths of both traditional paper-based and app-driven math learning. Like paper, it offers a natural and open-ended space for students to explore and manipulate problems and work out a solution. As an app, it can leverage cutting edge machine learning techniques to provide the instructional scaffolding that paper alone does not have. As a digital medium, it can be available to every student whenever they need it, and is easily and inexpensively scalable.

We are just getting started!