Primarily aimed at children, Scratch does not require prior knowledge of complex computer languages.
Instead, it uses a simple graphical interface that allows programs to be assembled like building blocks.
The digital toolkit, developed in the US at MIT's Media Lab, allows people to blend images, sound and video.
"Computer programming has been traditionally seen as something that is beyond most people - it's only for a special group with technical expertise and experience," said Professor Mitchel Resnick, one of the researchers at the Lifelong Kindergarten group at MIT.
"We have developed Scratch as a new type of programming language, which is much more accessible."
Child's play
The explosion in broadband connectivity has fuelled the growth of websites that offer rich media experiences, including video and animations.
"These days, kids interact with all kinds of dynamic things on screen but it is usually a one-way street - they are usually interacting with things that other people have created," said Professor Resnick, who also invented Lego Mindstorms, a robotics toolkit often used in teaching.
