The new generation of the much-loved Lego builder sets, called Lego Boost, will use sensors and motors with their classic bricks to teach children as young as 7 how to do simple programming.
The Boost line is not as advanced as the Mindstorms systems from Lego, which are used to teach the principles of robotics in a lot of schools. Lego Boost is essentially made up of regular Lego bricks, but it comes with what’s called a Move Hub that contains a computing component, a tilt sensor and a wireless chip.
The Move Hub attaches to the rest of the specially designed pieces and, by adding the motors and color/distance sensors, your Lego Boost creations will come to life. Lego also encourages kids to mix and match pieces from other sets, something they don’t usually do.
The average set contains about 850 pieces so you’d assemble it like any other Lego project. The programming or coding part is done using an app that works on Android and iOS tablets. Smartphones were showcased at the launch but we’re assuming that’ll come later.
Boost kits are scheduled to arrive during the second half of 2017 at a price of $160 per set. The sets currently include a choice of a cat, a factory, a space rover, a guitar and a robot called Vernie.
Unfortunately, the timeline doesn’t sync with the new Lego Batman movie that’s coming out in February, which would have been a major marketing event for the Lego Boost had it been released in time for that.
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