Key Takeaways:
- Lego’s new Smart Play system combines physical play with digital technology to create an immersive experience
- The system consists of a Smart Brick, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigures that work together to bring Lego sets to life
- The Smart Brick contains sensors, an accelerometer, and a speaker, and can be used to create interactive experiences such as sound effects, music, and character voices
- The first Smart Play sets are based on the Star Wars franchise and include features such as light saber duels, space battles, and character interactions
- The system is designed to encourage social play and creativity in children, with no screens or apps required
Introduction to Smart Play
Lego’s new Smart Play system is a significant departure from the company’s traditional approach to play, embracing digital technology to create a more immersive experience. The system, which was announced at CES, consists of a Smart Brick, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigures that work together to bring Lego sets to life. The Smart Brick is the core of the system, containing sensors, an accelerometer, and a speaker that allow it to detect and respond to its environment. The Smart Tags and Minifigures contain specific instructions that help the Brick understand the context in which it is being used.
How Smart Play Works
The demo of the Smart Play system showed just how interactive and engaging it can be. The Smart Brick can detect the presence of specific Smart Minifigures and respond accordingly, playing sound effects, music, and character voices. For example, when a Smart Minifigure of Darth Vader is placed near the Smart Brick, it will play the iconic "Imperial March" theme and Vader’s breathing sound. The system can also detect movement and proximity, allowing for interactive experiences such as light saber duels and space battles. The Smart Brick can even detect when a Minifigure is knocked off its mount, triggering a sound effect to indicate defeat.
Star Wars Smart Play Sets
The first Smart Play sets are based on the Star Wars franchise, and they showcase the system’s capabilities. The sets include features such as light saber duels, space battles, and character interactions, all of which are brought to life by the Smart Brick and Smart Minifigures. The sets themselves are designed to withstand more abuse from active play scenarios than traditional Lego sets, and they are also designed to fit comfortably in a child’s hand. The Throne Room set, for example, has a detachable area where Luke and Vader can battle, allowing for more aggressive light saber battles.
Expanding the Smart Play System
While the initial Smart Play sets are based on Star Wars, the system has the potential to be expanded to include other franchises and themes. Lego has access to a wide range of properties, including Jurassic World, DC and Marvel, and Despicable Me, and it will be exciting to see how the company chooses to integrate these into the Smart Play system. The ability to combine different franchises and themes could lead to some truly unique and creative play experiences, and it will be interesting to see how children respond to the system.
The Future of Smart Play
The Smart Play system is clearly aimed at children, and it is designed to encourage social play and creativity. The system requires no screens or apps, making it easy for children to pick up and start playing. The use of digital technology to enhance physical play is a solid approach, and it will be interesting to see how the system evolves over time. As the system expands to include more franchises and themes, it will be exciting to see how children respond to the new possibilities and play scenarios that are created. Overall, the Smart Play system is a significant innovation in the world of play, and it has the potential to bring a new level of creativity and engagement to children’s play.