Key Takeaways
- Lego’s new Smart Play system uses specialized bricks and tags to create a tech-infused play experience for kids
- The system uses sensors and Bluetooth communication to generate unique responses and facilitate open play
- Lego’s Creative Play Lab developed Smart Play over eight years, with a focus on integrating technology into physical products
- The system prioritizes security, with encrypted communication and a parental app for monitoring and control
- Smart Play aims to encourage creative storytelling and imagination in children, with abstract responses and interactive elements
Introduction to Smart Play
Lego, the beloved toy brand, has taken a significant step into the world of technology with the introduction of Smart Play at this year’s CES. After eight years of development, the company has created a system that combines traditional building blocks with cutting-edge technology to create a unique play experience for kids. At the heart of Smart Play is a specialized brick that communicates with Smart Tags and Smart Minifigures, generating different responses and encouraging creative play.
The Technology Behind Smart Play
The Smart Brick is the central component of the Smart Play system, containing sensors that detect the direction it’s facing and the color of the brick it’s touching. This information is used to create unique noises and responses, depending on the interaction between the brick and the tags. The system uses a Bluetooth solution called "Brick Net" to communicate between bricks, and the communication is encrypted to ensure security. The development team, led by Tom Donaldson, had to overcome significant technical challenges to integrate the technology into a finite space, using prototype testing, simulations, and software solutions to ensure the system was both fun and error-free.
Designing for Open Play
The design of Smart Play is centered around encouraging open play and creative storytelling in children. The system’s abstract responses and interactive elements are designed to facilitate imagination and creativity, rather than simply providing a set of pre-defined outcomes. María Salgado, a Lego Design Manager, explained that the system’s abstract responses help kids to come up with their own stories and ideas, rather than simply following a set script. The use of unique noises and responses, rather than words, also helps to encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.
Security and Safety
With the increasing concern about cybersecurity and hacking, Lego has prioritized security in the design of Smart Play. The system’s communication is encrypted, and the bricks only show up as connected devices when they’re on the charger, at which point parents can access them through a parental app. Tom Donaldson emphasized the importance of security, stating that the company takes it "very seriously" and has implemented a range of measures to protect the system and its users. The parental app provides an additional layer of control and monitoring, allowing parents to ensure their children’s safety and security while playing with Smart Play.
The Development Process
The development of Smart Play was a complex and challenging process, requiring the integration of multiple technologies and disciplines. The Creative Play Lab, led by Tom Donaldson, played a key role in the development of the system, with a focus on disruptive innovation and technological integration. The team used a range of techniques, including prototype testing, simulations, and software solutions, to ensure the system was both fun and error-free. The use of virtual environments and PC-runnable language allowed the team to test the system’s logic and identify errors, before refining the design and moving to production.
Conclusion
Lego’s Smart Play system represents a significant step forward in the company’s use of technology to enhance the play experience. With its focus on creative storytelling, open play, and security, Smart Play has the potential to inspire a new generation of children to think creatively and develop their problem-solving skills. As the company continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible with technology, it will be exciting to see how Smart Play evolves and develops in the future. With its strong focus on security and safety, parents can be confident that their children are safe while playing with Smart Play, and the system’s abstract responses and interactive elements are sure to delight and inspire kids of all ages.
