Lego's Smart Bricks Entertain But Reveal Missed Educational Opportunity
Lego recently unveiled its innovative Smart Bricks at the Consumer Electronics Show. These new blocks light up, produce sounds, and react to movement. While they offer engaging play experiences, many experts believe Lego missed a significant educational opportunity.
The Imagination Debate
Play specialists expressed concern when Lego introduced Smart Bricks. They worried these interactive features might replace children's imaginative play. However, this fear might be exaggerated. The real issue lies in what Lego could have achieved but chose not to pursue.
Lego's journey as a company provides important context. Founded in Denmark in 1932, the company's name comes from the Danish phrase "leg godt," meaning "play well." For decades, their plastic interlocking bricks dominated the toy market. However, by the early 2000s, Lego faced severe financial difficulties with $800 million in debt.
CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp saved the company through strategic licensing deals. Partnerships with popular franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter proved highly successful. By 2015, Lego surpassed Mattel to become the world's largest toy company. These brand collaborations created a strong defense against competitors.
The Changing Nature of Play
Lego's focus shifted over time toward complex sets designed for display. Many of these elaborate kits target adult collectors rather than children. Traditional Lego play involved digging through containers of random pieces to create unique structures. Today, children often follow detailed instructions to complete specific models.
Completed sets frequently remain untouched afterward while children turn to digital devices. This pattern does little to stimulate creative thinking. Smart Bricks represent an attempt to make finished Lego creations more interactive and engaging.
The technology works simply and intuitively. Attach a Smart Brick to a Star Wars X-wing fighter, and it produces whooshing sounds when moved through the air. Pressing buttons triggers shooting noises. The bricks can even detect when another equipped toy "hits" them.
Each Smart Brick contains a custom chip, accelerometer, light sensor, sound sensor, LED light, and miniature speaker. These components create basic sound effects like explosions when crafts get destroyed. While children might stop making their own sound effects, the interactive features could actually encourage more imaginative play in our screen-dominated world.
The Missed Robotics Opportunity
Lego's real missed opportunity involves educational robotics. Smart Bricks could have taught children basic programming concepts. Imagine if children could program their own light sequences and sound patterns. They could create mechanical creatures that respond to touch, light, and movement.
Lego actually ventured into robotics education decades ago. Their Mindstorms line launched in the late 1990s. These robot kits included programmable "smart bricks," motors, and sensors. Children could build and code functional robots.
The EV3 model, introduced in 2013, could navigate mazes and sort objects by color. Available as humanoid figures or animal-like creations, these kits featured visible motors, wires, and small screens. Mindstorms provided hands-on experience with robotics and programming fundamentals.
Unfortunately, Lego discontinued the Mindstorms line in 2022. Competition from affordable alternatives like Raspberry Pi and Arduino presented challenges. The company could revive its educational mission by creating simplified, more accessible versions of these robotics kits.
Looking Toward the Future
Lego could develop two versions of Smart Bricks. One would focus on entertainment, like the current product. Another could feature programming capabilities through user-friendly software interfaces. Beyond their successful Hollywood partnerships, Lego might collaborate with educational coding platforms like Scratch or Code.org.
When questioned about potential robotics initiatives, a Lego spokesperson declined to provide details. They simply stated the new product line would "continue to expand and grow into the future."
The Consumer Electronics Show featured numerous advanced technologies beyond Lego's announcement. Chinese companies demonstrated humanoid robots capable of playing tennis and performing martial arts moves. Artificial intelligence and robotics will undoubtedly shape the world today's children inherit.
Lego's technological innovation with Smart Bricks represents positive progress. These interactive features likely won't harm children's imaginations. However, the company possesses a unique opportunity to prepare young minds for a technology-driven future. By fostering understanding of how complex systems work from the inside out, Lego could equip children with valuable skills for tomorrow's world.
