chirovictims.org.uk |

The Lego Group released a robotics line of toys in 1998 called ‘Mindstorms’, a range which has continued to be updated and expanded ever since its introduction. The programmable brick that the MIT Media Lab developed is where the roots of the product originate from. The name, ‘Mindstorms’ derives from a paper that a computer scientist and educator called Seymour Papert wrote. Papart, whose research was often funded by the Lego Group, developed the educational theory of constructionism.

What one is essentially dealing with is a programmable Lego brick. The ‘Mindstorms’ set includes sensors that detect sound, light, touch, and ultrasonic waves. This super smart brick can be programmed using Windows and Mac computer software and is easily downloaded onto the programmable brick through a USB cable or through Bluetooth. So even before the Lego Group developed something so smart and wonderful and Lego ninjago, the Group had already developed ‘Mindstorms’. It truly is astounding. Throughout the USA there are several robotics competitions which make use of the Lego robotics set. The very first of these competitions was Botball which took place nationally in the USA in middle and high-schools.