Daily London
It’s not just your average plastic Lego brick, but the popular toy brand has today announced a brand new innovation called Smart Play, which will bring interactivity to Lego play and new Lego sets.
Launched at the world’s biggest technology show – CES in Las Vegas – Lego Smart Play is an interactive platform which basically makes a Lego set respond to actions of the user with sounds and different behaviours.
Importantly, it doesn’t require an app or screen time for kids.
The entire platform includes a Smart Brick, Smart Tags, and Smart Minifigures, all able to react in real time as kids (or adults) are playing with them.
“For over 90 years, the Lego Group has sparked imagination and creativity in children around the globe. As the world evolves, so do we – innovating to meet the play needs of each new generation,” Lego Group chief product and marketing officer Julia Goldin said.
“Lego Smart Play is the next exciting chapter in our Lego System in Play and something we are super excited about being able to bring to the world at this scale.”
A Lego Smart Brick looks the same shape as a regular Lego brick, but it’s packed with tech, allowing it to create a connection between any other smart components in the set you’ve bought or built.
Using a wireless charger, the brick is able to be kept powered after use, ready for the next play.
It’s a huge evolution for a simple brick building system that has barely changed in decades.
Using the Tags and Smart Minifigures, kids can trigger sounds, lights, and other behaviours in a set, and the idea is – it all “just works”.
Lego will launch the Smart Play system with three Star Wars-themed sets: a TIE Fighter, an X-Wing, and a Throne Room Duel and A-Wing set. Prices will start at $99, with availability from March this year.
“We’ve worked with our incredible friends at Lucasfilm for over 25 years, and our focus has always remained on creating original, unique experiences for the fan community through our sets,” Goldin said.
“With Lego Smart Play, legendary stories and characters of the Star Wars galaxy will come to life like never before.”
For parents looking to encourage more screen-free playtime, this new product could inspire a new generation of creativity among kids.
Trevor Long travelled to Las Vegas for CES with support from Hisense, Reolink, LG, Samsung, and Lego.
