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  • The ability to practice handwriting is not a very functional way to practice writing. Typically taught to look at your hand/the paper while you write not the screen where your hand is projected.
  • Inquiry as to whether copied icons can be recognized as more game pieces or do you need to have the kit’s exact pieces?
  • Developers must have invested significant time and resources on the design of the game apps, lots of positive reviews for the design and look of the games’ interfaces
  • What is the difference between Coding Jam vs Coding Awbie?
  • Inquiry of the cost of genius kit bundles vs. cost of individual games
  • Due to the projected angle, the marker on the iPad screen can inaccurately display the location of marker placement when touching paper/written surface


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Lego Boost (5-in-1 Model)

  • Designed for ages 7-12
  • 5-in-1 model - allows you to use the same pieces to create 5 different robots:
    • 1. Vernie the Robot
      • Can perform different facial expressions
      • Touch, color, motion, and loud sound sensing capabilities
      • Many accessories: shoulder cannon, hockey stick 
      • Works with provided map
    • 2.. MTR 4 [multi-tooled-rover 4]
      • Has dump function (like a garbage truck) with a moving arm with various attachments 
      • Motion sensing, color sensing
      • Cannon attachment
      • Works with provided map
    • 3. Frankie the Cat
      • Can perform different facial expressions
      • Musical function - assign notes to colours on a harmonica and the colour sensor activates musical notes on iPad when held over Frankie’s mouth
      • Motion sensors - hold the cat in different angles/positions to evoke different reactions
      • Can set timetables for when the cat is “hungry” and you have to feed him to make him happy
    • 4. Guitar 4000
      • Main functions with this build are on the app
      • Assign different sounds to the notes and then you move the “fret” up and down the guitar’s neck
      • Can add bar to make guitar into a violin 
    • 5. Auto Builder 
      • Assembly line robot
  • iPad App
    • Automated tutorials with drag and drop to build block based code
    • Tutorials have no text they are all icon based and so are the code blocks 

Accessibility Considerations:

  • Requires assembly of the robots before you can use them
  • Drag-and-drop interface interaction required to build code
  • Ability to interact with the robots beyond coding (making a sound, motion sensor, picking Frankie the Cat up etc.)

Pros

Cons

  • App is entirely icon based, no reading text required in tutorials and building code. This is great for accessibility but was sometimes confusing to follow, especially when you want further clarification on a block and there is none beyond the icons. Required significant trial and error learning to come to understand the coding blocks
  • Significant fine motor skills required to assemble robots out of lego pieces
  • Time required to build each robot prior to use: requires at least 1 hour to build each robot 
  • In the app you have to complete the levels in order to unlock the subsequent ones, does not allow you to skip ahead to use new blocks or parameters whenever you want

Comments from Demonstration:

  • Similar to Lego Mindstorms 


Lego WeDo 2.0

  • Robot you have to assemble from lego pieces
  • Rebuild multiple ways:
    • Glowing snail
    • Cooling fan
    • Moving satellite
    • Spy robot
    • Milo the science rover
      • Can add motion sensor
      • Can add tilt sensor
  • Many educational lessons available in the app that get you to explore a science based topic and build a robot that corresponds with the lesson
    • Example: Plants and Pollinators
      • Watch a short video of pollinators
      • Build a lego robot of a bee flying around a flower full of pollen
      • Program bee to stop at the flower to get some pollen
  • Can program:
    • Motor
    • Motion sensor
    • Tilt sensor
    • Sounds
    • Light

Accessibility Considerations:

  • Have to assemble the robots before you can use them.
  • Drag-and-drop interface interaction required to build code

Pros

Cons

  • There is a software guide built into the program with detailed explanations of each command block
  • There is only 1 motor so the robots can only move forwards/backwards, they cannot turn.
  • In lessons you copy a sequence that is provided to you. It is missing an explanation of what each of the blocks mean for learning purposes.

Comments from Demonstration:

  • Query if you can combine parts/sensors from Lego Boost with Lego WeDo? (Answer is yes)


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Little Robot Friends with Little Robot Friends App

  • Designed for ages 7 and up
  • Stationary robot that you interact with primarily through physically touching it or through its sensors (sound, light, and motion)
  • Interactions include:
    • Touching the physical sensors (right hand, left hand, hair) 
      • Tapping - touch
      • Tickling - touch multiple times repeatedly
      • Hugging - touch for 3 seconds then release
    • Sound sensor
      • Loud sound
      • Close talking
    • Motion sensor
      • Tilt 
      • Shake 
    • Light sensor
      • Darkness
      • Bright light
  • Robot actions:
    • LED eye can change colour
    • Beeping sounds
      • Highly customizable custom sounds possible 
  • Can print off different “costumes” from the company's website that you cut out and stick on the robot to turn it into different characters
  • Powered by 2 AAA Rechargeable battery (can charge using micro USB-cord)
  • Has other apps beyond little robot friends app:
    • Little Robot Friends App: block based coding
    • Arduino: text based (C++) 

Accessibility Considerations:

  • No assembly required
  • Stationary object 
  • Majority of app is choosing from different sounds/making custom sounds which relies significantly on hearing

Pros

Cons

  • Small and easily portable 
  • Cute with simple actions
  • Toronto based company with available learning resources that are regularly updated on the company’s website and available workshops/summer camps to enroll in
  • Commands are not intuitive (e.g. hold sensor is ‘hug’)
  • Software is unable to operate on iPad

Comments from Demonstration:

  • The robot is essentially a synthesizer