All you need to know about LEGO Boost
Posted by TheBrickPal,
The LEGO Group has released much more detailed information on the Boost product (17101 Creative Toolbox), via their newsroom site:
LEGO boost building and coding set unveiled at CES empowers children to bring their LEGO creations to life
Building on the company’s history of merging digital programming and physical building, LEGO BOOST will inspire a younger generation to build and code their way to limitless play.
Today the LEGO Group announced LEGO BOOST, a supercharged building and coding set that lets children bring their LEGO creations to life by adding movement, sound and personality. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, LEGO BOOST will be previewed to members of the global media at Digital Experience on January 4 and will be demonstrated to CES attendees as part of the Kids@Play Kids & Technology Marketplace from January 5-8, 2017 at the Sands Expo. With a suggested retail price of $159.99 (USD), LEGO BOOST will be available in the second half of 2017.
Build the creation you want
LEGO BOOST combines the endless play opportunities of a traditional LEGO set with an endless variety of movement and sound capabilities made possible through an easy-to-use, app-based coding environment. LEGO BOOST has been developed for children ages 7 and older by an international team of LEGO designers. Using familiar LEGO elements and simple coding language, LEGO BOOST delivers an intuitive approach and opportunities for quick success.
Powered by a Move Hub, a LEGO stud-covered brick with built-in tilt sensor upon which children can add LEGO elements, motors and a sensor that combines color and distance detection, LEGO BOOST brings movement to any LEGO creation. The set includes building instructions for five diverse models; Vernie the Robot, Frankie the Cat, the Guitar 4000, the Multi-Tool Rover 4 (M.T.R.4), and the Autobuilder, each designed to give children the basic building and coding skills needed to express their creativity by personalizing whatever they build.
“We know that children dream of bringing their LEGO creations to life, and our chief ambition for LEGO BOOST is to fulfill that wish. Once children build a LEGO creation, we give them simple coding tools to ‘boost’ their models by adding personality,” said Simon Kent, design lead for the LEGO Group. “We want children to first and foremost have a fun and limitless play experience, adding the coding opportunity is the means to get there.”
Coding brings your creation to life
LEGO BOOST introduces children to coding through a free downloadable app that contains the guidance, building instructions and simple coding commands to bring to life five LEGO creations, one at a time. Much like building with LEGO bricks, children build behaviors and actions by linking digital coding blocks in an easy-to-understand horizontal layout. To further personify the experience, LEGO BOOST lets children add voice recordings to their creations, adding personality without requiring spelling and typing. The app also includes more than 60 activities designed to inspire additional building, coding and play.
Creative canvas lets you boost any LEGO creation
To further inspire creative building and coding, the LEGO BOOST app includes a “creative canvas” that includes basic building instructions for three simple base models that children can use to customize their own LEGO creations. The three bases available at launch include: a walking base for making animals like a dragon or a pony, a driving base for building vehicles like a dune buggy or rover, and an entrance base so that children can make their own castle, fort, or even a futuristic space station. Once children are comfortable with building and coding the various LEGO BOOST models, they can use the kit to “boost” any LEGO creation – from LEGO CITY and LEGO Friends to LEGO NINJAGO and The LEGO BATMAN Movie.
LEGO BOOST includes:
Hardware
3 BOOST bricks:
- Move Hub with built-in tilt sensors
- Combination color & distance sensor
- Interactive motor
843 LEGO elements
Playmat, calibrated to the app, designed to facilitate mini challenges to practice simple coding trials
LEGO BOOST App
Free, downloadable app is iOS and Android tablet compatible
LEGO BOOST uses 6 AAA batteries. Alkaline batteries are recommended, but rechargeable batteries can be used, though may result in weaker power output.
LEGO BOOST will be available at most stores and online shopping sites where toys are sold, through select consumer electronics retailers, and at LEGO Stores and shop.LEGO.com in the second half of 2017 and will have a suggested retail price of $159.99 USD $159.99 (EUR) and $199.99 (CAD). For more information, visit www.LEGO.com/BOOST.
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21 comments on this article
Interesting, but I am still waiting for the day when we will have small motors and stuff to power small lego contraptions. I don't know why all lego robotics have to be the size of a brick.
I remember seeing something a few years back that showed sony and lego collaborating on small lego robotics, hopefully something like that will come in the future.
Which are the elements in common/similar to those of Lego Mindstorms?
Is Lego Boost a simplier Mindstorms version?
Interesting. Looks to be a Mindstorms 'lite'. For me a lot will come down to price point, compatibility with Mindstorm sensors and what programming options there are beyond the app (scratch/python would be good)
Meh. A child version of Mindstorms? Not groundbreaking is it?
Why start a new unknown brand when Lego could capitalize on the Mindstorms goodwill, given that Boost seems to be Mindstorms Junior? It will be confusing to consumers.
@Dude45: It could also be confusing to customers if LEGO were to use the same brand for sets aimed at two different audiences and delivering two different experiences. I don't know their exact reasoning for using a different brand name here but I'm sure it's something they thought through at great length.
@kkoutris I understand what you are saying but you contradicted yourself; isn't a brick sized motor what you want? you should have specified what size brick motor you want. Instead of a 6 x 20 x 5 brick motor I want a 2 x 2 x 1 brick motor
I think the reason for the branding change is because where previous robotics systems have been Technic-based (NXT, EV3), this one is explicitly System-based. Thus it isn't meant to be its own robotics system, but to upgrade children's existing collections with a robotics kit that can be integrated easily.
It seems like most kids don't get Technic sets until they are older, or they age out of Lego before they get that far. Making robotic functions accessible to pre-Technic builders seems like a smart move, and in my mind justifies the shift in branding.
I just got a NXT system for Christmas, and my kids (5 & 8) thought it was cool but they were overwhelmed by the programming and the Technic building. They love building with bricks, however, so I could see how Boost would be right at their level.
is it compatible with wedo 2.0 ? the connectors looks similar from the pictures, otherwise, is it a new branding of wedo 2 or the replacement ?. It is basically the same thing, or I'm missing something?
Overall I'm excited, it's a shame about the AAAs and the issue with rechargeable batteries giving lesser performance...
Why doesn't Lego have small components like littleBits?
^^^^ I think you hit the nail on the head for why Technic continues to be quite a small theme, unfortunately... adding on to that, a lot of kids probably start collecting licensed sets like Star Wars or Superheroes once they get older instead of Technic. Which is too bad. But it means we get more and better stuff in that range, so it's a double-edged sword.
On the topic of LEGO Boost: I think it's an absolutely brilliant idea. Kids love robots. Robots that actually do stuff, but are simple to build and program? Even better!
I wonder if I can integrates boost into one of the Exo Force Mechs? Failing that it looks like they're suggesting you can make animal legs or an opening entrance which are intriguing. The RRP is $160 so that must make it... £160 the way we're going
HYPE
Seems to be consumer version of WeDo 2.0 system. With an actual improvement on number of motor (by having 2 built in the hub brick)
If I can record sound to it and link the motor up in a sensible way I may finally be able to build an affordable and enjoyable Grand Carousel for myself--the one thing I missed during my Dark Ages that I now really regret!
is this like brick in terms of functionality?
i mean sbrick.
My son is 8 years old and ever since he was about 5 he has had his eyes on Mindstorms . . . and of course I keep telling him he's too young. This set looks perfect for him now and will bridge that gap until he is old enough for Mindstorms. The coding app also looks perfect for young builders!
Growing my own little geeklet at home right now. She's only 3, but this looks right up her alley in a few years. Great review, thanks!
Great information thanks guys, this and Mindstorm will be useful into bringing my City to life.