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From: glb@uvacs.CS.VIRGINIA.EDU (Gina L. Bull)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,misc.kids
Subject: Re: LEGO Logo?
Message-ID: <2146@uvacs.CS.VIRGINIA.EDU>
Date: 11 Jan 88 15:27:02 GMT
References: <610@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Organization: U.Va. CS Department, Charlottesville, VA
Lines: 33
Summary: LEGO/Logo is available


LEGO/Logo is available from Logo Computer Systems, Inc (LCSI), the
same company which developed and markets Apple Logo II and
LogoWriter.  I have played with the system, and it is wonderful.
It is not priced/packaged for home use, however.  The complete
package includes the LEGO pieces (blocks, motors, sensors), an
interface center (plugs for outputs and inputs), and a board for
the Apple, and numerous booklets for a teacher and students.  The
price is between $400 and $500 dollars.  It is intended for the
educational market, but if a parent is willing to pay the price,
it is a fabulous system.

Some of the things I played with this weekend at a "show-and-tell"
session at a local private school included a car (light sensor
used to track revolutions of the wheel, and thus to measure
distance; touch sensor to detect running into an object), a
stoplight, a carnival ride (could go backwards and forwards, and
played a tune), a washing machine (activated by a touch switch on
the "front panel"; when the "door" was opened, another touch
sensor contolled shutting off the "drum"), and a conveyor belt
(counted the number of blocks passing an optical sensor).  There
is a booklet included with the kit with instructions for
building a turtle robot which can go forwards, backwards, and
turn, and draw on paper.  My almost-five-year-old son, who
loves both LEGO and Logo anyway, had a ball playing with all
the constructions.  Of course, he is too young to build most
of the toys or to do the programming, but if I had a set of
LEGO/Logo at home, we'd be playing with it together.  ("Mommy,
when will it be MY turn?")

Gina Bull		Internet: glb@uvacs.cs.virginia.edu
Dept. Computer Science	UUCP:     ...!uunet!virginia!rlb0p
University of Virginia	BITNET:   rlb0p@Virginia