Lego unveils new ‘smart bricks’ with interactive lights and sounds

Lego has unveiled new high-tech “smart bricks” that it says will bring its classic toys to life with interactive lights, sound and movement.

But one early learning expert says that can reduce the power of imaginative play that makes Lego such a great toy for children to develop.

The Danish toymaker unveiled its new Smart Play system this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It includes bricks and minifigures with electronic features such as small speakers and sensors that allow the toys to respond to movement and sound.

For example, the new one star Wars-The themed set has pieces that make a lightsaber sound and an engine sound, while a Lego helicopter can make cool sounds when shaken or rotated.

The toy maker said in a news release that the new products are “designed to inspire children” and “deliver an interactive play experience … filled with exploration and storytelling.”

Early Lego toys, like loose bricks that could be put together in a variety of different ways, were great for encouraging imaginative play because they gave children the freedom to build whatever they wanted, says Mariana Brussoni, a professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia and director of the Human Early Learning Partnership.

However, modern Lego kits are built from specific, predetermined materials that can limit that imagination — and make them ineffective as a development tool, he said.

Brussoni says these latest products may have similar limitations.

“If a child hears the sound of a helicopter on this brick, won’t he use it in ways that don’t represent a helicopter?” he said.

“It kind of limits kids’ options in terms of how their imagination can shape their play.”

Neurological problems

Dr. Jillian Roberts, professor of educational psychology at the University of Victoria, says she thinks anything that gets kids off the screen and encourages them to play alone is a good thing.

“If Lego can do something that makes it cool not to be on a machine or a screen, to get kids back to building and interacting in real life, I don’t see that as a bad thing,” he said.

But the toys may not be appropriate for children with sensory issues, such as those with autism spectrum disorder or photogenic epilepsy, he said.

So parents who buy these toys need to consider their child’s ability to control their senses.”

The new toys will hit the market on March 1, with pre-orders opening on Friday, the Lego website said.

And they’re not cheap: a Darth Vader-themed set is priced at $69.99 US (or about $97) and one featuring Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia is priced at $89.99 US (or over $124).