From littlei!reed!tektronix!decvax!mcnc!ece-csc!uvacs!glb Wed Jan 20 17:42:59 PST 1988 Article 3238 of misc.kids: Relay-Version: version B 2.10.3 Pyramid OSx-3.0 85/11/15; site intelisc.UUCP Path: intelisc!littlei!reed!tektronix!decvax!mcnc!ece-csc!uvacs!glb >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 Date-Received: 14 Jan 88 16:44:22 GMT References: <610@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM> Organization: U.Va. CS Department, Charlottesville, VA Lines: 33 Summary: LEGO/Logo is available Xref: intelisc comp.sys.apple:3921 misc.kids:3238 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 From littlei!reed!kamath Wed Jan 20 17:44:58 PST 1988 Article 3239 of misc.kids: Relay-Version: version B 2.10.3 Pyramid OSx-3.0 85/11/15; site intelisc.UUCP Path: intelisc!littlei!reed!kamath >From: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,misc.kids Subject: Re: LEGO Logo? Message-ID: <8055@reed.UUCP> Date: 13 Jan 88 20:14:49 GMT Date-Received: 14 Jan 88 16:54:09 GMT References: <610@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM> Reply-To: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) Organization: Reed College, Portland OR Lines: 28 Xref: intelisc comp.sys.apple:3931 misc.kids:3239 Well, I know it's already been addressed, but yes, they are in production now. In anycase, if you want to twiddle with things like this (and are somewhat interested in electronics) a *lot* of fun can be had building your own. The Apple II is *perfect* for this stuff. It's got four analog inputs, three digital inputs, and four digital outputs. They can all be used with BASIC, and it doesn't take a lot of knowledge to put together, oh, say servo moters (I saw an easy stepper moter routine in AppleSoft once -- Quite fun to play with.) and pulleys. I was hoping to get a Lego Basic Electric set, but Robin got me more expensive things instead, and my parents just won't buy me fun cheap things. I love to do things like this. I'd love to get in contact with anyone, no matter what level, about this stuff. I'll be glad to help anyc=one, as well as offer ideas. I've finally gotten somewhat involved with a Group here, and there are some highschoolers that are very interested in computers I plan to talk with soon. Why does it seem like the world of computers is bent on software alone? People seem to forget there is an outside world when hunkered over the green screen, hacking away. Sean Kamath -- UUCP: {decvax allegra ucbcad ucbvax hplabs ihnp4}!tektronix!reed!kamath CSNET: reed!kamath@Tektronix.CSNET || BITNET: reed!kamath@Berkeley.BITNET ARPA: tektronix!reed!kamath@Berkeley reed!kamath@hplabs US Snail: 3934 SE Boise, Portland, OR 97202 (I hate 4 line .sigs!)