Review: Lego Mindstorms NXT education software

For many people who were children in the 1980s, the first experience of computer programming was in a language called Logo. This, in conjunction with a mechanical 'turtle', allowed kids to get to grips with the concept of instructing a real-world machine what to do.

Jump forward to 1998 and Lego is getting in on the act with Mindstorms, a Lego kit that includes a programmable robot module.

Lego Mindstorms NXT is the 2006 version, with all the bells and whistles to keep modern robot-building children occupied. Not only is it connectable to a PC via USB, it also comes with built-in Bluetooth and can be controlled by mobile phone.

The kit includes the main control module, various Lego bricks for building, and a pack of sensors. These allow the robot to react to changes in light, sound, movement and touch.

The kit is easy to build, with bold and clear pictorial instructions provided in the manual. The basic robot incorporates only a couple of the sensors, while another diagram shows how to expand this into a more interesting robot. There are 577 pieces in total, meaning that there’s much that can be built straight out of the box.

There is plenty of information on the web, both official and from Lego enthusiasts, on how to turn the kit into all sorts of fascinating machines. Putting these fantastic creations together will, of course, be down to the individual’s ability and skill.

The kit can be used by kids as young as 10, although smaller children might have difficulty figuring out how everything fits together. As a learning tool, the Mindstorms NXT kit is extremely good, however. It's possible to start small, with just the control unit and one sensor, learning how best to connect the pieces, and then work up to larger creations.

The software side of things is also fairly intuitive – programming the control unit is based around a simple system of dropping icons into place on a grid and connecting them up to perform tasks. Anyone familiar with flow charts should be able to get to grips with it instantly, while even those with no experience shouldn’t find it too taxing. The process of loading programs onto the control unit, using the USB connection, is also trivial.

The obvious criticism is the price. At £180, it’s certainly not a cheap toy – in fact, four of the control units can be linked up, but that would push the price up to over £500. But the fact that it can educate as well as entertain means that for mechanically minded youngsters it will be worth the cost.

Also consider
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
Overall: With brilliant arcade gameplay and some of the coolest graphics around, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is one of the most entertaining games you’ll play this year.
Rating: 5
Price: £35

All education software reviews