Vision Command and Dark Side Developer Kit Highlight New Products
LOS ANGELES, May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- LEGO(R) MINDSTORMS(TM), whose
award-winning Robotics Invention System(TM) introduced gamers to the world of
consumer robotics, today announced it will showcase its 2000 product line at
the Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3), May 11-13, in Los Angeles
(LEGO Booth #1446 in the South Hall). Highlights will include the
LEGO MINDSTORMS Vision Command(TM) and Dark Side Developer Kit(TM).
When combined with the Robotics Invention System, the new Vision Command
allows users ages 12 and up to build and program robotic inventions that can
see and respond to their surrounding environment. The core of the Vision
Command is a new LEGO PC video camera, which allows users to, for example,
program their robot to follow them around a room, watch for and record
intruders, or even dance and play musical notes with a slight wave of a hand.
The Vision Command can also be used alone as a PC video camera, with standard
video and image capturing capabilities.
LEGO MINDSTORMS takes building to the next step with the Star Wars Dark
Side Developer Kit. Built on the success of the Droid Developer Kit(TM), the
new Dark Side Developer Kit lets kids build walking robots and droids, such as
a destroyer droid that charges forward and an All Terrain Armored Transport
(AT-AT) that strides on four legs.
Designed for ages nine and up, the set features three distinct levels of
building difficulty: Jedi Apprentice, Jedi Knight and Jedi Master. The Dark
Side Developer Kit is powered by the Micro Scout, the smallest LEGO
microcomputer. The Micro Scout has a built-in light sensor, built-in motor,
and seven pre-programmed behaviors from which to choose.
"We are very pleased to showcase our award-winning consumer robotics
products to the international audience of E3," said LEGO MINDSTORMS Vice
President Linda Dalton. "The introduction of both Vision Command and Dark Side
Developer Kit reinforces our commitment to further stimulate experimentation
and invention among the growing LEGO MINDSTORMS community."
A traveling LEGO MINDSTORMS tour will hit the road from August through
December and visit 100 malls nationwide. The LEGO MINDSTORMS Mall Tour is
intended to give consumers hands-on interaction with the high-tech robotics
products.
Pricing and Availability
Both Vision Command and Dark Side Developer Kit will be available
beginning in September 2000, with a suggested retail price of $99 (U.S.).
LEGO Systems, Inc. (LSI) is the Americas (North America and Latin America)
division of the LEGO Company, a privately-held firm based in Billund, Denmark.
The LEGO Company employs more than 2,000 people in the Americas
-- approximately one half of whom work at LSI's 203-acre headquarters in
Enfield, Connecticut. LSI manufactures more than 2.7 billion LEGO(R) elements
each year. The LEGO Company is committed to the development of children's
creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto
adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good
enough." For more information, visit http://www.lego.com.
Based in Novato, California, LEGO MINDSTORMS is a division of The LEGO
Company, and is dedicated to developing and deploying new technologies that
empower children to learn. For more information, visit http://www.legomindstorms.com.
SOURCE LEGO MINDSTORMS
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Related links:
http://www.legomindstorms.com
CONTACT:
Danelle Hoffa of Switzer Communications,
Inc., 415-945-7077, or danelle@switz.com, for LEGO MINDSTORMS; or
Shannon Hartnett of the LEGO Company, 860-763-6758, or
shannon.hartnett@america.lego.com
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