Now, Lego offers braille bricks for blind kids: Details here
What's the story
In an outstanding move, the Lego Group has announced 'Lego braille bricks' - a new version of its famous construction toys. The new bricks, as the name suggests, have been specifically designed to help visually impaired kids learn the braille reading and writing system. And, we think it can definitely give blind literacy a major (and much-needed) lift. Here's all about the new toys.
Details
Why are they needed
Currently, kids dealing with visual impairment have to learn braille through boring braille readers and printouts. However, with Lego bricks, it can be a fun and interactive way to learn the system perfectly. They look like the regular bricks we have played with during our childhoods (and created some amazing stuff) but feature letters of the braille alphabets.
Working
How braille alphabet letters are printed on the bricks
As you may remember, Lego bricks have eight dots which allow kids to place another brick on top of it and build houses, cars etc. Now, Lego Group has redesigned these dots or studs (as the company calls them) in the form of letters of the braille alphabet. These printed patterns can allow the kids to learn letters, numbers as they arrange, stack them.
Information
Alphabets, numbers, symbols would be offered
This way, Lego's braille bricks kit would offer blind children an opportunity to create and learn the full alphabet, numbers between 0 and 9, as well as mathematical symbols. The kit would also have a grey surface on which the bricks would be positioned.
Final version
Final version of braille bricks coming soon
The new braille-integrated avatar of Lego blocks can give a much-needed boost to blind literacy in India and other countries. It makes a traditionally monotonous process fun and interactive but it's also worth noting that not everyone has access to the toys yet. Currently, the bricks are being tested in Denmark, Brazil, UK, and Norway, with the final version slated to launch next year.
Information
Also, Lego will bring these bricks in various languages
Lego has promised that the final kit of the Lego braille bricks will be distributed to several institutions serving visually impaired kids for free. They will also introduce the same in German, Spanish, and French language by the end of this year.