Algoblocks
Algoblocks was one of the very first systems to allow children to program with blocks.
Suzuki, H., & Kato, H. (1993, August).
Braitenberg Creatures
The Braitenberg Creatures introduced the idea of creatures that would have code embedded into them — sensors and actuators would be connected in sophisticated ways to generate complex behavior with the need to program using a computer.
Hogg, D., Martin, F., Resnick, M. 1991
Dr. Wagon
Dr. Wagon introduced ideas such as stretchable command blocks, which could fit subprocedures. It also innovated in bringing a very child-friendly, organic, wood-based design.
Chawla, K., Chiou, M., Sandes, A., & Blikstein, P. (2013, June).
Image courtesy of: LEGO® Mindstorms RCX, photographed by Mairi
Mindstorms
Mindstorms was the first popular robotics kit for kids. You still needed a computer to program it, but its design inspired generations of products after it.
Resnick, M., Martin, F., Berg, R., Borovoy, R., Colella, V., Kramer, K., and Silverman, B. 1998.
Resnick, M., Martin, F., Berg, R., Borovoy, R., Colella, V., Kramer, K., and Silverman, B. 1998. Digital manipulatives: new toys to think with. Proceedings of CHI ’98 (Los Angeles, April 1998), ACM Press, (pp. 281-287).
Quetzal
Quetzal, similarly to Tern, used low-cost blocks with visual codes, and introduced some interesting physical analogies such as “Y” shaped conditionals.
Horn, M. S., & Jacob, R. J. (2007, February).
Robo-Blocks
Robo-Blocks innovated in producing a low-cost kit that used a LEGO® car and simple command-blocks with alphanumeric displays and lights, offering new ways for children to debug programs on the fly, and have rich visual feedback.
Sipitakiat, A., and Nusen, N. 2012.
Tangible Programming Bricks
Tangible Programming Bricks were one of the very first systems to use autonomous blocks with embedded electronics to allow kids to create programs.
McNerney, T. 2000.
Tern
Tern was one of the first and most complete systems for programming with blocks, introducing the innovation of visual codes for block identification, instead of embedding electronics in the blocks.
Horn, M.S. and Jacob, R.J.K. Tangible Programming in the Classroom with Tern.
Topobo
Topobo is one of the main systems that can be programmed without a computer — it is programmed by example: the system records the movements performed by the child on its parts, and plays it back for them.
Raffle, H., Parkes, A., and Ishii, H. 2004.
TurTan
TurTan used several innovations to create a system for children to explore programming in rich ways, bringing in the idea of a large display and low cost visual codes for command identification.
Gallardo, D., Julià, C. F., & Jorda, S. (2008, October).
Robot Logo
Papert and his team created the very first system that allowed children to program a physical robot, using a special programming language called LOGO, which was designed especially for children.
Papert, S. Mindstorms: children, computers, and powerful ideas. 1980
TORTIS
Radia Perlman, while working at Seymour Papert's lab at MIT, created what is believed to be one of the first systems for programming with tangibles. Radia was an inspiration for generations of designers and, of course, to our team as well.
R. Perlman.
