What is it?
An app-enabled robotic sphere you can programme and control for learning and fun. There are all sorts of technological learning tools aimed at making education enjoyable, yet there few that boast robots, LEDs and a plethora of interesting sensors able to be manipulated from a smartphone app.
Good Points?
Design of the Sphero Bolt is less like something you would see on Robot Wars and more like a giant transparent marble that houses the fully visible circuitry. This construction gives you a better understanding of how everything works than if the casing was opaque.
Being aimed at children means the shell is incredibly robust and can withstand heavy punishment. The range of sensors encased in this tiny ball are impressive and akin to industry technologies like smartphones and satellites. There are light and infrared sensors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, propulsion motors and magnetometers which can all be programmed with the accompanying app.
A wireless charging cradle completes the futuristic experience. It looks cool and draws attention wherever you put it.
Using the Bolt as a conventional remote-controlled toy is great fun but the experience is enhanced exponentially when coding your own actions. You can even have the device accelerate when its sensor picks up louder noise.
Bad points?
The learning curve takes some patience that may be beyond smaller children.
Best for ...
Budding young scientists looking to get a head start in the engineering industries.
Avoid if ...
It all seems a bit too eerily reminiscent of Hal 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Score: 9/10.
Sphero Bolt, £149.99 (sphero.com)
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