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The Laser Game concept is designed to expose children to the different ways that light can be split and re-directed. The puzzle surface is a shallow box with light sensors on the sides that are wired to small LEDs. A small LED laser provides a beam of light from the upper right hand corner. The floor of the box has a series of holes that act as plugs for the light sensor modules, and anchors for the reflector and splitter modules. Five types of modules are available for use- Light sensor, with a built in light sensor/LED readout, Splitter, with an angled, half silvered mirror, for splitting one beam into two beams, and three types of reflectors, which allow for various configurations of light travel.
A book of puzzles and solutions is included. Puzzles would be
in the format "Can you light the following LEDs with only N reflector/splitter
modules?" The child then arranges different module blocks to direct
the laser light so that it hits the appropriate sensors, and lights
the LEDs. The book’s first few puzzles would be very simple, probable
including only 1 or two blocks and probably only one LED. Puzzles
could be made very difficult indeed, however, with the addition
of beam splitting, which could allow for beams traveling in both
directions through space, and many LEDs. The target audience of
this toy is children age five and up. Since puzzles can be made
very easy or very difficult, the game should have a wide range
of appeal.
I thought I knew what people would want out of a game like this
when I first set out to design it. However, I think that I made
some assumptions about the difficulty of the game and the appeal
to different demographics that I might have avoided by doing some
consumer research. I also learned that, despite the prevalence
of laser pointers, people are still frightened of their effects.
I think a game like this would need some sort of safety device
in order to be sold to children.
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