LetterRun is a marble-run like toy that combines physical computing, education, and physics (gravity). It can be played on any magnetic surface. Children combine blocks together and spell words. When they throw a metal ball through the conduits on the blocks, words light up based on the movement of the ball.

We were interested in the concept of a building block that would be more than a simple construction element. By combining an existing toy (marble run) with an educational purpose (spelling), we came up with LetterRun.

Early on we found that we were particularly interested in using blocks as a teaching tool. We explored using it to teach language, music, or spelling. We found the letter idea to be most successful because we were able to construct a teaching block as its own object. We are still considering adding an audio element to it but that would come in a later version.

Kids 7 to 10 years old, or any children interested in physics and spelling.

toy testing video @ http://itp.nyu.edu/~bac255/new_blog/files/toydesign/toytest-small.mov

Ideally, LetterRun would be played on any magnetic surface, like a white board, or possibly the door of a fridge.

Each block is made out of wood and simple electronics (wires, battery, and a light). There are no chips required, though in the future we might consider lighting up words that actually make sense. Each block is a modular object. When you combine them (through exposed pins), they can light up as a whole.

Boys where more interested in making the balls run fast, while girls were interested in spelling actual words.