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NXT Sensor Adapter for LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT
Company: Vernier Software & Technology, 13979 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97005; Phone: (888) 837-6437. Email: [email protected]. Internet: www.vernier.com.
Price: $39
Electronic Resources for Schools
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This section provides concise, original reviews of new or important hardware, software, websites, and electronic media that relate to the K-12 curriculum. All reviews are written by practicing educators who, in most cases, have used the software in a school environment. Where grouped into broad, age-appropriate categories, these categories should not be viewed as prescriptive. To facilitate "comparison shopping," these reviews are highly structured. Reviewers prepare a "report card" based on a five-star scale.
HARDWARE
Audience: Grades 3-12
Format: Sensor adapter tool, free online download of Vernier Sensor Block software.
Minimum System Requirements: The NXT sensor adapter requires a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT base set, NXT software version 1.1 or version 1.0 with a Dynamic Block Updater, Vernier Sensor Block software, and a Vernier probe.
Description: The Vernier NXT Sensor Adapter expands the capabilities of a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robotics system by allowing a robot to use more than 30 sensors for sensorbased controls.
Reviewer Comments:
Installation: I downloaded the Vernier Sensor Block software using a Dell laptop computer running Vista.
Once the download is completed, the software must be imported into MINDSTORMS version 1.1. Detailed instructions are available online for this operation. Users who have MINDSTORMS version 1.0 must apply a patch (available at the LEGO website as a free upgrade).
It takes just a few seconds to import the Vernier Sensor Block software. Visuals are...