New Kiosk to Bring Lego Sets to Life

See the end result without opening the box

On YouTube: An augmented reality kiosk helps Lego buyers see the finished product. As the shopper holds up the packaging to the kiosk, the system simulates the construction on top of the box. As the buyer rotates the box, the rendering adjusts accordingly. Presentations aren't static. The merry-go-round example... goes around, while Lego people are shown skiing around the Lego mountain lodge.

The kiosk is the result of a collaboration between Lego digital systems and metaio, a firm that designs and manufactures augmented reality and presentation systems. According to the description of the YouTube demo video here, the kiosk is now set for a global roll out. Apparently it passed the "evaluatiion (sic)" phase with flying colors.

Perhaps a future of kids and adults fixated on these reality augmented kiosks isn't far way. Can we expect to see curious people twirling the box on its axis rapidly, in an effort to confuse the rendering software? Or will window shoppers present the box just to see those dynamic renderings in action?

Here's what is sure though: as a point-of-sale marketing tool, customers won't have to pay to use the augmented reality kiosk. No timeline for the roll out was specified however, so if you ever see these kiosks in person, we'd love to hear about it.