There is good interactivity and bad interactivity. Good interactivity entertains and stimulates the child. Children are not always the best judges of good versus bad interactivity. Smart toys should be toys first and smart second. Lego Group's Mindstorms Robotics Invention System, a classic Lego set with brains, is another good example.
Smart toys blur the line between toy and tool.
Computers are so powerful and versatile that they can convert a toy into a useful tool. Lego Mindstorms can be used to create devices that actually do useful work around the house. Smart toys blur the line between adult and child. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that nearly half of the people playing with Lego Mindstorms are adults ages 25 to 45. DePasquale found that kind of sad, which I can understand.