Analogue construction and digital education in play - technology and everyday life

Play has changed fundamentally in recent years. Children today grow up in a world where digital applications are just as commonplace as classic building blocks.

This presents the toy industry with a key question: how can analogue and digital experiences be meaningfully combined without displacing either of them? This is precisely where the latest developments in construction toys come in, where it is not a question of either/or, but rather the interplay between both worlds. Children hardly distinguish between digital and analogue elements in their everyday lives. For them, the two belong together, flow into each other and are used intuitively. Toys that take this approach can make abstract topics tangible while maintaining the fun of building. It is not just about using a screen, but about understanding real-world connections through one's own actions.

Digital and analogue worlds united in play

At the heart of modern construction systems is the desire to make technology understandable. Digital components are not integrated as an end in themselves, but as an extension of classic play principles. Building, constructing and experimenting remain the basis. They are supplemented by digital controls, sensors or apps that make processes visible. This connection reflects the real world. There, too, digital systems have long been part of physical processes, for example in smart homes or in industry. Children learn early on that technology does not exist in isolation, but is always embedded in a concrete context. It is precisely this experience that the game aims to convey.

Fischertechnik and the sensor station approach

A concrete example of this approach is the sensor station from Fischertechnik. The company's goal is to make complex technological topics such as the Internet of Things understandable. The focus is explicitly not on monitoring or control, but on recording, evaluating and interpreting measured values. The sensor station makes it possible to record and visualise various data. This includes, for example, air quality, humidity and camera images. Children learn how sensors work, how data is generated and how this information can be used. The key is that they experiment for themselves and recognise connections.

Learning through experiments with the sensor station

The focus is on a playful approach. Children can conduct their own experiments and observe how certain values change. Integration into a cloud allows data to be accessed remotely. An app can be used to display measurement series and track developments. A typical application scenario is a school project on plant growth. The station's camera is pointed at a plant, and an image is automatically taken and saved several times a day. This creates a visual record, supplemented by measurements such as humidity or temperature. Children see not only the result, but also the process behind it.

• Recording of environmental values such as air quality and humidity
• Documentation of changes via image series
• Integration of data into a cloud for evaluation
• Use for school projects and experiments

Age-appropriate introduction to technology and robotics

It is important to classify the target group. This type of play is not yet suitable for very young children. Only from a certain age, around ten years old, do children develop the necessary understanding of topics such as programming, sensor technology and robotics. But then the system offers a low-threshold introduction to complex content. In Germany in particular, there is frequent discussion about how to better support the next generation of digital talent. Playful approaches are considered particularly effective because they break down inhibitions. Technology is not perceived as abstract or complicated, but as something that is fun and stimulates creativity.

Creativity instead of pure screen use

A central point in the discussion about digital toys is the concern about too much screen time. The approach pursued here deliberately takes a different approach. Digital elements support the game, but do not replace it. Physical building, constructing and designing remain intact. Children work with real building blocks, build models and expand them with digital functions. This combination not only promotes technical understanding, but also problem-solving skills. Children think about how a system needs to be set up, which sensors are useful and how data can be interpreted. The game thus becomes a learning process that goes far beyond pure entertainment.

Why analogue play will endure

Despite all the digitalisation, the real world will not disappear. Wanting to touch, understand and design things yourself remains a fundamental human need. Classic building and construction will therefore continue to play an important role in the future. Digital elements enhance this experience without replacing it. Fischertechnik focuses precisely on this idea. Analogue play principles are enriched by digital content that establishes a connection to reality. The result is a game that is both contemporary and sustainable, encouraging children not only to consume technology, but also to actively understand and shape it.

Outlook for the games of tomorrow

Developments show where the journey is headed. Toys are increasingly becoming a medium that combines education, creativity and everyday life. Analogue and digital components are converging and opening up new opportunities for learning. The key factor remains that the game must be child-friendly, understandable and meaningful. Only then can it help to spark curiosity and playfully prepare the engineers of tomorrow for their world.