Money Money Money
Money , Money, Money seems to be driving us all slightly mad and some of us TOTALLY mad! It's as though MONEY is the reason or driving force behind everything we do, plastic products, sell, sell, sell, market, disposable junk, things that none of us really need.
Obviously money is not all bad , and can be a useful and valuable method of exchange, However perhaps too much emphasis has been put on money, to the point where people do not follow their dreams because of a lack of it, often leading unadventurous and monotonous lives, or at its extreme the thirst for money can be so strong that people lose sight of basic human qualities, and are driven into crime.
Life is Rich with opportunities, we are so lucky in our society to be able to take opportunities, its easy to get swept away with the crowd and lose sight of the magic of life itself! Everything that we have today has come from people who have been willing to take risks, dive into the unknown and devote their life to a dream. People like Leonardo da Vinci who taught us about art, anatomy and inventions, Nicola Tesla who gave us mains electricity and electric motors, the Wright brothers who brought us mad flying machines and the Beatles who influenced many generations with their revolutionary music and thinking. All these people have been willing to be different from the crowd. 
Why Robots?
Robots... Well its great fun firstly, and a great way to learn about technology, electronics, and computers. In an age where Technology is becoming common place and computers are becoming as common as a toothbrush, we have not noticed how far it has evolved. We are so used to be able to write a document, have a computer spell check it and then print it out, so that minutes later it's in your hands. We take all of this for granted, but how often do we stop and think HOW or WOW ! We are so spoilt by technology and we are not even aware of it. Most of the things we have in our homes are made by Robots and Computer Controlled Machines for example, pens, clothes, furniture, videos, matchboxes, fire alarms, toilet rolls, toys, pizza, washing machines, cars, tea-bags and shoelaces.....you name it, a robot probably made it! It's not only a multi - billion pound industry...it's ALL of industry! And most people don't know anything about it, they think that a computer is for writing a letter or for zapping aliens in a game. A Computer is mankind's most versatile machine!
LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Invention System
Students and hobbyists have been making autonomous robots (including LEGO-based ones) for years, but for the more casual robot tinkerer, there really wasnīt much available. The new LEGO MindStorms Robotics Invention System is easy enough for kids, but powerful enough for high school and university-level students to make impressive use of it. Now you can create programmable robots that navigate obstacles, follow trails, or react to changes in light detected by its sensors. No programming experience is necessary; LEGOīs intuitive software helps you along the way. Clearly, LEGO isnīt just for kids anymore.
Whatīs in the Box
MindStorms is incredibly well put together. Everything has been thought out, from the packaging to the computer interface to the versatility of the physical components.
The huge box contains 727 LEGO parts, including the RCX "programmable brick", an infrared transmitter for sending programs to your robots, the MindStorms software CD-ROM, a full-color and beautifully-designed builderīs guide, two motors, two touch sensors, one light sensor, and an overwhelming assortment of LEGO bricks, connectors, wheels, and gears.
The RCX Programmable Brick
The heart of the MindStorms kit is the RCX programmable brick. About the size of two decks of playing cards, the RCX uses sensors to take input from its environment, process the data, and signal up to three motors to turn on and off in forward or reverse at any one of 8 speeds. This "smart brick" can process over 1000 commands per second. The RCX uses an 8-bit Hitachi H8 / 3297 microcontroller running at 16MHz. It has 16K of ROM, 512 bytes of SRAM (for firmware) and 32K of external SRAM for your programs. It features a fully multi-tasking operating system (up to 10 simultaneous tasks), three eight-bit timers, three 500 mA outputs, and three inputs. The RCX also houses the battery power.
Programming the RCX
Everything about the Robotic Invention System has been optimized for ease of use. The most amazing example of this is the RCX code. It is an easy-to-use, yet powerful, icon-based programming language which is loosely based on Logo. This visual programming environment allows you to drag, drop and stack commands and bits of code. This means there is no program code to write!
Blocks of code that represent commands are graphically displayed as icons. You can choose from a long list of commands such as left and right turns, reverse, sound effects, pauses, sensor settings, motor speed, or custom-designed functions. Drag the icons together into a row and arrange them into a logical order for a full-fledged, event-driven program. The process is not unlike the physical act of assembling LEGO bricks. With two clicks of the mouse, you can upload your program to the RCX, then hit the "run" button and your creation goes to work.
Each RCX unit can store five programs so one robot can do multiple things. Programming can be as elaborate or as simple as you choose. A first-time user with basic PC skills can design, program and build a simple robot within one hour.
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