Czech team designs computerized playground

Getting youngsters to play outside on a sunny day is an increasingly difficult task. Most parents now find it near impossible to pry their children away from their computers and compared to the wonders of virtual reality kids no longer find outdoor activities as attractive. Czech designer Pavel Tuma and his team have now unveiled a revolutionary 5-D playground that aims to change that.

“Imagine a playground that is 36 times 18 meters large, the size of a tennis court, and right next to it is a 5D box –a sort of mini-computer centre with touchpad technology and sensors relating to the five senses. Each child would get a chip to enter the game which is a combination of physical and mental hurdles that have to be overcome. The playground itself comprises nine artificial rocks which are quite big. There are numerous hurdles of different kinds, a multimedia box and lots of special surfaces. The playground is visually very attractive.”

The playground aims to be more than just fun out in the open – it should combine entertainment, physical activity and develop knowledge skills. The team of young designers who put their names to it are hoping that this will be the playground of the future – and envisage a network of playgrounds which could eventually be linked up. The prototype which is to be built in the coming months will be open to a given school in the morning and anyone interested in the afternoon.

Heck, I want to play on one of these things.