Plezmo is an Award-winning Modular IoT toy that introduces kids to the fundamentals of coding

Ask a kid to attend a coding class and they’ll make faces, teach them how to build an Iron Man hand repulsor and they’ll probably take a better liking to the subject.

This is exactly what Plezmo was created to do. A modular ecosystem of servo motors, sensors, and other interconnected tech, Plezmo lets you plug blocks together to make complex toys that rely on blocks of code, but in a simple way that kids can learn from. A recipient of the 2022 iF Design Award, Plezmo gamifies learning by providing a visually simple way to understand how blocks of code work. The Plezmo modules are, to that very end, block-shaped, and encourage kids to experiment simply by plugging blocks together to create devices that achieve different objectives.

Designer: Elephant for Plezmo

Plezmo’s ecosystem is equipped with blocks that fulfill most input and output requirements. There are different input sensors that can detect sound, distance and color. Output blocks allow for motors, speakers and lights. You can combine them to make almost any type of I/O device. Plezmo has many tutorials and examples on their YouTube channel. The blocks are easy to use and can be used to code blocks. However, children will become more proficient and skilled at using them. A coding program allows them unlock Plezmo’s full potential by writing lines of code inside Plezmo’s app, which they can then create more complex gadgets and experiences.

To transcend the appearance of a block-ish product, Plezmo comes with ‘Story Kits’ that also include cardboard cutouts, comparable to Nintendo’s Labo kits. However, children aren’t limited to just the story kit’s cardboard bodies. Each Plezmo ships with accessories that allow you to attach LEGO bricks and elements to expand on the IoT toy’s capabilities. The Plezmo app allows more experienced youngsters to dive deeper into the workings of the toy, understand how it works and, in turn, get a good grasp on visual programming.

Plezmo is a winner of the iF Design Award for the year 2022.