“Dan Shapiro sold a company to Google and worked at Microsoft. His name is on nearly a dozen technology-related patents. But when it came time for his latest venture, Mr. Shapiro turned to technology to produce something decidedly low-tech: a board game for children. Technology, by all rights, should have killed old-fashioned games, which can never equal the eye-popping graphics, visceral action and immense online communities of today’s video games. Yet the opposite has occurred.” That’s an excerpt from the story that ran on A1 in today’s issue of The New York Times, by Nick Wingfield. Shapiro’s game is Robot Turtles and it’s designed to covertly teach kids basic computer programming skills. I hung out with Shapiro and his kids while they played the game.
This was a fun little assignment, with nice people. Have a look at one image that ran with the story and some outtakes below. Read the story here.
Dan Shapiro, center, plays Robot Turtles with his kids, both 5, at his home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014. Robot Turtles, created by Shapiro with help from his kids, is a board game designed to subtly teach players aged 3-8 basic computer programming skills.
Robot Turtles cards are pictured during game play at the home of Dan Shapiro in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
Dan Shapiro, left, plays Robot Turtles with his daughter at his home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
Dan Shapiro’s son, left, plays Robot Turtles with his dad and sister at their home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
A Robot Turtles board is pictured during game play at the Shapiro home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
Dan Shapiro, center, plays Robot Turtles with his kids at his home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
Dan Shapiro moves pieces on a Robot Turtles board during a game with his kids at his home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.
Dan Shapiro, top, plays Robot Turtles with his kids at his home in Mercer Island, Washington on April 28, 2014.