I gave a lecture on Lego ® this past week, as part of of the Un-Distinguished Lecture Series, or UDLS, a weekly event hosted by the graduate students of the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia. (slides).

Here’s the abstract:

Imagine yourself building a house out of Lego; do you use only one colour? Or do you make your house out of whatever colour brick you happen to grab? Do you cringe at the sight of toy store displays stocked with movie-franchise-tie-in Lego sets? (And why are the pieces so big these days?). Do you have an unusual fear of vacuum cleaners? Do you remember Blacktron vs. the Space Police? Perhaps the Black Knights castle sets were more of your thing. If you’ve answered passionately to any of these questions, you will undoubtedly enjoy a discussion of Lego nostalgia, history, and philosophy, as well as a showcase of constructions by contemporary Lego hobbyists and artists.