Matthew Shifrin works to make LEGO kits accessible to blind people. Along with help from his family friend Lilya Frinkel, Shifrin became an expert LEGO model builder, developing a scheme to translate visual LEGO assembly instructions into Braille. Lilya could make just about anything accessible for the blind. Making things accessible was a challenge she enjoyed, but LEGO was different. It was impossible to Braille the blueprints. The instruction manuals had no words, and they were too complicated to be turned into raised-line drawings. Building a model required so many steps that I couldn't copy them all. LEGO was the only thing that stubbornly resisted adaptation. Or so I thought. For my thirteenth birthday, Lilya had custom made instructions for the Battle of Almut, a Middle Eastern domed castle. How had she done it? Where did she find text-based instructions? It turned out that she didn't find them--she created them! Lilya wrote out the instructions step by step, describing every blueprint, giving names to every kind of LEGO piece, figuring out the most logical sequence for a blind person to follow.
She also sorted the LEGO pieces, putting the pieces necessary for each step into a Ziploc bag and labeling each bag in Braille. Shifrin has begun posting these instructions on his website. In this 13-minute documentary, Vanessa Hill visits Shifrin to explore his work. This is not just about LEGO, it's about spatial perception, which is fascinating stuff. If you're sighted, keep an eye out for the Braille display Shifrin uses—that device pops up one line of Braille at a time, and along with the attached keyboard, allows easy access to long sets of Braille instructions. If you liked that, you might enjoy this outtake video in which Shifrin's screen-reader reads out 10,000 digits of Pi from a YouTube comment. (Then he flips it into Russian mode and does it again.) This is a nice mini-demo of how screen-reader software works, even for silly stuff like YouTube comments.You must be 16 or over to participate in the Brickset Forum. Please read the announcements and rules before you join.
A Comprehensive List of LEGO Certified Professional Sets? I've been reading through ebay today and have come across a couple of sets that are LEGO Certified Professional, but I can't find a listing for them here in Brickset. Is there a list of the sets like the LEGO Hilton Paris Opera Hotel or this Ricky the Rooster? @ /en-us/aboutus/lego-group/programs-and-visits/lego-certified-professionals@Huw Sounds like a new challenge... :) I'd write them a mail to ask them, if you don't know where to start, there's someone at Reddit who works for one. If you can find the thread just say so and i'll give it a search, run into it some time ago. @bobabricks They have some interesting things for sale. Where did you find information on this Ricky The Rooster Set? Good luck on anyone trying to collect a complete list on non-TLG LEGO sets...Bright Bricks Milan Cathedral... not even sure if these were sets or just MOCs.... And then there are these miscellaneous sets....
Autodesk set... frontAutodesk set back....Those jokes are for @SumoLego and @Pitfall69 only! ^ There is no ceiling on rooster and oil company jokes.Red Rooster, standing by... @sstoroe @sprinkleOtter @77ncaachamps I have the LDD file for Ricky. PM me your emails. @TheOriginalSimonB The words 'insert', 'oil' and 'dong' should never, repeat NEVER, be used in the same sentence. Edit: unless you're into that stuff, in which case, go for it! What two consenting adults get up to behind closed doors is their business. That's a whole 'nother thread: Lego for Romantic Reasons...But it would be worth exploring. Yeah, we all need a eBay seller name like that! I wonder if the Paris Hilton set comes with a signed copy of Paris Hilton's famous video?Imagine explaining owning that to your other half because "it has to be part of your LEGO related collection"It looks like a small version first and a larger version will be coming shortly. This one is in the church store for 35 pounds still.
Just by chance I was passing on the day they got them. Apparently there will be 3 versions, small (as above £35),in stock now. Large (£100 to £150) not released as yet, and a currently unknown set of something to do with the cathedral... The staff are very helpful and I have asked for them to reserve the large one. If anyone is interested I'll update when it's in stock. Does anyone know if Exeter Cathedral ever released its larger model, which was supposed to include some of the outbuildings?I would love to purchase currently available versions of the Exeter and Bury Cathedral builds (preferably not the very smallest version, which in the case of Exeter is already sold out anyway) without having to go through eBay--is anyone on Brickset able to help with this? I'm aware shipping and handling charges add considerably to the retail total, but I'm not happy having to pay many times the original cost *before* shipping on a second-hand set of something which is meant to be a benefit fundraiser for the Cathedral.
I have a good reputation here, on BrickLink and at eBay (my userID is the same for all three). @/QeIQgN not my listing but another Bright Bricks LCP model. This is a nice one, I picked up one when we had the chance to visit Ashford Castle in Ireland. I've got the Flying Scotsman they did at Swindon this year. Instructions weren't handed out, you had to build it at the show. ^ I picked mine up today from the shop. Also showing a small version for box sizes. Would anyone know the part number of the large wheels used, I've scoured Bricklink but can't identify them Just rediscovered the site about the ReefScape project done by Bright Bricks together with Tropical Marine Center--instructions for the sixteen individual sealife models are still available at http://reefscape.co.uk/downloads/. Sign In or Register to comment. Check out an interview with the authors on CNET! Featured on The Verge “Ever since the release of The LEGO Movie, I’ve wondered how I could create my own stop-motion videos with my ever-growing LEGO collection.
Thanks to the genius minds of David Pagano and David Pickett, I had the opportunity to learn with The LEGO Animation Book.” Have you ever wondered what your LEGO creations would look like on the big screen? The LEGO Animation Book will show you how to bring your models to life with stop-motion animation — no experience required! Follow step-by-step instructions to make your first animation, and then explore the entire filmmaking process, from storyboards to post-production. Along the way, you’ll learn how to: Create special effects like explosions and flying minifigures Convey action and emotion with your minifigure actors Design sets for animation — make three buildings look like an entire city! Light, frame, and capture consistent photos Add detail and scope to your films by building in different scales Build camera dollies and rigs out of LEGO bricks Choose cameras, software, and other essential animation tools Dive into the world of animation and discover a whole new way to play!
Click here for additional LEGO animation resources About the AuthorDavid Pagano is a LEGO animator and writer and the founder of Paganomation, a NY-based production studio. His work has appeared everywhere from BrickJournal to the Wall Street Journal. David Pickett is the LEGO filmmaker behind BRICK 101 and Nightly News at Nine. Together, they run the LEGO animation blog The Set Bump. Chapter 1: The Basics Chapter 2: Animation the Minifigure Chapter 3: Animation Principles Chapter 4: Building for Brickfilms Chapter 5: Working in Different Scales Chapter 6: Tools of the Trade Chapter 7: The Creative Process Chapter 8: Cinematography and Production View the detailed Table of Contents (PDF) View the Index (PDF)ReviewsAuthor Dave Pickett stopped by the FOX 32 studio to show off the book— watch the segment here! NY1 News stopped by author David Pagano's studio to chat about the book. Check out an interview with author David Pagano on AM New York.
Read an interview with Dave Pickett in The University of Chicago Magazine. “This is an excellent book that covers everything from cameras and software to animating minifigures, building sets and post-production.” “The whole way through there is excellent imagery to support the text and methodology behind how to create and produce your very own brickfilm. It is great if you are starting from scratch for the very first time, although that’s not to say that a seasoned pro wouldn’t learn a thing or two from these guys.” “Creating a Brickfilm can seem like a tricky affair, but the book's authors make it really easy to get started. We look forward to seeing what’s next from No Starch Press, not to mention all these great new Brickfilms born out of this great book.” “Overall, if you have a passion for making LEGO stop-motion videos but don’t know where to begin, The LEGO Animation Book is a great starting point...If you’ve already made some videos before but want to hone in on some aspects that you want to improve on, this book is also a good resource to have in your library.”