The Big Trak
As a 10-year-old in 1980, the Big Trak programmable electric vehicle, built by Milton Bradley, introduced me to the idea of programming, as you had to issue a predetermined set of instructions for it to move around, e.g. “Forward 4,” “Pause,” “Turn right 90,” “Forward 2,” and so on. It was super sleek looking, like a tank from the future, and capable of firing its laser cannons (a blinking light with “pew pew” sounds). I loved it, even though it was a more challenging and involved toy in terms of its operation. – George Dvorsky
