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[george]

I just randomly clicked on a bookmark for Ted and watched this talk:

MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too.

I guess this isn't too crazy really -- pervasive computing seems like it's on its way real soon. But it makes me wonder what other new technology is on its way in a tangible form.

[professor dead]

that was really cool 
i cannot imagine how expensive this technology might be?

[Melly]

With the way things are progressing, it might not be all that expensive at all, once it starts being mass-produced.

[Inanimate]

Wow, those are really amazing! That sounds like an extremely fun interface.

Now, how would you make a game which uses this amazing technology?  :D

[professor dead]

Wow, those are really amazing! That sounds like an extremely fun interface.

Now, how would you make a game which uses this amazing technology?  :D

that's what i'd like to see!  the word game was nifty.  i thought that was coolz.  but you saw that kid with the tv, imagine a new way to control point-n-clicks like the old lucasarts games?  that'd be coolz.

[Inanimate]

Maybe you could construct different 'parts', represented by the blocks, to create different characters, attacks, situations, and such?

Maybe you actually create platforms for the main character?

Maybe you use it to manipulate a game, like for instance Majesty of Colors, or something along those lines?

Maybe an 'escape the room' style game?

Maybe this could be implemented into a strategy game?

[george]

Maybe this could be implemented into a strategy game?

You know, I remember some board/table games guy -- maybe from Wizards of the Coast? -- commenting on how collectible card games totally had rocked that genre of games when they entered the mainstream. He was speculating that there was a similar revolution on the horizon, he didn't know what it was, but that it would again rock the table game industry with a completely new platform....

[Wishfallen]

That looks awesome. Internet scrabble with physical pieces anyone?

[r.kachowski]

The music demo blew my mind, it looked so brilliantly intuitive. It's like something from minority report.

[Zest]

Wow, that was cool. Just imagine a game creation device like that, with tilesets planted on blocks. One thing I'm curious about is how the programs are loaded onto the Siftables. Could you just get a giant bag of them and start up any application with them, or would there need to be specific types manufactured?

Oh, and for a game idea: What about a puzzle game where you have to constantly rearrange the blocks to prevent an onscreen character from stopping? If you need help visualizing, imagine the toy train chase scene from the Wrong Trousers.

[Andy Wolff]

this is super cool and I want them

[Border]

wow i'm speechless... soooo how much?? 

[The-Imp]

I'd say about...

I could imagine it (if it were mass produced) at about 60-100$ a pack.

for about 4, or five, depending on what they do.

[letsap]

A siftable concert would be the coolest thing

[Nitro Crate]

Wow this is pretty awesome.

Although I can't help but wish that the z-axis was more used.

I would think for it to be natural for a child to try and stack the blocks as they did in the video.

[Lazer]

THE SOUNDS THE WORD GAME MADE WERE TAKEN FROM A CHILDREN'S LAPTOP THING FROM THE EARLY 90'S

my nostalgia sensors are going through the ROOF holy shit.