Geekie Gadgets

Rubik’s TouchCube – The World’s First Completely Electronic, Solvable Rubik’s Cube

by mydz on 14/11/09 at 6:21 am

The original Rubik’s cube became a cultural phenomenon throughout the world when it was released on the market in 1980, and according to Wikipedia, it still sells better than just about any other toy. But this is the digital age, so techie toy maker TechnoSource decided it was time to make an electronic version of the diabolically challenging cube. The latest version of the cube doesn’t require twisting and turning the colored layers at all. A simple swipe of the finger does the trick. It’s a Rubik’s Cube for the iPhone age!

All six sides utilize cutting edge, easy-to-use touch sensor technology. Swipe your fingers across the squares and the lights will follow, emulating a turn or twist. Simply slide the lighted squares horizontally, vertically, or rotate a face with a touch of your finger. If ever you’re stuck, the TouchCube can give you a hint or solve it step by step right before your eyes. The TouchCube’s powerful processor knows exactly the number of moves needed to solve at any given time.

Another exciting feature of this cool gadget is that it allows you to choose between modern sound effects or an actual recording of the original Cube’s twist. The TouchCube also comes with a recharging stand, and will solve itself while charging, creating a captivating light display.

Techno Source has spent three years hard at work in their underground puzzle and wonderment factory to bring us the TouchCube, and now, it can be ours. For $150, the Rubik’s TouchCube can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Rubik’s Touch Cube

by jrjuan on 23/07/09 at 12:00 pm

Modern tech consumers are always dazzled by how modern touch operated devices are. From phones, cameras, mp3 player to even coffee tables, touch interface is the thing that makes everyone in the tech world go gaga. Now, another age old favorite have gone 2.0 to the touch generation – the Rubik’s Cube.

The Rubik’s cube haven’t really evolved into something revolutionary for more than 20 years now since its launch in 1980. All that happened to it is some minor tweaks like mechanism, color, even the number of sides changed from the default 6 sides to as crazy as 12 sides. But now, the Rubik’s Cube transformed into the Rubik’s TouchCube.

The Rubik’s TouchCube is like the Palm Pre that revolutionized itself from it’s prehistoric roots. The TouchCube completely changes how the user interacts with the device. Before, the user has to twist each section to form patterns in order to solve the cube. Now, finger swipes are used to change the LED lights. It has a touch sensor to mimic your finger gestures and with the accelerometer (just like in modern gadgets) inside, it knows when it is upside down. It now also has sound effects that would correspond to movement of the lights. The memory function will remember where you left of in case that you don’t solve it in one sitting. Being electronically inclined, it now has a program that can aid users to solve the cube that could put an end to years and years of frustration.

For a steep price of $149.99, this is quite an expensive toy but is a novelty nonetheless.

Tilted Twister – The Rubik Cube solving robot

by jon on 23/07/08 at 3:41 pm

Another fascinating gizmo from LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot kit.

The Tilted Twister, is capable of solving the Rubik’s Cube at an average of 6 mins for 60 face turns.
It main uses the LEGO Mindstorms NXT retail kit. The creator utilized only the materials that are provided within the kit which could prove to be very challenging.

The robot scans using the light detector, but based on the creator’s experience some colors of the cube provides the same result, therefore the immediate solution was to change some of the colors on the rubik’s cube. After which, the sensor gives recognizable results.

To read the full deyails about this robot or even instructions on how to make one visit their website at www.tiltedtwister.com

The robot in action :