Simply brilliant new technology. Siftables is yet another examples of scientists/artists/media mavens thinking beyond how technology ALREADY works, stepping into fresh and unchartered territory. With limitless potential of the product (toys, home computing, and even information systems), essentially it all stemmed from a simple observation that maybe, just maybe, we have to stop and think about how technology interacts BACK with us. As David Merrill, one of the creators stated so eloquently, his true passion is for “…making new computer interfaces that are a better match to the human interface; making things that relate to how our brains and body work”.

“Siftables aims to enable people to interact with information and media in physical, natural ways that approach interactions with physical objects in our everyday lives. As an interaction platform, Siftables applies technology and methodology from wireless sensor networks to tangible user interfaces. Siftables are independent, compact devices with sensing, graphical display, and wireless communication capabilities” (Source: http://web.media.mit.edu/~dmerrill/siftables.html)

If you have a chance, you absolutely must spend 7 minutes on the TED talk David Merrill gave this past year. Fantastic demo of the offering.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_merrill_demos_siftables_the_smart_blocks.html