I first heard about the Sifteo cubes last year when I was forwarded the TED conference talk about the concept of the product from a friend that works there. A couple days ago I got to visit Sifteo at the consumer electronic show convention booth and see them in action and try them out for myself.

As you can see from the demonstration video above, there is huge potential not just for gaming, learning, computer applications, but anything where a more tangible advanced UI would be beneficial. There is something really organic about being able to pick up an object and move it around while integrating the versatility of a screen. Because the nature of the required movement of the cubes in many potential games you can play, it can bring some real face-to-face social interaction that is missing in a lot of today's videogame systems. And because it excites your brain's auditory and visual skills, in addition to the motor skills, there's a greater chance that what you learn from playing with the Sifteo sticks in your brain. (Now if only they could produce smells too!)

While it still is in its early stages, there is already a variety of games and applications that you can download from the Sifteo online library which then require you to plug-in the wireless USB dongle to a Mac or PC with the Sifteo software installed and then transferred to your Sifteo cubes. Currently Sifteo supports up to six cubes at a time per set, and require an active wireless connection between the cubes and a PC or Mac to play.

It is scheduled to be released this year, (early adopter special sold out in hours of release) at $149.99 retail which includes 3 cubes, docking/charging station, usb wifi dongle. I would expect some adjustments in the package(s) offered once the production lines really get moving. This puts it right in line with the pricing of the Nintendo DS, PSP, and other video game consoles and systems. Let's hope the innovation pays off like it did for Nintendo years ago with the Wii and the DS.

Here is my wishlist:

I am sure the software development kit is being passed around right now and if anybody is listening, here are some of the things that I want to see come out on the Sifteo platform (besides games)...:

Language learning. These would have been a huge help in learning a secondary language and conjugating verbs even in Spanish class or something more complex like Chinese.
Scientific applications making each cube a variable that can be moved around in a model quickly to see outcome etc.
Widgets. Possible port widgets onto the Sifteo cubes and make each one report something useful about the world, the weather, stocks, etc. Think Chumby, or Yahoo widgets.
Advanced Macros. Think of a kind of like a programmable set of keys where you can assign any function to any of the cubes. Since each queue is essentially one big button you can tap, and also pick up and shift around, each cube an be assigned multiple functions.

Hardware side:

More wireless connectivity options, not just proprietary wireless. Also more secure connections.
Simple camera sensor to detect what objects the cubes are being placed on for more advanced boardgame play. Or at least a mouse type sensor on each.
Proximity sensors that interact with other objects.
Different magnetic mounts for the cubes so they can be placed on a non-level surface.
Ability to pull power from inductive charging on a surface - never run out of power during extended use.
Make the cubes even slimmer - think Apple iPod nano size.
Mini-speakers on each versus sound coming out on just the connected PC.
More interaction with the master computer and usage of the screen.

You can find out more information and sign up for more updates here. Sifteo Blog too.