David Merrill: Siftables, the toy blocks that think

[StringsCrusader]

this is fucking awesome. i cant wait to see what this'll lead to.

[WorthlessLoser8]

Is it possible to make these in hexagonal and triangular forms?

[danrisch]

Absolutely amazing potential. If you look at iPhone/iPad (fingers sliding over a glass screen to get things done), it doesn't really make sense as a tool for humans. We are much more used to moving objects and manipulating our physical surroundings to accomplish tasks. I think this fits a lot better with how we're supposed to work, somehow?

[crudhousefull]

Great additional tool for kids to learn

[Grey249]

"here we have a word game that's like a mash-up between Scrabble and Boggle".....or you could just play scrabble or boggle.

[iDaruma]

@Grey249 Wow, yeah, you're right, why make new games ever?

[Nicolasfoto]

Brilliant!!



[timetrippertube]

子供達に遊び方を探させるということは使い道が分からないという­こと。

おそらく子供たちは石ころでも同じ遊びをすると思う。

つまり要らないものかも。

[SergioAMTAS]

2+3=5

*Applause* WHOO!

[angelgacusansantos]

Think about it, Future of mah jong is at hand.

[rebelliouseoagj]

The time has come for Free energy to be revealed ,But the big oil corporations don't want that technology revealed,Go to LT-MAGNET-MOTORdotCOM and get the blueprints for a genuine magnet motor ,Let the revolution begin!

[gendalfff]

It would be nice to realize the old game "Alchemy" in this toy blocks

[iYrock]

How do you switch from application to application?

[sudhindra1379]

Superb...My cousin is working with Siftables...Cooolll...

[HaunterV]

my only concern is battery and battery life

[HaunterV]

@variablast agreed.... hexes and triangles!!

[HaunterV]

i want an entire room where the walls are nothing but siftables

[effesei]

This is the future!

great!

I want them all!!

[kre8again]

you mean add little wheels to these thisng? lol

[8legsFreak]

Brilliant. It would be a valuable educational tool for preschool, and elementary school, with a little tinkering we could use it to teach not only math and how to write/spell but also basics of science and other stuff.

Also, other versions should be made, like little cubes with screens on all sides and lego-like blocks, that could be joined together.

[kre8again]

right on, this is a solution waiting for the problem to be applied.

[TheCheesePants]

Any idea on when we will be able to buy these?

[HaunterV]

@TheCheesePants they are just proptotypes almost just ideas really... the good thing is that they raised 9 million dollars towards further investment into development.

[wickedinsight]

nothing new really, i wrote an article back in high school 1991 about mini computer blocks with sensors and cpu that are capable of computing and processing data just like a computer, its just a mini computer with censors, anyhow good job for creating it.

[crazymoffo]

omg that is absolutely amazing

[meph1980]

Sir, you are a genius! I salute you.

[softy1000]

WOW...that is so creative!!! :D

[Keanworking]

If everyone take a larger one, we do not need iphone anymore. Just take a square, u can play and contact with people anywhere.

[mikeroephonics]

@Keanworking I'm not sure why you got thumbs down for your idea. Competition is good for the consumer, and a quality product/service A, that is cheaper and better than product/service B (better is relative, and also a function of many variables, relative to the product and/or service.) in the mind of the consumer, A > B.

To those who disagree, here is a tasteful response

/watch?v=gDW_Hj2K0wo:

[variablog]

You know, it is all fun, games, and laughter, until a formative opportunity has passed and the end of the day comes and you haven't retessellated a goddamn thing. That's all I'm saying here.

[logelog]

what a B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T !!!!

it's yet another game powered by an external computer software.

the world can stay as good/bad it is today without this marketing crap.

at the end of the day, every interface is as simple/complex as it's designer.

go spend your money somewhere else, let your kid play basketball or chess...

and most importantly, get real friends beyond the flickering screen (or dosen screens).

[citysnidget]

I want to play with these so bad.

[jericsevilla]

i love this idea. just hate the name.

[calvinkleinmba]

cool but useless

[shwerns]

useless yet

[Narwal88]

Not useless at all. The application is already in many video games and computer screens.

But I guess you have to have the proper imagination to figure out how to apply these things.

Imagine therapy for people with brain damage, or applications in environments where someone is trapped underground.. it would help if the computer knew which way is up. No?

[lfiesta2001]

that guy is worth marrying!!! :-))

Amazing application of technology...Bravo!

[AcidRain64]

This is incredible technology, and the potential uses for these kinds of applications are vast. I'm so excited to see this stuff finally being done!

[Dhragonfly]

crazy stuff..

[HuckleberrySlim]

god kids just get luckier all the time. and so do we. :)

[BdizzleFaReal]

I wish I had this when I was a child.

[meinprague]

amazing stuff!

[hughesmath]

Cool. I envisioned spheres that change color when they touch for the math dots I created. The shapes would go 3-d instead of 2-d, but 2-d would be a good start. Check hughesmath videos.

[crisfnp]

The educational applications of this are amazing. People think in terms of how it will affect them and their work or play, but think of the broader picture and how it can affect children with special needs. It seems to be still in the developmental stages, but I think it shows great promise.

[DarkNeoBahamut]

this is very interesting

[potisagooddrug]

not practical, too expensive and delicate, batteries would need to be replaced often and would be expensive. maybe bill gates's kids

[BaileysBeads]

I think the battery issue could be solved by linking them together and plug them into an adaptor.

[bobojr456]

or wireless recharging...which shud be fairly developed by the time this is mass commercialised (if ever)

[adihrespati]

What do we have to do to be that smart?

[carioca2b]

I can only imagine how much these will cost. I want some!

[ORBITALdst]

Keep a close eye on these. Brilliant applications on the horizon.

[BasilAbdef]

Expensive paperweights.

[newengland72]

I think the point of these is the potential, not what they are currently configured to do.

[Wade764]

well said

[joeshgamespot]

this is so ahead of it time, the uses are endless.

[Dieselspot]

those are sooo awesome

those were probably the least of the capabilites, think what else they could do!

i would definately buy these over a new laptop anyday

[XxToxicChocolatexX]

!

I want some now... that's so cool!

[Funkypotat0]

It makes me wonder how they program these little devices to do each task. Is there a master block that controls everything, or is it from another computer? Also, I fear that as a learning device they may not work very well. The concept of playing with blocks would seem childish and might get old if you use them with, say, teenagers. Plus, they might not be very durable... but who I am to criticize a brand new, revolutionary technology.

[GetMeThere1]

Nice. I liked the music version....

[Guitarguru5301]

This. This. This is just unbelievable so brilliant! Amazing! I love it. I sat through this whole video going "Oh my gosh" I would love some of these.

[adanrom]

I want some I d be so cool

[HigherPlanes]

Oh god. I hope the porn industry doesn't get their hands on these things. The stiffables just sounds too creepy

[danayaulove]

this is so flipping cool... i want some now...

[787Bisurdaddy]

I could see using these as a step sequencer (not in the way that was demonstrated).

The entire video I was thinking "eye candy-type gadget for adults" until he did the music demo. It could make a good control surface for an audio sequencer. It seems like it'd be very easy to arrange and rearrange the blocks to control a sequence.

I really dislike the idea of controlling a filter by tilting a block (there's a reason why synths use knobs).

[rickdg]

The youngest beta tester has demonstrated the flaw in this prototype: unlike blocks, they are essentially two-dimensional.

[searching4knowledge]

This is only the beginning of a new idea. As time goes on they may have three dimensional blocks with each face offering more options. It will probably be all screen, without cheap plastic borders. I bet it'll be touch sensitive and voice responsive and infinitely programmable by the user. The uses are only limited by your imagination.

[rapperyz]

This is potentially cool for kids to learn and be creative~!

[picardout]

yet another 'what we POTENTIALLY could do with this' video. It's cool, but nothing amazing.

[cleetose]

They stole the sounds from a Speak and Spell.

[CanadaGradeEh]

It's neat and it highlights a lot of potential in future computer technology, but it's by no means innovative -- not by today's standards, anyway, what with tools such as Surface around the corner. Still, it's neat thinking what could be possible down the road using tangible computer technology like this.

[maninboots]

This doesn't really amaze me.

It may be used for toys and stuff but he talks like this is a revolutionary way to interact with computers.

The microsoft surface is propably the next step, I think.

[sprichbeeke]

This is soo cool!!!

I especially love the cartoon application.

How wonderful a "toy" !

[scott01019]

these are really cool! i'd buy em :)

[zacharygottlieb]

astounding

[Padgham]

He reminds me of Demetri Martin, but the jokes never unfold.

Excellent idea though!

[0161sweetlikehoney]

That is amazing - I love the interactive cartoon, and the word games.. genuis!!

[pixonu]

Its an idea based on a toy already available, those "people in blocks" game that connect to each other.

Still quite cool tho.

[itiselizabeth]

They are fantastic.

I look forward to their impact on the world.

[ashiamalashia]

This is amazing!

[kausama]

I'd like it for like 2 days, then get bored and play some xbox.

[urcritic]

Brilliant

[trinidadnomad]

amazing i would love to play with those

[wadmm54]

awesome...I love this....

[izovire]

amazing!! I use to think my old Gameboy was top of the line...

[dudgeoh]

Frickin'.

Awesome!

[Skyler827]

Imagine the potential for digital 3-D modeling software... if you guys could make some without the screens so they are 6 sided cubes, they could interact with a computer and you could use them in combination with a mouse and a screen to build houses, buildings, or anything else in any modeling program!

[parkit56]

I was thinking the same thing. It seems the pros/cons are divided along perspective. People see this from an adult or child. Adults seem to always underestimate what can pop out a child's mind, given the tools to do it.

[INUYASHAFANxD]

Whether the idea is old or not, I must say, this is a fantastic invention. Imagine how it could develop...

[1schwererziehbar1]

sorry but all these ideas are at least 10 years old. even the music thing had been implemented a few years ago and there was a youtube video of it.

[dismutased]

That's such a fantastic concept.

I see the possibility of reconciling more traditional academic pursuits with kinetic play. Something which would greatly benefit people who are kinaesthetic learners.

[Jernespand]

This is awesome ! Ideal for teaching/stimulating children.

[reignofhope]

I SEE MONEEZ!!!!! :D

[ebird97]

awesome me want em

[MrVisions]

This is really incredible. its so much better when we use things to expand our minds, and not to kill our neighbors.

[frantnik]

MrVisions you are right, but its in humans nature to expand our minds and learn how to kill our neighbours

[MrVisions]

I don't know if I can agree, but what I can agree on is that the small minds who wish to perpetuate the continued machination of war, also fund the labs that technology such as this is created in. So in reality we should be working on technology to expand the minds of the wealthy.

[BasilAbdef]

The purpose of expanding our minds is to find more efficient and more entertaining ways of subjugating our neighbors.

[ameera14]

very cool

[nasiayam327]

The future of Children and their creativity is once again safely in the hands of the geniuses who really know whats best.

[RyoLittleBigPlanet]

Awesome and very Creative.

[lebasson]

By looks of it, so much more intuitive and fun than Roblocks!

[beckstraordinary]

Sweet.

[int3rl0per]

I want some of those blocks to play with.

They'd open up a whole new world of possibilities for game development and user interaction.

[TEDtalksDirector]

Hi everyone. Thanks for your lovely comments!

A few here seem to find the subtitles distracting. Fortunately, they're easy to turn off! Press the "up" arrow in the bottom right-hand corner of the video player, then click the "CC" button in the menu. Poof!

We'd prefer to keep the subtitles as an option so the deaf community can enjoy this talk, too. :-)

[jkand]

Yes. Keep the subtitles

[digitalmorphine]

I think it's also important to all the people who cannot understand spoken english as well as in text. Like me. :)

[BasilAbdef]

Screw the deaf. Let them rot.

[ArxVirtus]

The subtitles are annoying and unnecessary. Get rid of them please.

[BriskAxe]

Less captions plz.

This is interwebz, not public news.

[P00P0STER0US]

This warms my heart. Technology that teaches and expands.

[sroomer]

WOW amazing product, wonder if it would sell if it;s on the market

[KennyWrites]

Very cool! Any chance you'll Open Source the design for those blocks?

[sisyphusorianus9787]

Now we're finally using 21st century human interface strategies! THIS IS A MUST SEE-- thanks ted for sharing a little slice of history w/us.

[supajive]

i just realized this is stupid, how is this piece of technology gonna be able for me to watch more porn? thats what most ppl do.

[serNevh]

Where there is a will there is a way,

Try the spelling program n a g v i a

or the program where you make objects interact like man, woman and bed.

Or why not some failed maths 1+1=3

I'd say it has its uses even for mature people :P

[theiamania]

lol that is so true

[supajive]

it must have subtitles cuz he isnt an american. damn canadians.

[HugoFuckYourself]

lol. nice teaze

[ki6eki]

i would buy these..

[VonSchnutze]

lol i just sent this to you, then i see yor comment 44 secs ago

[variablog]

You know, Von, I bet these come out without hexagons or triangles.

Unless you have insider info, I'd stake a box of children's blocks against 10 dollars that nothing but a bunch of damn squares comes out of this.

[VonSchnutze]

And a potentially great tool will be lost to boredom.

My luck is so bad, I'm tempted to take your bet in hopes it remains consistent.

[kniehk]

Very very impressive.

[chunkybutt420]

little kid at 4:20 is a bears fan DA BEARS

[TomPaineII]

WOW, i sill have to remove my jaw from the floor. AWESOME

[priceandpride]

amazing

[morelshaman]

Another way to make people less creative & less intelligent.

Why would anyone take the required time to learn how to paint or sculpt or play piano or drums if they have a shortcut with these interactive blocks?

They are amazing & would be helpful for persons w/ disabilities because they would bridge those w/ more intractable problems. But if the general public had these 'tools' we would more speedily become helpless adjuncts to computers & robots.

[excelgeo]

i totally disagree

[xinlo]

on the contrary, it could serve as a beginning to composition of music in early years. just throwing that out there

[XxKiprotichxX]

It doesn't make you 'more' lazy it makes you less.

Why be limited to one song when you can create millions?

And you don't just have to click twice.

[morelshaman]

I knew i would be misunderstood - i was amazed to find out that my comment would be censored.

I will try to be more disciplined - which is the point. These blocks require NO DISCIPLINE. That may be an attractive feature for most undisciplined persons. But anyone who has actually done art of value, that does not come easily - it comes from discipline - some would even say it takes sacrifice.

whomever wishes to argue may contact me through messaging on YT, but my opinion is valid even if it riles.

[xenoxwolp]

Maybe they can teach kids how to spell out words!

[morelshaman]

Did i misspell some word?

I rechecked my comments & they seem to be fairly accurately written English.

[torthetramp1]

no that sentanse seams prety good two.

[slLLyhumans]

holy crap !

[guitarguy93]

A good set for around $160? Small price to pay for creative learning and exploration.

[OcularStream]

man how could you NOT be willing to spend that much money on such an amazing innovation...

lmao, besides it's not like the price wouldn't go down, but I'd be surprised if they'd be that inexpensive.

[43jzcoz22]

I was thinking the same thing about the price going down after some time. The laptop was expensive when it came out, too, but now you can buy some for less than 1K. This is cool! 5*

[McAlaMode]

That is amazing

[BolognaX]

lol

[surGeonGG]

Awesome

[williamjberry3]

amazing

[WARDOG1138]

I want those for our DJ rigs!

[0xXEliXx0]

I LOVE TED

[allucanbeat]

perfect mix of old and new!

[Towedwart]

Practically limitless applications. Ridiculously awesome.

[Colby2x]

AWSOME

[phenixwryter]

Fantastic. Kids absorb information like a sponge. So long flash cards. : )

[somecreativeads]

this is awesome

[sisforshayla]

siftables...not only the size of a cookie but sounds like a cookie too, hehe. cool idea.

[ForzaInternazionale9]

Probably costs a lot though.

[Katalyzt]

That is beyond cool!!!  ★★★★★

Katalyzt

[Mastikator]

Holy awesomeness! O_O

[GOAQ]

Brilliant.

Didn't like the name "Siftables" but i think it grew on me as the video progressed.

Did like the "speak &spell" samples.

Curious as to how cheap these could be made and the restrictions on processing limit & quantity of blocks that can interact at any one time.

[semsemalex]

Awesome idea.......very impresive...

[HiAdrian]

Hehe, how nice!

[OcularStream]

unbelievable, truly ground-breaking concepts and designs... I'll be sure to feature this on my channel and bring it to the attention of my friends ^.-

OS

[kingkrankSPW]

hmm the music part was pretty amazeing.

[eddielcarrete]

now that's impressive, i can think of many ways in which my kid and even I can learn and enjoy it, I specially liked the scrabble game, this is hopping that this idea makes it out of the prototype stage and it actually goes into production. although when this makes it out there it's going to be expensive since it's a new technology, so to speak.

[qpwnsall]

too bad the kindergarden kids that play with them will never appreciate the amazing complexity inside them.

[intrepgun]

i think you're missing something pretty important here. they WILL appreciate the amazing complexity of them- in time. because the blocks themselves can be used in different ways. imagine buying your kid a package of X amount of those blocks. as a baby, they're just blocks. babies play with blocks. as they get older, their purpose changes. teaching letters, numbers, creating stories. a LOT can be done with this idea.

[adolthitler]

Yeah monkey see monkey do.

What will happen when those kids are given a demo?

[intrepgun]

what you should ask is what will happen when kids are given the ability to use the medium as they see fit.

[TheGoldenWaffle]

They wont have to. As children will play with these, they will begin to realize that "they" are in countrol of what happens to the blocks when you use them. In turn, this will hopefully make children smarter by giving them choices, and letting them experiment, e.g. there could be a game where the child would have to recreate a color shown on another block.

I love this invention.

Awesome idea, 5/5

[winny87]

they'll live their lives with them and take the technology for granted the way that most people take the complexity in a car or tv screen or even a computer.

[intrepgun]

they'll only take it for granted if you let them. that's more about the perversity of our culture than it is about the technology.

[Solthiel]

That's a good thing. To take a thing for granted is to become adapted to it so you may improve upon it. Let us take all things for granted so that we may devise their future.

[winny87]

solthiel, i think you said what i failed to say.

[Rookey34]

Incredible