TileToy programmable LED blocks

Since working on the periphery of the consumer electronics biz can be quite a stressful gig (witness the Aeron chair reps scramble to secure their wares at CES when Steve Ballmer is spotted nearby, or Ed Zander's handlers start to sweat when someone asks a provoking iPod question), we're always the first to throw down that new product press release and distract ourselves with some old-fashioned game play. And since this is Engadget, we prefer playing open source games where we not only make up our own rules but get to build the actual pieces to boot. With that in mind, it's no surprise that we were pretty stoked to discover Tuomo Tammenpää and Daniel Blackburn's prototype TileToy modular LED block system. Each 2-inch square block is covered on one face by a user-programmable LED array that can change its display based on information from adjoining blocks, making for endless gaming possibilities as well as a great way to prank little kids taking an IQ test. Don't head out to ToysRUs just yet, though: these blocks are still in the prototype stage, although the TileToy website contains pictures of the build process for those adept at assembling complex devices without the benefit of written instructions.

[Via Boing Boing]

[Fantaz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Brilliant! I can just imagine using this to teach math to my students. 1+1=2!

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I think wooden blocks will be far cheaper... ;-)

[Stoneman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Finally I can spell PORN instead of PR0N.

[Bible and Apologetics Teacher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I still think imagination can do a lot more than open-source software and some LEDs can.

[Wry Cooter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

If those are 2 inch cubes, that hand model must get a lot of fast food ad jobs (and not many consumer electronic jobs). He must be 4 feet tall, if normally proportioned.