What device do you get when you mix a Rubik’s cube and a handheld gaming system? You get CubiOs Inc’s WOWCube!
The innovative Rubik’s cube was imagined by 12-year-old Savva Osipov and created by his dad Ilya Osipov a computer scientist and inventor whose hobby is designing mechanical puzzles. One day, Savva said to his dad: “Wouldn’t it be cool if each square on a Rubik’s Cube was actually a tiny screen?” Ilya knew straight away it was a great idea and started building the prototype.
After four years, the Osipovs developed a workable version of the concept, calling it the WOWCube. On October 9, 2020, the WOWCube won the Muse Design Awards 2020 as a Platinum Winner in Product Design.
Using an integrated iOS/Android app, users can load different games into the device via Bluetooth. Various games have already been developed for the WOWCube system, such as mazes, puzzles, word games, and arcade-style games. It has an open API (application programming interface) for third-party developers to create their own games if desired. The games are played by twisting, tilting, and shaking the device.
However, the WOWCube isn’t just for games. When you let it out of your hands, it goes into the screensaver mode showing widgets or playing an animated wallpaper (acting as ambient décor). It can also display photos, time, date, weather, air quality, and so on.
CubiOs Inc explains:
It is a one-of-a-kind device in the shape of a cube made of 8 separate cubicle modules connected to each other. Each module is a separate device with three high-resolution screens and a CPU inside. It allows playing video games that run on all 24 screens covering six sides of the device simultaneously and opens up opportunities to interact with the digital world as if it’s a real object — by twisting the console, shaking and tilting.
The WOWCube measures 70 by 70 mm on each side and weighs 335 g (11.8 oz). One charge of its 4,320-mAh lithium-ion battery is allegedly good for eight hours of use. Should you be interested, CubiOs Inc is taking pre-orders for the $249 gaming device and expect shipping to start by the end of this year.
