Rubik’s Tactile Cube Puzzle Lets Blind People Join in the Frustration

Posted on 23/06/2020 by Paul Strauss

As much fun as it is to play with a Rubik’s Cube, it can also be quite frustrating if you don’t know the proper algorithms to use to solve it. There are countless videos and reference materials which show you how to solve the puzzle, though they assume that you can actually see the colors.

This special 3×3 Rubik’s Cube upgrades the standard color cubes with special tactile versions, so you can solve the puzzle even if you have a visual impairment.

Made by Winning Moves Games, the Rubik’s Tactile Cube matches up each color with an embossed shape that can be easily discerned with your fingertips. Blue is represented by a single solid dot, red is an open square, yellow is a grid of dots, orange is an X, green is an open circle, and white has no surface texture. Not only does this add a new dimension to the Rubik’s Cube, it opens the puzzle up to people who have limited or no sight. Of course, you can put on a blindfold or attempt to solve it in complete darkness too.

The Rubik’s Tactile Cube sells for $14.99, but is on sale for just $10.97 over on Amazon as of this writing. It’s a great idea, and a fun new spin on a classic puzzle.

You’ll Never Solve This Rubik’s Cube Toilet Paper Dispenser

Posted on 19/05/2020 by Paul Strauss

Some people like to use their time on the toilet to read books or surf social media on their phone, while others use it to solve crossword puzzles. But I’ve never heard of someone trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while sitting on the pot. While you could just stick a regular Rubik’s Cube in your bathroom, this unofficial Rubik’s Cube toilet paper dispenser would make for a more permanent fixture.

The only problem I see with getDigital’s colorful toilet paper dispenser is that its cubes don’t turn. And no, you can remove the stickers and rearrange them either. So there’s an exactly 0.0% chance that you’ll ever solve this Rubik’s Cube. Though to be honest, that’s not much worse than my odds with the actual puzzle. On the flip side, you’ll never have to worry about which direction the toilet paper should hang off of the roll with this thing, since it only has one place for the paper to exit. First world problem solved!

Rubik’s Cube fans and 1980s kids can grab this toilet paper dispenser over on Amazon for $26.99. Now if only you could find some toilet paper to put inside of it.

Squishy Rubik’s Cube could help patients monitor their health

Posted on 13/08/2019 by Engadget RSS Feed

The squishy Rubik's Cube-like object created by a team of chemists from the US and China is more than just a puzzle toy you can play with. They used sticky self-healing hydrogel to make the 3 x 3 x 3 cube. That material causes each small cube to stic...

AI learns to solve a Rubik’s Cube in 1.2 seconds

Posted on 17/07/2019 by Engadget RSS Feed

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have created an artificial intelligence system that can solve a Rubik's Cube in an average of 1.2 seconds in about 20 moves. That's two seconds faster than the current human world record of 3.47 sec...

This Custom Rubik’s Cube Is Held Together with Magnets

Posted on 17/02/2019 by Conner Flynn

The Rubik’s Cube has been exciting and entertaining geeks for many years now. But maybe the design is due for an upgrade. That’s why puzzle expert Tom Parker has been working on a Rubik’s-inspired cube with a unique magnetic design.

Tom’s 3D-printed cube ditches the traditional rotating and sliding mechanism of the original cube, replacing it with magnets. It looks like this actually makes moving the segments a bit easier. I guess it also makes cheating easier too since you can just take each piece out and put it back the way you want. Check out the video and see for yourself how cool it is.

It comes apart in sections very nicely if you pull it. You would think it would just fall apart as you twist it, but it doesn’t. Turning seems much more fluid, so I bet this would be great for competitions. But what do I know? I’m just a dude who will never ever solve one of these things. Cool build, Tom!

[via HackADay]

Finally, a Rubik’s Cube That Solves Itself

Posted on 25/09/2018 by Conner Flynn

We’ve watched many a nerd solve a Rubik’s Cube in like 4 seconds flat and we’ve also seen our share of robots that can solve it quickly as well. But until now, a Rubik’s Cube has never been able to solve itself. Hell, humans can’t even solve themselves, which is why there are so many buttholes out there. This robotic Rubik’s Cube is filled with electronics and motors making it a puzzle that solves itself. Does this mean it’s alive?

The self-solving cube needs no assistance – aside from a human messing it up before it starts. It was created by hardware hacker “Human Controller.” It can’t solve a puzzle that was pre-scrambled though – it just records the moves a human makes, then undoes them.

Despite the stuff crammed inside that creates the magic, it is the exact same dimensions as the cubes that you and I throw at the wall in frustration.

So how did he squeeze all of the electronics, motors, wiring, and batteries inside? Well, that called for a custom 3D-printed core, but and unique versions of the individual cube sections that can twist and rotate.

It’s pretty weird watching a Rubik’s Cube solve itself. This makes it much smarter than me. It may not be the fastest at solving the puzzle, but this thing IS the puzzle, so you can’t beat that really.

[via IEEE Spectrum via Gizmodo]

This Rubik’s Cube Has People’s Faces Instead of Colors

Posted on 27/03/2018 by Conner Flynn

Rubik’s Cubes are way too easy for today’s nerds to solve, what with their simple colors on each side and all, so we need to make things harder for them. People (and robots) are solving these puzzles in a couple of seconds now. Putting monochrome images on each cube seems like it might make things a little harder. That’s what Japanese artist Kensuke Koike did. He built a unique Rubik’s Cube that uses photos of people’s faces, instead of colors.

He should have called it “The Picasso” since it jumbles faces up. Since it’s still just a 3x3x3 cube, I’m sure this won’t slow brainy nerds down at all, but it makes me feel better to think so because I can’t solve a flat one-sided Rubik’s Cube.

Anyway, if you want to make it really hard for people to solve one of these cubes, we need each of those tiny face sections to individually turn as well. That would stop puzzle geeks dead in their tracks. I would build something like that, but that requires me to be as smart as them and if I was that smart, I wouldn’t be so jealous and want to build one in the first place. You see the conundrum right? Stupid smart people.

[via Laughing Squid]

2 X 2 Rubik’s Cube Made out of Cheddar Cheese: Solve, Then Eat

Posted on 01/03/2018 by Conner Flynn

When I was a kid, solving a Rubik’s Cube was tough. Only geniuses could do it. The rest of us had to learn cheats just so we could look smart. These days it seems everyone is solving these puzzles with ease. They are even making their own. And sometimes they are made out of some really weird materials. Here’s Rubik’s cubist Tony Fisher demonstrating a very edible 2 x 2 Rubik’s Cube he made out of cheddar cheese.

I have to say, he did a gouda job. I would have gotten feta up with it halfway through. Since it is cheese we are talking about here, he had to use colored thumbtacks to identify the sides. Hope no one ate it thinking they were edible. The only problem with this cube is that the more you turn it, the more cheese crumbs end upon the floor. No problem if you have animals. My cats would love it if I played with this cube.

Some might say it’s cheesy to use cheddar in this build. It’s not that Tony is anti-brie, he’s just pro-volone. See, now the cheese jokes are out of hand. I admit it, I’m a real muenster! Maybe a gorgon… zola that is!

[via Laughing Squid via Geekologie]

This Rubik’s Cube Candle Is Only for True Masochists

Posted on 04/02/2018 by Paul Strauss

When I was a kid, solving a Rubik’s Cube was considered an extremely difficult task for most. These days, there are armies of kids who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in seconds. So now they’ve moved on to increasingly more complex cubes to add to the challenge. But puzzle guru Tony Fisher has another idea to make solving even a standard 3x3x3 cube far more difficult. Light it on fire.

What you’re looking at here is an unusual Rubik’s Cube which has been made from candle wax. It’s got wicks in many of the cubes, but also some which are unlit so you at least have a slight chance of being able to solve the puzzle without burning the skin off of your fingertips.

Even with just some of the wicks lit, I’m amazed that Tony was able to solve the puzzle before it melted down into a pile of mush, and that he still has all of his fingers intact. Needless to say, don’t try this at home.

Two Guys Solve Five Rubik’s Cubes While Juggling

Posted on 27/12/2017 by Conner Flynn

There are nerds and then there are NERDS. These nerds are some kind of super-nerd wizards with amazing powers. They are out-nerding all of the nerdiest nerds. The proof is in the video below, in which Ravi Fernando and Nick Thomas solve five Rubik’s Cubes while juggling. I see great potential for a nerd circus to evolve from this act… and I want to be the ringleader.

Watch as these guys each solve cubes one-handed while passing three more cubes with their other hand. Marvel as they finish each cube, then switch it out and start the next one. Step right up and see this amazing feat of geek! For their next act, they will perform a daring Star Wars vs. Star Trek debate, while solving and juggling ten Rubik’s Cubes as William Shatner and Mark Hamill also debate standing between them! It’s gonna be a great show. Call me guys, we can set this up. I’ll only take 10% of the ticket sales.

These guys are way more talented than I will ever be at both solving Rubik’s Cubes and juggling. They have a real future in all kinds of puzzle solving sports.

[via Geekologie]

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Tag Archives: rubik’s cube

Rubik’s Tactile Cube Puzzle Lets Blind People Join in the Frustration

You’ll Never Solve This Rubik’s Cube Toilet Paper Dispenser

Squishy Rubik’s Cube could help patients monitor their health

AI learns to solve a Rubik’s Cube in 1.2 seconds

This Custom Rubik’s Cube Is Held Together with Magnets

Finally, a Rubik’s Cube That Solves Itself

This Rubik’s Cube Has People’s Faces Instead of Colors

2 X 2 Rubik’s Cube Made out of Cheddar Cheese: Solve, Then Eat

This Rubik’s Cube Candle Is Only for True Masochists

Two Guys Solve Five Rubik’s Cubes While Juggling

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