Tangible Play intends to bridge the disconnect from the virtual world and the real world by coming up with three different game sets which will work with corresponding apps for the iPad. There is the Newton game which is a drawing app, Words that works like Scrabble, and Tangram – which is self-explanatory as it functions like any other old fashioned Tangram game.
These games will be accompanied by physical toys in a range of colors which in turn are connected to the application on the iPad in real time. The moment the companion app is downloaded to complement the games, a tiny mirror-like device is clipped onto the iPad’s camera, allowing it to reflect the surface where the game is being played on at a 90-degrees angle. This camera will be able to depict the full motions on its own display, while reflecting the player’s own movements as well. Right now, the Osmo app as it is called, is being crowdfunded, with sets being available for pre-order at $49 a pop. Expect Osmo to play nice with the iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini and iPad Mini Retina.