User:MyoomKaizer/sandbox

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A fidget cube

The Fidget Cube is a small fidget toy in the shape of a cube featuring different fidget tools on every side; five buttons, a joystick, a switch, a worry stone, gears, a rolling ball (marble) and a spinning disk. The product was designed by two brothers: Matthew and Mark McLachlan, founders of Antsy Labs, a design studio based in Colorado.[1] Fidget cubes rose to become a trend in 2016 due to its initial appeal towards office workers spreading out across various demographics.[2]

While the standard design originated as a six-sided cube, there have been other variations and knockoffs in other shapes as well. Examples include; a dodecagon, a bolt, a spinner cube and a controller pad.

The toy was marketed as an all-purpose fidgeting tool to assist with focus, stress relief and mental health. There have been claims that it helps with ADHD, in addition to autism and anxiety.[3]

History[edit]

In 2012, the Fidget Cube was first designed by the McLachlan brothers for four years along with dozens of prototypes. The brothers stated that the designs was meant to fit on any given desk. Pens were cited as one of the toy's major inspirations.[4]

The Fidget Cube was put up as a Kickstarter campaign in August of 2016. The project raised over $6.5 million dollars donated from 155,000 backers. Certain articles have attributed the success of the kickstarting project to 'The Fidget Cube removing shame from fidgeting'.[5] Production began in the November of that same year, with the final finished products shipping out in December.[6]

The Product's success created a popularity boom and a new market for variations of the same product to appear, all targeted towards children with focus problems. Consequently, this gave rise to the fidget spinner in 2017.

After its initial 2016 launch, the fidget cube has since dwindled in popularity. Many articles speculates what could have been the causes for its decline, but there never any consensus on the true reason.[7]

Usage[edit]

The Fidget Cube was advertised as a desk or office toy targeted towards everyone who fidget during miscellaneous activities. The toy was marketed as a 'toolbox' that encompasses every kind of fidgeting habits for any demographic.

In the Kickstarter campaign, the project was advertised opposing fidgeting's negative stigma, with the brothers providing articles that supported fidgeting as a benefit to a person's focus on either their work or study related activities rather than a hindrance.[8] One such study claims fidgeting can aid people, with ADHD or not, with stimulating the brain when searching for answers 'on the tip-of-their-tongue' by relegating irrelevant thoughts into finger movements.[9][10] However, results regarding the cube's effectiveness for long terms has been inconclusive and professionals have stated that the fidget cube should only be considered a 'short-term solution'.[3][11][12]

Mechanics[edit]

Six different fidget tools on six different sides of the Fidget Cube.

A standard Fidget Cube takes the shape of a six sided cube with six different fidget tools on every side. All cubes manufactured by the original McLachlan brothers feature the following tools;

  • Click (five buttons): 3 clicking buttons and 2 silenced buttons to click
  • Glide (a joystick): a small joystick to glide
  • Flip (a switch): a standard on-off switch to flip
  • Breathe (a worry stone): an indent to place your finger on and breathe
  • Roll (gears and a rolling ball): three gears and a marble to roll
  • Spin (a spinning disk): a spinning disk dial to spin

Variations[edit]

Following the Fidget Cube's popularity, variations of the same concept emerge onto the market. There were many variations that took the form of fidget tools not present on the original product. Over half of 'Fidget Cube' variants differentiate itself from the original product by being molded different shapes entirely. Such examples include; a gaming pad, a ball, a dodecagon, a spinner and a gear.[13]

One popular variation, the fidget spinner, eventually became a trend in the year 2017, mostly in younger or teen demographics.

See also[edit]

Reception[edit]

In a positive review, The Verge described the cube as, "basically a baby toy for adults".[14]

After its 2016 Kickstarter campaign, the Fidget Cube ranked tenth on the highest-funded crowdfunding projects.[15][16][17][18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Get the Original Fidget Cube and Other Great Fidget Toys". Antsy Labs. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  2. ^ "Fidget Cube for restless workers rocks Kickstarter, attracts gobs of money". CNET. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  3. ^ a b "Fidget toys for anxiety: Do they work?". www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  4. ^ Williamson, Justin (2018-07-21). "Kickstarter Review: Fidget Cube by Antsy Labs". Medium. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  5. ^ Stone, Zara. "How The Fidget Cube Raised $6.4 Million And Entered Kickstarter's Top 10 Most Funded Projects". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  6. ^ Tucker, Julie (2019-04-09). "How crowdfunding helped create the Fidget Cube". Headspace. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. ^ Berning, Jack. "Fidget Cube – Where is it now?". www.crowdcrux.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. ^ "Squirm with purpose: Fidgeting is helpful for ADHD patients, study shows". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  9. ^ "Ask Healthy Living: Why Do We Fidget?". HuffPost. 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  10. ^ "Squirm with purpose: Fidgeting is helpful for ADHD patients, study shows". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  11. ^ "Your Guide To Anxiety Fidget Toys". Forbes Health. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  12. ^ Croley, Kelsi E.; Drevon, Daniel D.; Decker, Dawn M.; Hixson, Michael D.; Radley, Keith C. (2023-06-01). "The Effect of the Fidget Cube on Classroom Behavior among Students with Perceived Attention Difficulties". Behavior Analysis in Practice. 16 (2): 547–557. doi:10.1007/s40617-022-00734-4. ISSN 2196-8934. PMC 9388206. PMID 35999944.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
  13. ^ Focusfied; Kris (2017-05-02). "List of 11 types and styles of Fidget Cube". Focusfied.com. Empower and Conquer self. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  14. ^ Bohn, Dieter (February 7, 2017). "The Fidget Cube is basically a baby toy for adults and I love it". The Verge. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  15. ^ Kuchera, Ben (12 September 2016). "Fidgeters made this toy one of Kickstarter's most successful campaigns". Polygon.com.
  16. ^ Guzman, Zack (30 January 2017). "This 24-year-old made $345,000 in 2 months by beating Kickstarters to market". cnbc.com.
  17. ^ Griner, David (September 14, 2016). "The Story Behind Fidget Cube, the $4 Million Phenomenon You Didn't Know You Needed". Adweek.
  18. ^ Kuchera, Ben (2017-01-03). "The Fidget Cube hit with shipping delays as knockoffs flood market". Polygon. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
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