This is one of those breakthrough ideas you have in a lifetime: Siftables. This is Human Computer Interface like you never seen before. The first time I saw this video, my jaw dropped, so I had to watch it again. As an appetizer, here is what they say at the TED website:

MIT grad student David Merrill demos Siftables -- cookie-sized, computerized tiles you can stack and shuffle in your hands. These future-toys can do math, play music, and talk to their friends, too. Is this the next thing in hands-on learning?

Watch the video and start thinking about the possibilities: