Magic Balls

Yo Eliazar,

I’m pretty sure your ‘Magic Ball’ is a ripoff of this http://hoberman.com/fold/Switchkick/switchkick.htm>

Chuck Hoberman is a mathematician with a penchat for creating really cool structures. At some point he started making toys out of them and this is one of the results. Hes also done lots of sculpture and architecture. In his case it might be tough to tell the difference!

-Josh

PS your submit button looks grayed out. You should adjust the colors.

Josh! I’m lucky to have you as a guide to industrial design (did I tell you my little sister’s just starting an industrial design major herself?). You’re certainly right about the magic balls (though they’re a ripoff of the Switch Pitch, not the Switch Kick) and thanks a lot for pointing me to the original source. (Some of the balls I bought shamelessly steal the brand name too. ←)

The Hoberman’s Switch Kick, though awfully expensive (of course!), is the one that grabbed my attention. It seems to be made of foam and looks much better engineered. I wanted to order it, but apparently they won’t ship to Mexico at the only place I found it in stock: ePartyUnlimited, “the [shabby!] leader in innovative party supplies for entertainment lifestyles.” It seems the ball didn’t make it as a toy, I can’t find it at any online toystore (kids just don’t enjoy it on as many levels as I do ;)

(Submit button fixed—thanx!)