A Google search revealed a website Merge Miniverse (URL: miniverse.io) which was created by Merge Labs. A page titled ‘Merge Cube Experiences’ displayed 30 apps which worked with the Merge Cube. Of the 30 apps, 15 were free and 15 were available for purchase. Prices ranged from $0.99 to $8.99. Since the device I would be using was an iPhone I visited the Apple App Store with the goal to find at least three apps which were self-identified as educational and free to download. I searched the term ‘merge cube’ which generated a list of several apps. Many apps seen on the Merge Miniverse site were found in the search results. The only iOS apps that were self-identified as educational were available for a fee. I chose three free apps that I determined to be most aligned with educational value as opposed to those centered around game play or novelty. These apps were TH!NGS for MERGE Cube, Moment AR, and Merge Object Viewer.

While this review does not center upon the apps themselves, their functionality plays an important role in the view of the Merge Cube. It is necessary that they deliver some level of substantive content in order to determine the Cube’s functionality and quality of interactive experience. The first app explored was TH!NGS for MERGE Cube. After just a few touches of the device screen I was able to begin interacting with the cube. One model offering was titled Holo Body which displayed an AR model of a human skull and a human heart. I chose this because it fell into the vein of education. Moving the cube in space allowed for the easy manipulation of the AR model. Even though the model was ‘anchored’ to the cube it did not adversely affect its quality or ability to adjust the angle in which it was viewed through the device. The second app, Moment AR, worked very well with the Merge Cube allowing for AR models to be easily accessed and viewed. This app is designed to help children with special needs identify feelings and emotions through engaging with unique characters that represent feelings and emotions. The final app was Merge Object Viewer. Merge Object Viewer offers an immense catalog of AR models separated into ‘Collections’. Collections encompass educational content to include Ancient Egypt, Cells, Engines, Fossils, and Space Science, among others. Many include more than one dozen models. The Merge Cube worked extremely well with this app. AR models were quickly accessible and able to be manipulated and point of view adjusted.