A small cube fits in a socket. The user removes the cube, rotates it, and puts it back in the socket in a different orientation. The computer senses the new orientation, probably through sensors in the socket, and rotates an object on screen to match the rotation done to the cube.
Square socket with cube lying on its face. Upside-down pyramidal socket with cube lying on its vertex, analogous to isometric projection. Other polyhedra are possible, even sphere, although a sphere probably too easily accidentally rolls away.
A cube with rounded corners and edges would be easier to turn.
More interestingly, remote sensors could track the orientation of the cube in real time, as opposed to just when it is in its socket.
Original motivation was an input device for a virtual Rubik's cube. The other hand selects what layer to turn. However, it doesn't seem like this proposed device can be manipulated rapidly in the style of speedcubing.
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