i stands for ‘eye’, the sound it makes. Because the DSi has two cameras, like eyes themselves, the DSi was given the small ‘i’ to reference the cameras.
It stands for individual since the customization for each console makes each completely individual. Here’s the article I pulled that from:
“According to Gamepro (and paraphrased by Kotaku), the “i” is supposed to carry connotations of individuality. In other words, thanks to its extensive customization options and built-in camera, no two DSi’s will ever be exactly alike.
David Young from Nintendo of America elaborated at a DSi launch party at Universal Studios:
”The DSi is really about the ‘individual’ gamers. For instance, the Wii console is really meant to be a shared experience for families and friends, where even while you can share pictures and share the fun with multiplayer on the DSi, it’s really designed to be an individual experience. My DSi is going to be different from your DSi — it’s going to have my pictures, my music and my DSiWare, so it’s going to be very personalized, and that’s sort of the idea of the Nintendo DSi. [It's] for all of the users to personalize their gaming experience and make it their own.” “
i stands for ‘eye’, the sound it makes. Because the DSi has two cameras, like eyes themselves, the DSi was given the small ‘i’ to reference the cameras.
And, if it helps, DS means ‘Dual Screen’
DS stands for dual screen (two screens)
The lower-case “i” character in DSi is symbolic of its two cameras representing an “eye” and also the subject “I” and its personal individuality.
DS= dual screen
i= 2 eyes (cameras)
Your mom will be very happy if you tell her it is nothing more than Nintendo rebranding a product to separate it from the model that came before it.
The “i” doesn’t stand for anything, just like the i in iPod.
Interactive (others say “improved”)
It stands for individual since the customization for each console makes each completely individual. Here’s the article I pulled that from:
“According to Gamepro (and paraphrased by Kotaku), the “i” is supposed to carry connotations of individuality. In other words, thanks to its extensive customization options and built-in camera, no two DSi’s will ever be exactly alike.
David Young from Nintendo of America elaborated at a DSi launch party at Universal Studios:
”The DSi is really about the ‘individual’ gamers. For instance, the Wii console is really meant to be a shared experience for families and friends, where even while you can share pictures and share the fun with multiplayer on the DSi, it’s really designed to be an individual experience. My DSi is going to be different from your DSi — it’s going to have my pictures, my music and my DSiWare, so it’s going to be very personalized, and that’s sort of the idea of the Nintendo DSi. [It's] for all of the users to personalize their gaming experience and make it their own.” “