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technology (Page 44)

Forget 3D, Nagoya Movie Theater Goes 4D With Moving Seats, Wind, Smells

Jessica
Apr 11, 2013
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Japanese cinema chain Korona World has announced that it will be opening the country’s first full-body, immersive “4D” movie theater in Nagoya on the 26th of this month.

According to the company, the theater will be equipped with 4DX technology, a system developed in South Korea that adds motion, humidity, aromas, strobes, bubbles and other effects to the standard audio and video experience. Read More

Japan
(movies • technology • wtf)

SRF’s Earthquake Protection Strips Give New Meaning to “Band-Aid Solution”

Master Blaster
Mar 22, 2013

Dr. Shunichi Igarashi has surprised even himself with his line of Super Reinforcement with Flexibility (SRF) technology. SRF basically involves wrapping the columns and walls of building in adhesive strips.

The idea of gluing fabric on a building to protect it from the sheer force of an earthquake doesn’t sound very comforting. However, when Dr. Igarashi’s SRF was put to the test in the Great Tohoku Earthquake on 11 March, 2011, it passed with flying colors.

Japan
(earthquake • safety • technology)

Forget Filthy Fingers, Soon Your Smartphone Can Check Your Pulse Just by Looking at You

Master Blaster
Mar 20, 2013

Fujitsu Labs recently announced it is finalizing technology which lets you check and monitor your pulse just by pointing a camera at your face. The company claims results can be achieved in as little as five seconds and doesn’t require complicated procedures or extra equipment.

The technology is compatible with ordinary smartphones as well as tablets, laptops, or desktops as long as they’re equipped with a camera.

Japan
(health • pulse • smartphone • technology)

You Asked for It and Now It’s Here: See-Through Paper! You Did Ask for It, Right?

Master Blaster
Mar 20, 2013

On 18 March an announcement was made that shook the world of manufacturing. For centuries man has had to endure white paper for writing down notes, works of art, or fake telephone numbers from girls met in the bar.

Sure, there was the development of colored paper, but that’s just putting lipstick on a pig. The real innovation will come in the not too distant future when we will be able to enjoy paper the way it was truly meant to be – nearly invisible!

Think of the applications! Seriously, think about it, because we had to for a really long time.

Japan
(paper • science • technology • transparent)

Creepy Robotic Cat Ear Maker Neurowear Releases Mindreading Headphones That Play Music Based on Your Mood

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Mar 16, 2013

Are you tired of combing through iTunes or Pandora in search of the perfect song? Well you’re in luck! Now your headphones can read your mind and select the exact playlist to suit your mood.

Japan
(headphones • Japanese inventions • mind-controlled • music • necomimi • neurowear • technology)

Darth Vader Head Planetarium Lulls You to Sleep Then Haunts Your Dreams

Mike
Mar 13, 2013

Some people like a little white noise or some relaxing music to help them sleep, but for us, sleep just won’t come unless there are epic sci-fi space battles playing out above our heads. Maybe we have a bizarrely specific type of sleep disorder.

Japan
(Darth Vader • space • Star Wars • technology)

Tokyo University Students Develop Simple Device to Turn All Your Home Appliances into Smart Appliances

Master Blaster
Feb 9, 2013

The idea of “smart appliances” has been around for a while now, but has yet to really infiltrate the average household. Even having moderately priced smart machines running your home would add up considering you’d have to replace all of your old stuff.

The young developers of “Pluto” offer a simple solution which would allow you to smartify all of your currently existing home electronics for the reasonable price of 12,800yen (US$140).

Japan
(Pluto • remote control • smartphone • technology)

Air Fryer to Be Released in Japan, Easy Oil-Free Frying Awaits

Master Blaster
Feb 6, 2013

Although it’s hard to tell just by looking at them, people in Japan love fried food. As delicious as food fried in oil is, it’s high in calories and cholesterol, flammable, and messy. But thanks to the recent development of air fryers, we can now get crispy French fries without the greasy baggage that comes along with it.

From 20 April, Ashikaga-based appliance manufacturer TMY will release its own version of oil-free fryer, named Air Fryer, across the country.

Japan
(airfryer • cooking • frying • technology)

Japanese Government and Industries Battle Copyright Infringement by Hiding Strongly Worded Letters on P2P Networks

Master Blaster
Feb 5, 2013

On 25 January, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications along with various motion picture and music associations announced their latest copyright protection measure, dubbed “Operation Decoy File.”

The plan involves inserting files onto Japan’s popular P2P (peer-to-peer) file sharing networks such as Winny and Share which appear to contain popular copyrighted material. However, once downloaded, the file is revealed to be a message appealing the user to reconsider their wicked ways.

Internet, Japan
(file sharing • law • P2P • technology)

New iPad App “The Legend of Momotaro” Brings Japanese Folk Tale to Life

Philip Kendall
Jan 22, 2013

Telling the age-old story of a hero born from a giant peach, Ghost Hand Games’ new app The Legend of Momotaro landed on our iPad last weekend. Promising an inspiring interactive experience while telling the classic Japanese tale, we fired it up right away. A couple of hours of reading, listening and screen-tapping later, we were left with no doubt in our minds: technology really can do great things for an old reading experience.

Global, Japan
(app • education • ipad • Japan • Momotaro • review • technology)

Sony Unveils New Walkman for Swimmers– Light, Sturdy and on Sale for Under $170 this February

Philip Kendall
Jan 16, 2013

If you’re of the sporty persuasion and wish that you could take your tunes to the pool without having a funny-looking contraption strapped to your goggles or having your earphones fall out every other stroke, Sony’s newest addition to the Walkman series will definitely be of interest.

Scheduled for a February 16 release in Japan, the new NWD-W270 series features a compact, lightweight design and boasts 4GB of onboard storage space. Plenty of delicious images and details after the break.

Japan
(cool • MP3 • music • new • Sony • sports • swimming • technology • underwater • Walkman)

Who Needs Photoshop? Instantly Apply Makeup to Any Photo With This Amazing Camera!

Michelle Lynn Dinh
Nov 27, 2012

Ladies, have you ever taken a picture that you absolutely love, but wished you were wearing a bit of makeup at the time? Ever had to take a headshot for a job application but were too lazy to throw on a bit of eyeshadow and lipgloss?

Now there’s no longer any need to spend hours in front of the mirror putting your face on. With the Panasonic Lumix FX80 camera, makeup application is simply a click away.

Also, fellas, we know you’ve been secretly wondering what you look like wearing makeup but were too embarrassed to actually put some on…this is the camera for you!

Japan
(camera • makeup • Panasonic • technology)

Briefs in Brief: Top Underwear Developments in Japan

Master Blaster
Nov 23, 2012

Things are getting busy for the unsung hero of clothing, underwear. In recent years developments in the underwear technology sector have been coming in fast and furious.

The following is a report of some progressive underpants that promise to cut smells, back pain and will rub your belly while you sleep.

Japan
(health • magnet • massage • technology • underwear)

Tokyo University Makes Calculator Using Robot, What It Lacks in Usefulness It Makes Up for in Cuteness

Master Blaster
Nov 18, 2012

Japan is well known for both its love and skill of robots. Free of the terminator-induced prejudices of western cultures, they have blazed the way for robotic tour guides, waitresses, fish, singers, hairdressers, waste baskets, cyclists, rock-paper-scissors players, cockroaches, butts…

With so many robots, it’s hard to come up with an original one. But they are still out there. Tokyo University’s Center for the Study of Robotics came up with Denta-kun, the calculator using robot. Just to make it clear, the robot does not calculate. It just uses a calculator.

Internet, Japan
(calculator • math • niconico • robot • technology)

What a Deal! Get Your Smartphone Apps Installed for You— Just $12 a Pop!

Master Blaster
Nov 16, 2012

A lucky Twitter user came across a pamphlet the other day outlining some great deals on smartphone services. These people will go through the painstaking task of installing your smartphone apps for you at the low low price of 1,000 yen (US$12) an app!

In fact, they offer a wide range of useful services, such as installing Facebook, Twitter, or Skype— also for 1,000 yen each! And I always thought those were apps too. Boy, is my face red. I’m going to leave it to the professionals from now on.

Internet, Japan
(rip-off • shopping • smartphone • technology • twitter)

Immortalize Yourself as a Plastic Figure for Just $260!!!

Philip Kendall
Nov 16, 2012

Ever since I saw Han Solo get encased in carbonite in The Empire Strikes Back, I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a plastic mould of my friends and family, albeit without sealing them inside the stuff…

Thanks to a little company in Japan called Omote 3D Shashin Kan, though, my dream may be about to become a reality!

Using both 3-D scanning and 3-D printing technology, the ingenious company has made it possible to turn yourself or those you love into a tiny, ultra-detailed figure, with three sizes to choose from.

You’ll have to excuse me if I’m jumping the gun slightly when I say this, but this is clearly the best thing ever!

Japan
(awesome • cool • creative • figure • model • photo • scan • technology)

Musical Magic! From 2-Dimensional Notes to Real Music With the Swipe of a Scanner

Kay
Nov 16, 2012

Music undeniably plays a huge part in our lives. We’re constantly surrounded by it, and I’m sure there are many of you who would say you simply couldn’t live without music. But when you think about it, isn’t it fascinating that all the music you’re so used to hearing comes down to some circles and dots and squiggles drawn on rows of five parallel lines? For those of us not musically inclined, these notes and symbols may seem like a baffling code, but now, there’s an amazing device that instantly transforms these notes into actual music!

Japan
(Gocen • music • notes • technology)

【Video Magic】 Hatsune Miku in 3-D, Minus Glasses or Fancy Screens!!!

Philip Kendall
Nov 15, 2012

A video released on NicoNico Video by a group going by the name of Shichoukaku iinkai “The Audiovisual committee” has wowed Japanese internet users this week by managing to create a pseudo 3-D effect on 2-D monitors.

The video has since gone viral and, as of this afternoon, has reached more than 100,000 views.

Of course, it probably helps that digital idol Hatsune Miku is the star of the video, which sees the character dancing around while surrounded by thousands of (3-D!) shards of glass.

With a little concentration, the video’s 3-D effect actually works, even if it does require the user to look faintly ridiculous to see it…

Internet, Japan
(3D • cool • cute • dance • idol • niconico • technology • video)

KURATAS, Japan’s $1.25 Million Dollar Dream Come True, is Selling Like Giant Robot Hotcakes

Karen Bremer Masuda
Nov 10, 2012

Japan came up with Gandam, a huge robot that, along with his driver, protects the world from all sorts of evil, so it is likely that they would come up with KURATAS, a true to life robot that can be manipulated from a cockpit inside.

As we reported awhile ago, KURATAS is the creation of a blacksmith iron and steel artist Mr. Kogoro Kurata. And, as we mentioned a few weeks back, the mech was opened to orders in October after two and a half years of tinkering around in the workshop.

So just how has demand for KURATAS, which carries a hefty $1.25 million price tag, been?

Japan
(dream come true • Robot ride • technology)

New Touch Panel Technology Provides Intelligent Feedback, “Like pushing real buttons!”

Philip Kendall
Nov 6, 2012

At last week’s Digital Contents Expo 2012 held in Tokyo, cutting edge technology company Kyocera unveiled something that will no doubt appeal to tablet and smartphone users the world over, potentially changing the way we use our modern-day gadgets forever.

The company has produced an intelligent touch screen that mimics a variety of sensations, from soft and squidy jelly, to rigid, clicky buttons. What does this mean for handsome folk you and me? It means all the speed and convenience of touch screens, but with fewer inaccuracies and silly– albeit amusing- typing mistakes. It could also mean that our beloved touch screens will become far more versatile in the future, not to mention becoming accessible to a much larger audience.