Japanese Robot HRP-4C Cybernetic Human

Author janet | 24.04.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

The AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science Technology) has released its newest robotic humanoid in Japan. The HRP-4C was strutting her stuff on a runway and has become the hottest fashion model in the technology industry. Created to look like an average 5ft2″, Japanese woman with 30 motors in her body and 8 motors in her face, she can walk, move, blink and talk like a human and express emotions of anger and surprise.

HRP-4C can be re-programmed with different movements and facial expressions. The programming technology will be released to the public so everyone can contribute to new moves for the robot.

The robot is priced at 20 million yen, about $252,000 CDN.

Watch a video of HRP-4C here:
HRP-4C on YouTube

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Novac, Converts Cassette Tapes to MP3 Files

Author Ciel501 | 16.04.2009 | Category Japanese Technology

Some people are still listening to music using cassette tape, Novac released MV-CM001U that converts cassette tapes to MP3 files easily for these people.
It is made of wood material and very easy to operate. When your music is about to start just push recording button and that’s all. It supports MP3, WAV, WMA files.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Sony X-Series Walkman Video Review

Author Ciel501 | 16.04.2009 | Category Japanese Technology

A couple days ago, we introduced Sony’s new walkman ‘NWZ-1050/1060’, CNET Asia published video review. Album browsing looks very smooth and web surfing would be possible.

Sony X-Series Walkman Video Review

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Robot Design Seminar from Tatsuya Matsui

Author JoeDigital | 08.03.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

Attention to all robotics enthusiasts everywhere: the highly acclaimed robotics designer Tatsuya Matsui will be giving a Robot Design Seminar this coming Monday, March 9, 2009. It will be held at 7PM at Tokyo Midtown’s design hub.

Tatsuya Matsui is known for his robotic creations that come close to humanoid capabilities like no other. Two of his most popular innovations that put him on track were Posy who debuted “Lost in Translation” and Palette, who can be found in Paris as a robotic mannequin for a Luis Vuitton shop.

The company he represents is called Flower Robotics, which focuses on developing robots for real life human activity, adding a very important element to making these innovations appeal to the human emotion and interaction – design.

If you want to take part of the seminar then you should get reservations through here as soon as possible. With robotics becoming the next big thing in the world of technology, this is an event you can’t miss.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Yorozu Sound Revolution Kit

Author JoeDigital | 08.03.2009 | Category Innovation, Japanese Technology

It’s really funny how Japanese developers and technologists make their amusing looking gadgets while at the same time making it ingenious. The Yorozu Audio & Sound Revolution Kit is one of these gadgets. The set comes with a device that looks like a cardboard milk box which actually turns out to be speakers for the device.

In truth, however, it is just an ordinary milk carton that comes with the set. What the Yorozu Audio & Sound Revolution Kit actually lets you do is use almost anything as a speaker. With the help of a vibration extension which you can connect unto any surface (i.e. the milk carton), you can listen to the sound inside the Kit through that object.

You can even bring around with you this evidence for easy listening because it is portable. Whenever you feel like listening to music, you just need to grab a small box, your suitcase or some other thing you have with you and turn it instantly into an audio speaker.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

The Bandai Aqua Dance Toy

Author JoeDigital | 04.03.2009 | Category Japanese Tech Toys, Japanese Technology

This little toy actually came out into the Japanese markets last year, 2008. But the product has been so popular that it will be flying to the US markets pretty soon. Bandai’s creation, the Aqua Dance Toy, is a fun little fountain that uses nano technology in order to produce its effects.

As to how the toy actually works: a drop of water rolls around the surface of the Aqua Dance Toy and follows a continuous flow with the help of nano technology and some logic of physics. But setting aside all the technical explanations, the toy basically presents itself as a mini-fountain where the water in the device will be on the plastic surface of the gadget.

While this isn’t really the kind of technology we would deem as practical as cell phones or Mp3 players, this toy can be a really entertaining pastime for any child or adult who has this. Indeed Japan is known for being able to come up with toys as intriguing and appealing as cell phones and other gadgets.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

To The Book Cave, Reading Fans!

Author JoeDigital | 27.02.2009 | Category Innovation, Japanese Technology

Here’s a nifty device that was just released late in 2008: a seat literally inside a book case designed to accommodate book lovers who want to spend their time “around” their books.

Japanese designer and artist Sakura Adachi came up with the idea of crossing a comfortable chair and the ordinary bookcase and came up with this invention. It’s quite an ingenious minimalist approach (one that is very much appreciated by many Japanese) to furniture for book lovers because aside from the fact that the chair is very comfortable and durable, it also saves space occupied by large furniture because the device is “inside” the bookcase.

While it might actually disrupt the methods of those who read with laptops and do other activities to compliment their reading, this device really appeals to many children and adults alike, especially those who love to just read and read all day.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Panasonic’s Room Light Automatically Changes Brightness to Save Power

Author JoeDigital | 01.02.2009 | Category Innovation, Japanese Technology

Panasonic Corporation has come up with a new way of helping reduce energy use. The new Panasonic room light is able to detect the luminance in a room, and adjust its output to keep a steady amount of light in the room at all times. The brightness can be set at “100%,” “70%” or “50%” by users. The speed
of dimming and brightening was optimized so that users do not notice
them.

Similar lighting fixtures have been developed for some corporate applications, but this is the first time that automatic lighting has been offered to residential consumers. The light is expected to go on the market officially on March 1st, 2009.

The “Auto-eco Light-control Twin Pa,” equipped with a luminance sensor,
detects the brightness in an area of 3m diameter directly below the
lamp (when the ceiling height is about 2.4m) and controls the light
output so that the luminance in the room is maintained constant.

In a room where a light is left burning at all times, power consumption could be reduced by as much as 60%, as the lamp reduces output according to the influence of natural lighting. The light can be mounted on horizontal or vertical surfaces, and is available in 89 and 74 watt models.

The bad news is that the 89 watt version is expected to cost around US$389.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Cool Japanese 1-Seater

Author JoeDigital | 29.01.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, automobile

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net

Futuristic Computing

Author JoeDigital | 28.01.2009 | Category Computers, Innovation, Japanese Technology

Can you guess what the image above is? We can tell you to begin that these are not writing instruments. And they are not an array of laser pointers. But you can be sure of one thing, researchers in Japan are developing some of the coolest 21st century technology you can imagine.

It’s not a digital camera shaped to resemble a pen either. And if you answered that it might be some sort of webcam set, you’re looking at it from the wrong perspective. These devices are actually the components of a wireless, peripheral-less computing environment.

Not only is the monitor a projected display, but the keyboard itself is a tabletop projection. This new generation of computing will make the computer smarter, and freeing up processes for people, requiring less resources, and less power than any other computer.

 

The technology is only in development, at present, but you can bet that a holographic computing experience isn’t many years away, unless it is usurped by something that is yet to be discovered.

Sign up to our RSS feed at TheTechnologyBlog.net