FEPY

Robots old and new are on display at the CEATEC 2008 home electronics trade show currently underway in Chiba, Japan.

Nissan BR23C Biomimetic Robot Car

Nissan unveiled the bumblebee-inspired BR23C Biomimetic Robot Car, which is equipped with a prototype collision avoidance system developed in cooperation with the University of Tokyo. The next-generation safety technology is modeled after the way that bees avoid crashing into each other.

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Mechadroid Type C3

The Mechadroid Type C3 receptionist robot developed by Business Design Laboratory relies on face recognition technology, a touch panel display, speech, and facial expressions to interact with visitors and guide them to their destination.

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ifbot

Ifbot — also developed by Business Design Laboratory — is a speech-capable robot that can identify emotions in the voice and word choice of the person talking. The robot can also communicate its own emotions with a range of facial expressions.

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Murata Seiko-chan and Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. Murata Boy)

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.’s popular robot bicyclist, Murata Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. Murata Boy), was joined on stage by his recently-unveiled younger cousin, Murata Seiko-chan, who is well-balanced enough to ride a unicycle.

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Nabaztag

The Nabaztag Wi-Fi Smart Rabbit manufactured by Violet is a bunny-shaped personal assistant that connects to your home wireless network.

Nabaztag

In addition to announcing the latest news, weather and traffic information, the rabbit can tell the time, light up when email arrives, stream Internet radio and podcasts, and respond to spoken commands.

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Enon leads the way to the wine section

Fujitsu’s Enon robot demonstrated the ability to interact with customers and guide them to the wine section.

Enon takes a break

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Android is finally going to show up on T-Mobile next month. Compared to the iPhone, Android is a much more open platform and will eventually take form in a variety of smartphone designs. Is it enough to move people away from the iPhone?

The first smartphone to take advantage of Android will be G1 by HTC. This company has extensive experience in handset design and implementation so I don’t expect to see a lot of rough edges on this device. It has the standard slide out keyboard and also incorporates a touch screen and trackball. It’s a bit on the chubby side but that’s to be expected with the keyboard.

I already have an iPhone 3G but the idea of using the brand new Google mobile platform intrigues me. However, I just got out of a T-Mobile contract and don’t look forward to signing up to a second 2-year contract.

Are you going to pick up T-Mobile G1 next month? My preference is towards the iPhone, but I welcome the competition. With time, perhaps Google will force Apple to relax some of their draconian app store policies.

Interested in more iPhone related posts? Consider subscribing to Apple Otaku. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

[pic via Engadget]

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Sculptor Satoshi Yabuuchi is auctioning a limited-edition bronze statue of Sento-kun, the popular but controversial official mascot he designed for the Commemorative Events of the 1,300th Anniversary of the Nara-Heijokyo Capital (the upcoming festival marking 1,300 years since Nara’s establishment as Japan’s capital in 710 AD). The current bid on this 30.5-cm tall sculpture — one of only 130 created — is 185,000 yen ($1,750).

[Via: Yahoo! Auctions]

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To NY-based architect-poets and “reversible destiny” philosophers Arakawa & Gins, comfort deserves only a limited role in the home. In their vision, a home that keeps its inhabitants young and healthy should provide perpetual challenges. A tentative relationship with your environment, they argue, is key to “reversing the downhill course of human life.”

This video takes a peek inside their Reversible Destiny Lofts in the Mitaka area of western Tokyo. Designed to stimulate the senses and force inhabitants to use balance, physical strength and imagination, the lofts feature uneven floors, oddly positioned power switches and outlets, walls and surfaces painted a dizzying array of colors, a tiny exit to the balcony, a transparent shower room, irregularly shaped curtainless windows, and more.

For the adventurous, two rental units are now available for 220,000 and 250,000 yen ($2,000/$2,400) per month, which is a bit pricey for Tokyo, but not outrageous. Short-term stays can also be arranged.

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As Japanese consumers become ever more “fussy” over food safety issues, there is a growing demand for technology that improves food quality. To ease the minds of health-conscious meat-eaters, researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) have developed a convenient method for identifying cattle infected with mad cow disease, simply by measuring the brain waves they produce in response to audio stimuli.

To develop and test the new method, the researchers infected 11 healthy cows with mad cow disease and observed the onset of symptoms and changes in brain activity. Mad cow disease (a.k.a. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE) is a fatal infectious disease that affects the central nervous system of cattle (and humans), turning the brain into a sponge-like substance. Symptoms of the disease include loss of muscle control, inability to stand or walk properly, agitation, and red eyes.

Approximately 24 months after infection, the 11 test cows began to exhibit the typical physical signs of BSE. However, at around 22 months after infection — before the physical symptoms became evident — the researchers discovered that the brains of the infected cows had a delayed reaction to sound. In all 11 mad cows, the brain waves elicited in response to audio stimuli were a few tenths of a millisecond slower than in healthy cows.

The researchers believe the acoustic nerves responsible for transmitting sound impulses to the brain became damaged as the disease progressed, resulting in a delayed response time. By using a device that measures this delay, ranchers can identify mad cows in their herds, the researchers suggest.

While the newly developed method is still less accurate than conventional lab testing of brain samples taken from carcasses, it does make it easier to detect possible infection at an early stage, before outward signs of the disease appear.

The researchers, who plan to study the data further and improve the accuracy of the test, eventually hope to develop a portable version of the device.

[Source: Mainichi]

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Electronic parts maker Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., creators of the popular Murata Seisaku-kun (a.k.a. “Murata Boy”) robot bicyclist, have developed a self-balancing robot unicyclist named “Murata Seiko-chan,” it was announced on September 23.

The 50-centimeter (20 in) tall, 5-kilogram (11 lb) Seiko-chan — which Murata says is modeled after a female kindergartener — features a pair of gyro sensors that detect her posture angle. A single wheel moves the robot forward and back, and a rotating flywheel in the chest helps turn the unicycle left and right and maintain balance. In addition to ultrasonic sensors that detect and measure the distance to potential obstacles, Seiko-chan is equipped with built-in Bluetooth capabilities and an embedded camera that transmits live video.

According to Murata’s press release, Seiko-chan is described as Seisaku-kun’s younger paternal cousin. Born in Shiga prefecture on September 23 (and thus a Virgo), the “active but very shy” robot enjoys practicing her unicycle skills in the park. Her dream is to cycle the world with Seisaku-kun.

In her first public appearance, Seiko-chan will ride alongside Seisaku-kun at Japan’s upcoming CEATEC trade show.

(Video of cousin Seisaku-kun demonstrating his bicycling skills)

[Source: Nikkei]

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With best Jeanist, Leathernist and even Nailist prizes given out every year, it’s perhaps not surprising then to hear that there is now the Parcassio Beautiful Leg Awards, which, without too much leverage of the language, could legitimately be labelled the best leggists.

However, while this series of events is all well and good, it also begs the question as to when a Japanese bra manufacturer will boast the best breastist. An event that as well as being a huge promotional tool, could also be the perfect medium for marvelling at Japan’s multitude of mammary merchants.

All the way from the now long in the tooth talents of ‘veteran’ Aki Hoshino,

to the more youthful but equally considerable capabilities of Reon Kadena.

And there could even be a possible nod to the not so natural, with the inclusion of the somewhat crudely constructed Kano sisters.

Although with one of them rumoured to have formerly been a fella (the one on the left perchance?), it’s not all that difficult to imagine that she’d have been better off waiting to appear in the presumably up-and-coming best penisist promotion.

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Japan’s best breast(ist)?

Originally from Tokyo Times

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For most Tokyoites, it would appear that load carrying rather than looks is the bigger concern when buying a bicycle, and, as a result, basket-bearing beasts of burden are disappointingly deemed de rigueur.

However, that’s not to say that pragmatism is always preferable, as this previously posted and lovingly looked after low rider amply proves.

Yet, as cool as it may be, it is arguably outdone in the looks department by this bike-inspired beauty. Its bulbous back wheel no doubt making the wish to do wheelies overwhelming.

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Bold Japanese bicycles

Originally from Tokyo Times

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Great news for all you lovers of wacky Japanese products out there with the announcement that Thanko has added an English portal to their Rare Mono Shop.

Via Akiba Today

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THANKO Rare Mono Shop in English

Originally from Japundit

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These TETRA erasers spotted at the recent Good Design Expo in Tokyo are the perfect editing tool for pencil-pushing tetrapod enthusiasts. Produced by Sun-Star Stationery Co., Ltd., the shapely erasers come in 9 colors and are available at stores like Tokyu Hands for 120 yen (about $1) a pop. Pile them on your desk to inspire daydreams of the beach in Japan.

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