Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
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Three Japanese universities ( Waseda , Kogakuin and Showa ) and robot maker Tmsuk have developed Hanako, a robotic dental patient who can behave like a human patient (to some extent). The robot, who is supposed to be female, can converse with doctors (“Please examine me!”, “That hurts!” etc.), discharge robotic saliva, sneeze, open and close her mouth, etc. Standing 157cm tall, Hanako’s body is the work of Tmsuk, while the “medical features” were developed by the dental faculties of the universities involved in the development of the robot. There are nine joints in her body, for example in her jaw, tongue and even in her eyelids. The main goal is to offer dentists or dental students a way to practice “real-life” procedures on a robot before taking care of human patients (at Showa University, dental students actually have to take tests using Hanako). This actually makes a lot of sense, I would say. Hanako reacts to mistakes by verbally expressing pain, rolling her eyes or even simulating a vomiting reflex, thanks to the touch sensors in her mouth. Watch Hanako in action in the video embedded below: Via Node [JP]
Posted by 010081
Tech
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
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Another possible breakthrough for LCD TVs? Researchers at Japanese chemical company Teijin and Yamaguchi University claim they have developed a new technology that makes it possible to halve the weight of LCD TVs. Conventional LCD displays are based on silicon solid-state devices on glass substrates, which “sandwich” liquid crystals. These devices generate heat when used, forcing manufacturers to go for heat-resistant (heavy) glass substrates. But according to the researchers, they placed a thin layer of heat-resistant silicon dioxide on plastic (polycarbonate, to be more exact) instead. The plastic is lighter than glass substrates, which need solid frames to make them more stable. Plastic substrate frames are considerably lighter, with Teijin saying this will pave the way for LCD TVs that weigh 50% as much as normal. The company also claims their production method will lead to clearer images (using plastic substrates makes it possible to build higher-power solid-state devices into the TVs). Teijin plans to enter a joint venture with a major electronics makes and commercialize their technology within the next three years. Via The Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
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We’ve covered Tsutenkaku, a Japanese robot that looks like a tower to promote tourism in the city of Osaka, just last week . Standing 170cm tall, his makers claim Tsutenkaku [JP] is the tallest robot in the world. And now he finally showed himself in the public, during a street festival that took place over the weekend in Osaka’s shopping district of Nipponbashi . Verdict: Tsutenkaku is a very weird robot. I just wonder how the handful of companies from Osaka that made it think about Hajime , another tall robot from Japan that stands even 210cm tall. Just look at the way he “talks” and moves in the (Japanese) video below: Via Nico Nico Douga [JP/registration required]
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Friday, March 19th, 2010
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In October last year , Pentax launched a “robotic” version of their K-x entry level digital camera, a colorful variation of the conventional black model. And today, the same company, presented another “creative” approach, the “Camera-man” [JP]. It’s not a new camera (or a special version of an existing device) but a set of accessories, namely a special 52mm lens cap (which shows a smiley) and a puppet body that needs to be fixed beneath the cap. As a result, you get the Camera-man. Pentax says there are 100 different design variations for the Camera-man. The main selling points are that the accessories were created by a famous Japanese designer, 100% handmade and only available for a limited amount of time. I don’t know who’d be interested in turning his or her camera into something like this, which is why in this case it’s not a tragedy the Camera-man is Japan-only. Each design costs $33.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
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Imagine punching the boulder in 3D! Surely you’ve heard of Shinji Mikami , right? He’s basically “the Resident Evil guy,” and he’s got 3D on the brain. He told Famitsu, that famous Japanese video game magazine, that he wants to disband his current studio (Straight Story) and form a new one, one for creators, by creators (as opposed to one by run by know-nothing businessmen). This new studio, in a perfect world, would create a 3D horror game . There’s a few obstacles. One, pretty much nobody owns a 3D TV yet—didn’t they just come out the other day? That, and they’re a little on the expensive side. Your average gamer, who only just recently embraced HDTV (though I got my first HDTV in time for World Cup 2006, and I have no such desire to upgrade to a 3D TV for World Cup 2010 ), is a little while away from shelling out the dough for 3D. Plus, there’s that small issue of actually forming the studio. Now, about that 3D horror game: When it comes to my personal desires, I’d like to make a true-3D horror game, something where you’d use glasses like in the Avatar film. It’s been my goal since the original Resident Evil to be the first in the industry to make a 3D game. There needs to be a large 3D television-owning userbase before that can happen, but I always like trying out new things first. My only experience with 3D gaming was at some EA event two weeks ago, playing Battlefield: Bad Company 2 . It was just OK, nothing to freak out over.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
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The electric car continues to be a hot topic in Japan . A slew of influential Japanese companies like Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi (whose i miev is pictured above), or Tokyo Electric Power have now started an initiative aimed at creating a global standard, dubbed CHAdeMO, for high-speed battery chargers for electric cars. The consortium will consist of a total of 158 different companies and organizations. The goal is to turn a charging system developed by Tokyo Electric Power into a global standard for electric cars. That system lets the charger determine what kind of batteries are installed and how much charge they require, basically a charging protocol. The technology is already being put to practical use by Mitsubishi and Subaru, with Nissan likely to follow. Most electric cars still can’t travel more than 200km on a single charge, which makes the availability of brand-agnostic charging stations a critical factor for their future success. Apart from Japanese firms (Honda, Mazda or Toshiba will also take part), the consortium also has European engineering group ABB, PSA from France (Peugeot, Citroën), German auto equipment giant Robert Bosch and a few other foreign companies among its members. The Japanese government is supporting the joint venture with $13.7 million.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
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Megalomania or genius marketing move? Canon seriously takes aim at becoming the world’s first company with its own generic top-level domain ( gTLD ), namely “.canon”. The new domain would join the likes of .com, .edu, .gov, .org, etc. ( Wikipedia has the full list). The Japanese electronics giant announced [press release in English] its plan to acquire the rights for the domain from ICANN today. Canon says they “will make full use of the new domain name to increase the convenience and effectiveness of its online communications” and expects the new domain to be in place sometime after 2011. ICANN used to strictly control and restrict gTLDs until the organization decided to liberalize its policy in 2008. Basically anyone can apply for a gTLD – as long as they’re ready to spend a few hundred thousand dollars for registration and other procedures. Apparently not too big a problem for Canon, which generated revenues worth $35 billion in fiscal 2009.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
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Japan has a lot of different robots so why not develop one that looks like a tower – even if it may make no sense whatsoever? That’s what a total of seven Japanese companies thought and built the Tsutenkaku Robotto [JP] (Tsutenkaku roughly translates to “tower that extends to the sky”). And as the name suggests, the robot is pretty tall: 170cm. In fact, the makers claim their robot is the tallest humanoid ever produced. Tsutenkaku stands on two legs, is battery-powered, has 80 LEDs that help him light up and can strike poses with his arms. The main purpose of the robot is to boost the coolness factor of Osaka (Tsutenkaku is being marketed as Osaka’s own hero). The robot is scheduled to make his public debut next week during a street festival in central Tokyo and will also be showcased during the Shanghai World Expo in May. Watch Tsutenkaku in action in this weird promo clip (in Japanese): Via Yomiuri Shimbun [JP] via Plastic Pals
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Monday, March 15th, 2010
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Last week it was Sony, and today it was Hitachi announcing [JP] a flood of new flat-screen TVs for the Japanese market. Hitachi does sell TVs outside this country , too, so chances are the four plasmas and seven LCDs find their way into other markets as well. (Some models will be offered in different colors, which is why you see more than 11 TVs in the picture above.) The company has divided their new line-up of Woo TVs into three series (XP05, HP05 and H05). XP05 The flagship XP05 series consists of three plasma TVs, namely a 42- ($2,650), a 46- ($3,100) and a 50-inch model (P50-XP05 for $3,650, pictured above). All of these devices are full HD, support DLNA, feature 4 HDMI ports and come with a 320GB internal HDD. The two LCD TVs in this series, a 32- ($1,900) and a 37-inch model ($2,200), just have a resolution of 1,366×768 (IPSα panel). But a 320GB internal HDD and DLNA support are on board as well. HP05 The HP05 series includes just two TVs, a plasma (the P42-HP05 with 42 inches for $2,200 is pictured above) and an LCD model (32 inches, $1,600). Buyers will get a resolution of 1,024×768 for the plasma and 1,366×768 for the LCD. Both TVs offer DLNA support and a 250GB internal HDD. H05 The four LCD TVs of the H05 series are entry-level devices with 1,366×768 resolution. Hitachi offers a 19- ($770), a 22- ($880), a 26- ($990) and a 32-inch model (the L32-H05 for $1,100 is pictured). All of these TVs have an IPS panel (just the 32-incher has an IPSα panel), support DLNA (client only) but lack an internal HDD. The TVs of all three series will hit Japanese stores on April 17.
Posted by Kevin Huffman
Tech
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
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You might want to take a different approach when shopping for a 3D TV than a standard HDTV. Instead of just looking at the picture quality, you should also take a serious look at the brand’s 3D glasses. Some show some clear advantages to purchase that brand’s 3D TV and until there’s a standard format for 3D glasses, each brand requires its own unique glasses, thereby locking you into that manufacturer’s products. Yeah, it’s a bit messy right now. Click through for details on all of them. Samsung There are three different models currently available. $150 gets you the SSG-2100AB with a user-replaceable battery, while the $200 set is rechargeable. (SSG-2200AR) There is a rechargeable pair for children priced at $180. ( SSG-2200KR ) Samsung 3D TVs come bundled with two glasses and a 3D Blu-ray movie. Sony Sony hasn’t official announced its US 3D TV accessories, but it’s probably safe to say that the Japanese-market versions will be available here, too. The standard size TDG-BR100 gray model, along with the smaller blue and pink TDG-BR50 glasses will sell for 12,000 yen in Japan. That translates to $132 USD. The glasses also require the TMR-BR100 IR emitter, too. (5,000 yen, $55 USD) Only the LX900, which retails for 290,000 yen or $3,204 USD, comes with glasses — two, in fact. Panasonic The Panasonic TY-EW3D10U glasses clearly win the “most radical” award. Each Panasonic 3D TV comes with a set and they retail for $149.99. Nvidia 3D content can also be seen on computers with the right gear from Nvidia. The $199 Nvidia 3D Vision kit includes one pair of glasses, IR emitter, and connection cables. Additional glasses can be purchased for $149 each. Keep in mind, though, that a 3D-ready monitor/projector, GPU, and operating system like Vista or Win7 is also required.