From Japan, ‘breathing’ toy lulls kids to sleep
Kids have so much energy that sometimes it can be hard to calm them down. We recently saw a dentist in Indonesia use a musical drill to relax children undergoing dental treatment, and now the Hug and...
View ArticleIn Japan, car targeted at women helps prevent wrinkles
Last week we wrote about Fujitsu’s attempt to market technology to women with its Floral Kiss notebook. It seems something is in the air in Japan, as now auto manufacturer Honda has launched the Fit...
View ArticleIn Japan, underground storage facility keeps bikes safe
When it comes to bicycle safety, we’ve seen innovations such as glow-in-the-dark models to maps detailing the best cycle routes, but security is still lagging behind. In Japan, the ECO Cycle is a...
View ArticleFrom Japan, makeup that disappears with nothing but warm water
For some women, applying makeup is a must before leaving the house, but the removal of it can be time-consuming at the end of a long day. Now Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido has created the...
View ArticleFrom Japan, emergency flashlight can run on multiple types of batteries
When stranded in the dark with no power most people’s first reaction is to go in search of a flashlight. However, what happens when the device runs out of juice? Often a frantic and frustrating...
View ArticleAugmented reality app makes Japanese newspaper more engaging for kids
Touchcode’s platform for linking to digital content from magazine pages is one example of how print publications can offer extra content to their reader base. Using similar technology, Japanese...
View ArticleFrom Japan, privacy glasses thwart facial recognition technologies
It’s no secret that facial recognition technologies are becoming increasingly common, with applications ranging from security to targeted marketing. For those uncomfortable with the idea of a world...
View ArticleIn Japan, service guarantees a gift on Valentine’s Day
There’s no doubt Valentine’s Day can place extra social pressure on anyone giving or receiving cards and gifts in honor of the occasion, but in Japan that pressure is particularly acute for men. That’s...
View ArticleEmergency flashlight turns itself on during power cuts
Soon after the Any Battery Light was drawn to our attention — the Japanese emergency torch that works with multiple battery sizes — we came across a similar innovation from the country that has...
View ArticleIn Japan, women-only café also provides sleeping facilities
Women who are looking for beauty treatment and with little time to spare in their work schedule have already been offered convenient 15-minute in-office manicures courtesy of Manicube. Now the Qusca...
View Article3D printed candy made in customers’ image
Regular readers of Springwise may remember FabCafe, the Tokyo-based diner that enables designers to 3D print while they wait. Demonstrating its enthusiasm for marrying food and 3D printing, the company...
View ArticleThrough AR and digital watermarking, TV viewers see synchronized companion...
Add / Remove It’s one thing for augmented reality (AR) to display content superimposed on still objects or images, but Japanese NTT is working on technology that enables similar capabilities for video...
View ArticleIn Japan, robotic system ‘paints’ room lighting through Photoshop-like control
Add / Remove One of the most important aspects of running a venue – and one that can have a large effect on customer experience – is atmosphere. While Meyer Sound have already covered the noise side of...
View ArticleIn Japan, headphones detect user’s mood and play music accordingly
Add / Remove Regular readers of Springwise may remember Digipill, the audio ‘drug’ that uses psychoacoustic therapy to alter the mood of users. Turning that concept on its head, Mico headphones monitor...
View ArticleDisplay turns water surface into an interactive digital screen
Add / Remove New ways of interacting with digital displays can bring about important new possibilities for working – as the Kinect-based Intera system for surgeons has proved. Now Japanese researchers...
View ArticleFrom Japan, high-definition digital camera features dynamo and solar panel
Add / Remove We’ve already seen products such as the GravityLight introduce novel ways to generate electricity for devices in regular use. Aimed at consumers looking to reduce their carbon footprint,...
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Wise Words with Tomonori Kagaya
Add / Remove We’re now reaching a point where technology is almost advanced enough to be able to detect what consumers are thinking better than they can themselves. That’s one of the things that...
View ArticleAirport vending machine ‘restaurant’ offers gourmet menu
Add / Remove Travelers with little time to stop for a bite to eat may not be able to do without the cheap, fast food of vending machines, and we’ve even seen the devices installed inside taxis. Taking...
View ArticleIn Tokyo, stand enables tourists to take smartphone selfies
Add / Remove We’ve already seen the Great Wolf Lodge offer guests RFID bands that enable them to upload photos taken at special kiosks directly to their own Facebook profiles. Now Sunpole has created a...
View ArticleAt Japanese cocktail bar, customers add their own creations to the menu
Add / Remove Apps such as Coaster have already enabled cocktail fans to use mobile technology to find the best bars and order drinks remotely. Now Tokyo’s Logbar uses iPads to allow its patrons to make...
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