Tokyo Times

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Technology Stuff

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Bow W.O.W

Pet transportation it seems is the current big thing in Japan, as just a few days after the introduction of new animal train tickets, Honda Motors has unveiled a concept car that caters specifically for canines.

The W.O.W (or ‘wonderful openhearted wagon’) as it is rather optimistically named, is designed for the country’s growing number of dog owners; a purpose built glove compartment allowing space for a petite pooch. The idea being that the driver can easily interact with his or her pet. Although how this would go down with safety officials wasn’t elaborated on.

honda dog car

In the back of the car, a cage can be popped open, creating a secure place for a slightly bigger beast. And for truly mammoth mutts, a seat belt set into the floor allows them to be safely buckled in.

honda wow

Considering the type of passengers it’s designed for, the W.O.W comes complete with both removable and easy to clean flooring, plus its wide sliding doors are purpose built to keep cavorting canines happy.

Explaining the design, a spokesperson from Honda said, “We created this vehicle from the point of view of a dog, but it turned out to be a gentler vehicle for the elderly, children and other family members.” Although how grandma and granddad would react to being strapped to the floor on trips to the supermarket remains to be seen.

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Biking bot

Robot makers in Japan are obviously not content with their creations playing musical instruments and reading out the weather forecast, as Murata Manufacturing has now produced an Armstrong-esque automaton.

murata boy

Little Murata Seisaku-kun (or Murata Boy) is only 50-cm-tall, but with the use of sensors he can remain perfectly balanced — even when stationary. His stability skillfully demonstrated at the CEATEC Japan 2005 exhibition, with the diminutive chap cycling on a 2-cm-wide balance beam. All this whilst rattling along at a heart fluttering 60 cm per second too.

Yet as impressive as this is, if Murata Boy is going to survive in Japan, there’s one more feat of balance and dexterity he’ll need to master — the age-old practice of cycling whilst using an umbrella.

cyclist japan

Only then will the young fella have truly earned his stripes.

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Gone to the dogs

Sony might be struggling to even give TVs away at the moment, but perhaps lovable little AIBO will be able to pull the electronics giant out of its current slump. Especially as the robotic dog now comes in hound-like Honey Brown.

honey brown aibo

As well as a fresh colour, this new model (registered pedigree name ERS-7M3) is enabled with around 1,000 phrases suited to each dog’s ‘character’. The way the toy is treated and cared for altering its, erm, personality. The little fella presumably not responding well to mutters of, “Are you ever going to leave your re-charging dock?” and, “Can you really not walk any faster than that?”

aibo

Switching the machine on for the first time is likened to birth, with the electronic pet having to learn everything from scratch. However for the less patient, these early days can be happily skipped; AIBO coming straight out of the box as a fully formed adult. Yet should he/she develop some unpleasant personality traits due to mistreatment or neglect, a quick bit of jiggery-pokery will transform the messed-up mutt into an innocent young pup again.

Oh, and it chases pink balls too. Albeit rather slowly

aibo

All that for a mere 194,250 yen (972 pound).

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More digital deviancy

Whilst it seems that most furtive photographers opt for the tried and tested upskirt shot, 31-year-old Daisuke Arikawa took a slightly different approach — surreptitiously capturing a bit of cleavage.

The newspaper employee is accused of filming a young woman at a flea market in Fukuoka, with the mammary maniac taking pictures of his unsuspecting victim as she bent down to talk to a customer.

Whilst Mr. Arikawa didn’t make a public statement, his employer, the Nishinippon Shimbun, responded by saying, “His actions are not fit for a newspaper employee. We will try hard to educate our employees to prevent a recurrence.” However what form this ‘education’ will take wasn’t elaborated on.

*Update: Whilst the source is unconfirmed, it is alleged that some data from Arikawa-san’s camera was leaked to the press. A picture that I’m loath to publish on Tokyo Times due to its sensitive nature, but as it could be an integral part of the story, I feel compelled to do so.

norika fujiwara breasts

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Elderly effigy

Not to be outdone by the new and frankly bizarre sex education dolls, the Sakamoto Model Company has manufactured a decidedly disturbing effigy of an elderly patient. The rather ghoulish object designed to help train nurses in the care of the old and infirm.

It is claimed that the dolls are so realistic that they appear almost alive. The skin quality, joint movement, and facial expressions giving them an unnerving realism. Even if they do resemble something from the infamous Roswell incident.

roswell doll

In fact the models are so convincing and anatomically correct that training in urination and excretion is possible. With space for a foraging finger should the latter prove especially troublesome.

japanese excretion doll

All these features come at a cost though. A bowel loosening 480,000 yen (2,400 pound) to be exact. But as the picture below boasts, pajamas are included.

japanese elderly doll
japanese elderly doll

Which is perhaps just as well.

naked doll

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Dance Dance (Robot) Revolution

For gentlemen lacking a date, or those unlucky enough to be left high and dry at the local dance club — help is finally at hand. The Partner Ballroom Dance Robot may not be much of a conversationalist, but it is quite a mover. Never refusing a dance, no matter how many times its feet wheels are stood on, or beer is spilt down its dress.

dancing robot japan

The robot was developed at Tohoku University, and using a variety of sensors is able to analyze its partner’s movements; figuring out how best to accompany him with its waist, shoulders, elbows, and neck. Its wheels allowing it to glide across the dance floor in any given direction.

Despite this dancing dexterity, the robot is actually part of a plan to develop a machine that can take care of the elderly. The goal being to create a robot that can make an educated guess about what a patient wants, or is about to do. Research leader Kazuhiro Kosuge explaining, “Machines or robots would be able to preempt trouble if they can find what their partners want from what is heard and seen.”

In the meantime though it’s dancing all the way. Plus for any ladies lacking a partner, there’s no need to fret: a male version is in the works. However rumours that it will be programmed to continually try and cop a drunken feel and then insist on going out for a kebab or curry have yet to be confirmed.