Custom-made life size robot

Whether for general use or for business use, robots are hot topics in Japan. Therefore, the attraction production company Curiosity started "Chararoid", a custom-made service of character robots.

The concept of this is "to make the anime world exist in reality", CG designers design the exterior of the robots, and the attraction software which they developed independently is used for the motion control. Robot and tablet work together, and it is possible to communicate by video display and touch panel operation. It also has a speech recognition function and can also talk. If you do not like the synthesized voice of the robots, you can order the voice of the voice acter. The flow of communication is managed by the timeline, and it can be linked with BGM, signage, and projection mapping. Its eyes have small displays, and they can express various emotions comically like anime. As for the price they have not disclosed and you have to ask them about it in ordering.

Fake-video maker using AI

Now, an interesting movement is occurring in the Japanese VR industry. It is 3D avatar called Virtual Youtuber or VTuber, and they are talking and singing like real Youtubers. Though they are very popular and many creators are paying attention, but 3D modeling skills and motion capture technology are indispensable, so not everyone can feel free. However, with this iOS application "Xpression", everyone can play someone.


This is a video editing application that makes it easy to create a fake video similar to the real one using AI. It replaces the expression of the face of the video in real time with the expression of own face reflected on the camera. Any material can be anything. Politicians, celebrities, your friends, families, even you can let the drawings speak. Even if you do not have a desire to transform, this can be utilized in various situations. For example, if you pre-shoot videos of decent clothes, after that, you can always video communication with decent clothes when you are dowdy outfits. This is an innovative iOS application, but downloading is free.

Emergency SOS application

Suddenly sickness can happen to anyone, but unfortunately, there are many cases where quick life-saving treatment can not be done, and even if an ambulance comes, about 90% have died. What if someone who has knowledge of life-saving will stay until the ambulance comes? What if someone will lend an AED? They will surely be able to save more people's lives.

Coaido 119 is an emergency information sharing application that can send SOS to the surroundings while reporting to the ambulance in case of emergency. You can notify the ambulance from the application, and can request the life-saving volunteer for about 10 minutes until the arrival of the ambulance to the pre-registered medical qualified people, the life-saving lecturers and the AED holders.

Also, you can communicate information on emergency situations to them using location information, video, and voice chat from this application. And although it is still within 1 km from Ikebukuro station, this application has its own AED area call function.
They are conducting demonstration experiments of applications in Toshima Ward, Tokyo from January 2017 to January 2018, and recently expanded available areas to all over Japan. Now the application is only iOS version and downloading is free.

Earphone to listen to music with bones

Usually, we use eardrums when listening to music with earphones, but startup BoCo is developing a new generation earphone series "earsopen" that utilizes bone conduction technology. Last year it succeeded in raising about 100 million yen of development funding by the croudfunding project, and we can buy this at boco's retail stores, Yodobashi cameras, and online stores.

Earsopen is a bone conduction earphone that does not block my ears by listening to the sounds through the bones. By adopting proprietary bone　conduction devices, they realized a high resolution class small bone conduction earphone. The good points of this can to listen to the surrounding environmental sound while listening to music. Furthermore, without damaging the eardrum, and those who have impaired hearing due to damage to the eardrum membrane can also hear sounds by bone conduction.
There are various packages, but the most reasonable set is 10,584 yen (including tax). Color variations are black and white.

IoT measure that can make images with size

Now, it is common to trade fashion items among users on online auctions or online flea markets. When checking the items, it is very easy to understand that there are images clearly showing the size of the items. But making them is a little troublesome, because we need to measure the sizes of items and add them to photos with image editing application.

IoT measure hakaruno("hakaru" means to "measure" in Japanese) simplifies its effort. First, take a photo of the item from the application linked with this, and trace the place you want to measure.

When you measure the size with hakaruno and press that button, the numbers are reflected in photo immediately. Clothing suppliers can also use this. If you measure the size of customers and reflect it in slips, you will not mistake.

The measurement part of this is made by Fujitsu Component, and sending accurate sizes to your smartphone using Bluetooth. The size of this is compact, only 52 x 40 x 15 mm, and weighs about 20 grams. It work with one of coin type lithium battery(CR 2450). Now, this is raising funds for development at the croudfunding platform Makuake, and you can support it from 16,800 yen.