This is English version of Japanese blog media "vsmedia". About Japanese Social Games & Apps, Augmented reality, Virtual Worlds, Avatar, Virtual Goods, Social Media, Fab Culture...etc...
Although RICOH is one of the major printer maker, the situation in which people use printers is gradually decreasing. So they added an idea to the printer. It is to make them smaller.
RICOH Handy Printer is a handy-size monochrome inkjet printer that lets you print texts, images, QR codes, and barcodes anywhere by sliding it on paper. Even if the information you want to print does not fit on a regular printer, such as irregular-size paper or cardboard, you can easily print them using this.
Its weight only about 300grams and has a battery that can run for 2 hours in a row, and the size is 46 x 121 x 81mm and you can take it anywhere.
If you want to digitize information, you can do it by using a mobile app, Bluetooth or USB connection. They will release application fir Android and Windows in May. They will also release an SDK for this to support users own development.
Smart home appliances remote control has already been released by many manufacturers, there is no novelty. However, if you like something cute and it have a hello kitty face? Softbank's gadget shop SB C&S has released a limited model of smart home appliance remote control in collaboration with Hello Kitty, as the 45th anniversary item of Sanrio.
It is a small smart home appliance remote controller developed by gadget maker Ratoc Systems in Osaka, you can connect it to Wi-Fi at home and operate various smart appliances with infrared light. It supports not only mobile apps, but also Google assistants, Amazon Alexa-powered speakers, and voice operations using Siri shortcuts.
The distance of infrared rays is up to 30m, and remote control data of general household appliances such as TV, air conditioner, ceiling light, fan and recorder are also preset more than 350 kinds. In addition, learning of infrared remote control by manual is also possible and it has cloud function and sensors of temperature, humidity and brightness, so you can check home conditions with the mobile app and then operate your home appliances. The surface of this is printed with a Hello Kitty face, and it can be stored against the wall so you can always look at the Hello Kitty face in the room.
The size is 45 x 45 x 15mm, the weight is about 16grams, the power is 5V at 1A, and consumes 150mA in standby and 900mA in infrared transmission. You can buy this for 8,640yen(including tax) on Amazon.co.jp.
April is the beginning of a new season, especially for small children going to primary school, and in Japan, it is common for children to attend school alone. So, SOURCENEXT will release gadget FamilyDot that can check where the family members on May 29 by 16,070yen(including tax).
It is already possible if you have a smartphone. However, elementary school students do not have a smartphone yet. It's a small GPS device that can be used in 71 countries so you can always check where your family members are on your smartphone. You do not need a contract and monthly communication fee, and there is no limit on the number of position measurements. And you can use it for two years after you start using it without the need for extra cost. There are no restrictions on carriers, so you can use any Android / iOS mobile.
Usage is simple. You just charge it, set it up, and then attach it to the children's bag. There is no need for children to learn how to operate this. Not only GPS signal, but it can also pinpoint locations based on surrounding Wi-Fi access points, so you can also find underground and indoor locations.
It detects the movement speed of children when they leave school, arrive at home or go to other areas and automatically sends push notifications to your mobile. You can specify areas in advance. For example, it may be useful if your children are learning at a certain date and time. You can add users who can check location information without extra cost. It is also possible for the whole family to watch over the children. If the battery's remaining capacity drops below 20%, a notification will be sent to the mobile app.
The size is 45x 45x 18.5mm, the weight is about 38g, and works with a 800mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
Masu is a square shape cup made of wood for drinking Sake. It is a traditional lifestyle product, but Yume Cloud has developed MASU GLASS combining it with IoT.
It has a Dimension 50.00 mm x 50.00 mm x 20.30 mm module with Bluetooth Low Energy, Motion Sensors, Vibration Motor, and RGB LED. When you pour a Sake into MASS GLASS, give a toast and drink with someone, it reacts to it and glows. If BGM in there, it responds to it and glows in various patterns. In addition, you can control multiple MASU GLASS from smartphone by SMS, so you can use it for production of parties or events. The module is rechargeable and operates for 10 hours with 4 hours charge time.
Yume Cloud is established in Silicon Valley in 2014 and developing IoT solutions for entertainment using sensor technology, and established a Japanese branch office in Yamagata prefecture by Yamagata University's overseas startup invitation project recently. MASU GLASS has been adopted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's start-up support program J-Startup and will be exhibited at SXSW 2019.
When detecting logs of people's behavior data, wearable devices and cameras are usually used. However, Fichvita detects it on the floor, so it blends into the living environment and safe.
Fichvita is a non-optical behavior detection system developed by combining core material polymers of TOYO CHEM and circuit design technology of their group. You can use this only by placing it on the floor, so you can detect people's behavior without being affected by the brightness of the installation environment or the blind spot, which is a problem peculiar to the optical system. When people walk on this, it detects people's stride, walking speed, walking direction, number of passersby, and falling conditions.
Because this does not reflect people's faces, you can only know the people's walking pattern while keeping people's privacy. Also, people do not feel like a camera. The development team is supposed to use this at shops such as convenience stores and the elderly homes. In addition, this works not only as a sensor but also as an input device. You can also use this to develop arcade games or attractions. A trial of an attraction that used this already was done in digital theme park for kids Little Planet at Saitama Prefecture in July 2018.
