Flexible Loudspeaker Technology at CEATEC

Posted: October 3, 2007 in Uncategorized
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Shown at
CEATEC, this is a demonstration of a flexible loudspeaker technology.
As thin as a couple sheets of paper, the full audio spectrum can be
realized. Combined with flexible display technologies, such as ePaper,
you could have a multimedia experience that could be rolled up and
distributed. Similar to the interactive newspapers shown in the Harry
Potter and Minority Report movies.

Amazing full motion robotics

Posted: October 3, 2007 in Computers and Internet
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Just one amazing example of full-motion robotics at CEATEC 2007… wow…


Stereo audio targeting

Posted: October 3, 2007 in Uncategorized
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Another cool technology emerging from CEATEC 2007:


1 LTD’s directional audio speakers used a mesh of 8 to 20
little speakers and Regaza’s audiovisuak processor solution to effectively transmit audio to specific locations in a room.
This enables many applications, from multilingual audio based on where a person
is sitting in a room, to automotive possibilities where passengers can clearly
listen to only their audio tracks, while the driver only hears traffic and GPS
instructions. Given an effectively optimized room or environment, there are
incredible possibilities for audio targeting solutions.

Fuel Cell Powered Devices – Unlimted Renewable Energy for Consumer Electronics Devices

Posted: October 3, 2007 in Uncategorized
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Toshiba displayed a *working* media player running on Methanol fuel cells. This is quite the breakthrough – unlimited, renewable, affordable, clean energy for consumer electronics devices. Imagine running low on power for your laptop. Just add a few squirts of methanol into a port and bam, get more power. In combination with rechargeable batteries, it could become the next big thing. Toshiba has shown concept mock-ups/prototypes in the past, but this is the first time they’ve shown something that actually works.

It’s a small world after all

Posted: October 1, 2007 in Uncategorized
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Below is a photo of Hidei (right). I met him at Stabucks here in Makuhari. He’s from INDIANAPOLIS. He was born in Indy, then moved to Japan due to his father being hired by a Japanese company. He was certainly wowed by the Pike Place Starbucks card – you can only buy it at the original Starbucks. The entire store came over to see.
 
FYI – Starbucks Cards are a uniquely American phenomenon. Yours won’t work here.
 
They gave me some free espresso – cool!
 

Italian in Japan… Interesting!

Posted: September 30, 2007 in Uncategorized
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Well, you would think it would be different, and you’d be right.
 
A few notes on eating Italian food in Japan – at least, based on my experience at ONE restaurant…
 
  • Refills are not free. Iced tea is $4, and it has ice… That refill? Another $4!
  • The pizza was very good. I ordered a "half and half," where I could choose what I wanted on each half. One half was potato and mayonaise with some Japanese herbs and spices, the other half – a margarita pizza… basil, mozzarellllllla, and tomato.
  • There was no pepper at the table. Bummer with the Caesar salad.
  • There were no plate settings. There’s a basket with spoons and forks. I’d actually liked to have tried eating the salad with chopsticks.
  • The tiramisu tasted like Eckeridge Farms frozen stuff, but it was good.
  • The tables next to me ordered pasta. They used Tabasco Sauce on their pasta… Japanese pepper, maybe?
  • Pizza: $14, Drinks (iced tea + refill): $8, Tiramisu: $4. Caesar Salad: $8. Yowsa!
  • This was the only Italian place I found in a one-mile radius.
  • There were a number of Indian places, but not a single Chinese restaurant.

A few notes about Japan

Posted: September 30, 2007 in Travel
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  • There are many Toyotas, but I have seen no Lexus models. I’ve seen one Nissan, but no Infiniti. Mercedes, BMW, few and far between. Alas, I haven’t spotted a single American car.
  • Finding a pharmacy is difficult – and once found, I saw no Advil.
  • There are many McDonald’s.
  • On escalators, people instinctively know to stand to the left, letting those who want to walk down escalators walk/run down the right.
  • They drive on the left side of the road.
  • Most cars are small. I have yet to see an SUV.
  • They care about recycling here. Everywhere you go there are recycling bins. Convenience stores have bins at check-out to place your receipt for when it won’t be kept.
  • McDonald’s doesn’t have mayonaise in packets, but they can put it on your sandwich.
  • Flash memory is about twice as expensive here than in the States.
  • Everything is smaller.
  • I have seen practically no homeless.
  • There is a slot in the hotel room for the room key. Without the room key inserted, the air conditioning and other appliances have no power. Nice way to save energy!
  • It seems to rain all the time here.
  • It is a rarity for stores to open at 9am here. If they aren’t 24-hours, they open up between 10am and Noon.
  • You should speak basic Japanese phrases here – hello / goodbye / thank you / excuse me. If you speak English, you will get smiles, but oftentime little understanding.
  • If security stops you, just keep speaking English. They go away.

 

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