Japanese Brands

Researchers at Germany’s Ilmenau University of Technology are developing flying quadcopter robots that can be used to form a self-assembling ad-hoc wireless network in the event of disaster. Built with off-the-shelf parts (including VIA’s Pico-ITX hardware and a GPS unit) the robots are designed to provide both mobile phone and WiFi access — and they can do it far more quickly than a technician on the ground might be able to. The device comes in a kit for €300 (about $380), which includes all but the battery — the batteries currently run around €1,000 (over $1200) and only offer up 20 minutes of flight time. Once the device has found a perch, however, it can operate for “several hours.” If you’d like to see some more of this guy, be sure to head on over to FutureParc hall at CeBIT. Either that, or check out the additional picture after the break.

[Thanks, David]

Continue reading Researchers develop flying WiFi robots for disaster relief

Filed under: Robots, Wireless

Researchers develop flying WiFi robots for disaster relief originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Parc Hall, an out-of-the-way palace where we spotted Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s iPoint 3D yesterday, was also home to two of the baddest, most sophisticated robots we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. Tattooed DESIRE (the orange guy) and Rollin’ Justin (the blue fellow), these two humanoids were built with the hope of one day being available for sale to elderly and single individuals who need another being around the house to take care of things. DESIRE seemed mighty great at picking up random cans and tossing ‘em in the garbage, while Rollin’ Justin listened intently to commands from his master, spoke aloud to confirm them, and then obeyed. We captured everything on video for those who couldn’t make it to CeBIT, so hop on past the break to have a look.

Continue reading Video: Rollin’ Justin and DESIRE robots take out trash, follow commands

Filed under: Robots

Video: Rollin’ Justin and DESIRE robots take out trash, follow commands originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese engineers—you were expecting stoic, practical Germans or … Apparently it could work with just about any gizmo or homeappliance.

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Mainichi Daily News

NY music producer reprinting rare collection of pre-war Japanese music Mainichi Daily News, Japan (Mainichi) NEW YORK — A local music producer is in the process of reprinting a vast and rare collection of pre-war Japanese music. Allan Evans, 53, is reissuing the five volume, 60 SP record collection of Japanese traditional music, children's songs, …

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…the global economic crisis, Japanese electronics … into a 5% pay cut for workers in the company’s digital home-appliance and…

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Scouting a computer that’s “attentive to one’s desires?” Good news, friends! Frédéric Kaplan’s QB1, which was unveiled at the LIFT Conference in Geneva this past week, aims to be just that. Reportedly, the machine was designed in order to “alter the fundamentals of human-machine interaction,” and rather than relying on the traditional mouse and keyboard approach, this one works entirely via gestures. QB1 is capable of recognizing inputs from both hands at once, with one example having a human select a record and adjust the volume by simply flicking their fingers through an on-screen album collection. We’re told that the related patents behind the sophisticated 3D gesture interaction technology have been filed, but there’s no word yet on when we’ll be able to actually buy one. ‘Til then, it’s up to you to handle those “desires” yourself.

[Via The Inquirer]

Filed under: Robots

Gesture recognizing QB1 computer attends to your every desire originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Music: New Album Release From Flutist Nagata, Soul Of Japan: "The … PR Web (press release), WA "It's the happy and joyful side of Japanese music." (PRWEB) March 2, 2009 — Journey to unheard sounds, the sound hidden deep in the spirit, as Doppo Nagata reveals his music in the foreign land of Los Angeles. By tracing his Japanese memory path, …

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Japan has recorded its worst trade deficit on record as demand for its exports continues to slump.

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Music from Japan to visit MTSU The Tennessean, TN Music from Japan will bring its internationally acclaimed presentation of Japanese music to MTSU this month. In its 34th season, the program will be put on from 1:30 to 3 pm March 15 in MTSU's Wright Music Building. Murfreesboro is one of only six …

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Gasoline prices are rising every now and then. That is because conflicts in the Middle East never falter to affect the pricing of the volatile oil commodity in the world market. Consequently, cons…

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