Lingerie maker Triumph International Japan has unveiled a new concept bra designed to appeal to the hardcore female golfing enthusiast.
Called the “Nice Cup In Bra,” the lingerie consists of a grass-green top that, when removed, conveniently unfurls into a 1.5-meter-long putting mat. When the user sinks a putt into one of the cups, a built-in speaker pumps out a cry of “Nice shot.” (Watch a short video.)
In addition to functioning as a practice mat, the bra incorporates features that can come in handy on the course, such as pockets for storing extra balls and tees, as well as a detachable flag pin that doubles as a score pencil.
The bottom half of the lingerie consists of a detachable pink skirt with the words “Be Quiet” printed in bold letters on the rear. When removed, the extra-short skirt can be used as a flag to encourage onlookers to remain silent.
According to the maker, the Nice Cup In Bra — which is not yet for sale — was created in response to the growing popularity of golf among females in Japan, and is designed to appeal to busy working women looking for a unique and convenient way to practice their putt.
Towering over Wakasu Kaihin Park in Tokyo’s Koto ward is one of the largest wind turbines in Japan, a 100 meter (330 ft) tall power generator built by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) in 2004, which outputs 1,950 kilowatts of electricity and is adorned with images of Astro Boy, Phoenix, Black Jack, Sharaku (the Three-eyed One), Unico and other Osamu Tezuka manga characters.
In recent days, Japan’s major automakers have been releasing details about the concept cars they plan to unveil at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, which will be held from October 24 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo. Environmental friendliness appears to be the common theme.
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- Toyota FT-EV II
Toyota will debut the FT-EV II, an ultra-compact electric vehicle.
Toyota FT-EV II
With a range of 90 kilometers (56 mi) and a top speed of around 100 kph (62 mph), the FT-EV II — which stands for “Future Toyota Electric Vehicle II” — is designed for short-distance urban driving.
Despite the vehicle’s tiny size, there is seating for four inside. The designers were able to free up interior space by removing items found in traditional vehicles, such as the brake and acceleration pedals, which have been replaced by joystick controls. Other features include a dye-sensitized solar panel, electric sliding doors, and a retro-futuristic interior.
Toyota FT-EV II
By incorporating a variety of communications functions into the dashboard, Toyota aims to demonstrate how the electric vehicle might function as a powerful information device in the networked society of the future.
Toyota FT-EV II
In addition to connecting with navigation services, the FT-EV II can download music and movie content, make recommendations tailored to individual preferences, and communicate with the driver’s home network, thus allowing the driver cruise the information superhighway while tooling around town. [More]
Equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, the new Kiyora is powered by a fuel-efficient 1.3-liter gasoline engine that gets up to 75 mpg with the help of regenerative braking, advanced aerodynamics and a system that shuts the engine off at stops. [More]
Honda’s EV-N concept, which looks like a 21st-century version of the classic Honda N600 of the late 60s and early 70s, has a solar roof that charges the battery-powered motor, interchangeable seat fabrics, and a car-to-car communications system in the front bumper.
Using the latest in balancing technology obtained from Honda’s ASIMO robot, the U3-X is capable of detecting slight changes in weight shift and adjusting its directional path accordingly. By leaning, the rider can steer the U3-X forward, backward, side-to-side and diagonally, as seen in the video below.
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- Honda CR-Z
Although Honda still calls it a concept car, the CR-Z hybrid hatchback is slated for production early next year in Japan.
Inside the cockpit, the driver sits front and center behind a futuristic-looking instrument panel and a steering wheel that resembles a pair of joysticks.
The five-door compact crossover combines sporty driving with environmental performance, and its exterior and interior are inspired by dune buggies and motorcycles.
Inside, the framework of the seats and doors is partially exposed for an unfinished look, and the center console is designed to resemble a motorcycle fuel tank and seat. [More]
Billed as an environmentally-friendly grand touring car, the Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept is a four-passenger hybrid vehicle equipped with gullwing doors for a sense of openness.
During normal driving, the all-wheel drive Hybrid Tourer is powered by a 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engine. The vehicle’s two electric motors are used for low-speed driving and recharging the lithium-ion batteries, and for providing an boost when extra acceleration is needed. [More]
The PX-MiEV’s front and rear wheels are powered by two permanent magnet synchronous motors, while a 1.6-liter gasoline engine powers the front wheels and works as a generator. The vehicle’s smart control system automatically switches between the various driving modes depending on the vehicle speed, battery level, and road conditions.
A 3-way battery charging system allows the vehicle to be charged using either a 100-volt or a 200-volt domestic supply, or a high-power quick-charging station. In addition to powering the motors, the battery can also supply electricity to user’s home during the daytime when domestic power consumption is highest, and it can be used used as an emergency power source in the event of a natural disaster. Devices can also be plugged into the vehicle’s 100-volt AC auxiliary socket in the rear luggage compartment.
The PX-MiEV uses heat reflective glass and paint for a cool interior. Each of the four seats is equipped with an individual air conditioner, while a negative-ion aroma humidifier and oxygen enricher improve the comfort level and reduce fatigue.
Safety features include a monitor that displays a composite image of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, as well as a driver monitoring system that uses a camera to detect drowsy eyes. If the system detects a lapse in concentration, the driver is alerted by a series of attention-getting lights, sounds, vibrations, and smells. [More]
Electric transformer boxes painted with the silhouettes of Ultraman monsters can be seen on the streets of Sukagawa (Fukushima prefecture), the hometown of sci-fi special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya.
[Typographic logo for Kamagaya (Chiba) spells town name in katakana]
Japanese town logos — official symbols designed to communicate the identity of each municipality — come in a vast array of shapes and colors. Many of these municipal symbols incorporate typographical elements (particularly kanji, hiragana, katakana, and Roman letters) into their designs. In most cases, the stylized characters are straightforward and easy to spot (even if you don’t read Japanese), but sometimes you have to bend your eyes to see them. The more complex logos encode the name of the town into a puzzle-like symbol that begs to be deciphered. Here are a few typographic town logos that make clever use of hiragana and katakana characters. (The examples are arranged in Japanese alphabetical order and include a mixture of both alphabets.)
[Abiko, Chiba]
A: Abiko’s logo uses a stylized katakana ア (a) that symbolizes Lake Tega.
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[Itabashi, Tokyo]
I: The picture-puzzle logo for Tokyo’s Itabashi ward consists of the katakana イタ (ita) surrounded by four (shi) katakana ハ (ha) — the katakana ハ (ha) is a variant of バ (ba). Together, the elements express the name “Itabashi” (”ita” + “ha” + “shi”).
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[Urakawa, Hokkaido]
U: In Urakawa’s design, a stylized kanji 河 (kawa) is surrounded by four sets of the katakana ウラ (ura), which represent the four municipalities that joined together in 1902 to form the current town.
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[Ebino, Miyazaki]
E: Ebino’s hiragana え (e) is in the shape of Mt. Kirishima.
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[Owase, Mie]
O: Owase’s town logo consists of a katakana オ (o) in the shape of an eagle (pronounced “wase” in the local dialect).
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[Kanoya, Kagoshima]
Ka: The blue shape represents the Osumi peninsula, and the red circle with the gold katakana カノヤ (Kanoya) represents the city.
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[Kikai, Kagoshima]
Ki: The logo for Kikai consists of a stylized hiragana き (ki).
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[Kumamoto, Kumamoto]
Ku: Kumamoto’s logo is a rounded hiragana く (ku).
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[Kesennuma, Miyagi]
Ke: The logo for Kesennuma consists of a hiragana け (ke).
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[Komaki, Aichi]
Ko: The katakana コマキ (komaki) in this logo is designed to represent an airplane engine.
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[Misawa, Aomori]
Sa: In Misawa’s picture-puzzle logo, the three (mi) katakana サ (sa) form a ring (wa). The Y-shaped objects are pine needles.
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[Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi]
Shi: Shimonoseki’s logo consists of the hiragana しも (shimo) in the shape of a puffer fish.
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[Sumida, Tokyo]
Su: This symbol for Tokyo’s Sumida ward is composed of the katakana ス (su).
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[Setana, Hokkaido]
Se: The katakana せ (se) is in the shape of Hokkaido, and the circle represents the town’s location on the map.
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[Urasoe, Okinawa]
So: The logo for Urasoe is said to incorporate the katakana ウラソエ (Urasoe), though the ソ (so) and エ (e) are difficult to see.
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[Tateyama, Chiba]
Ta: Tateyama’s logo consists of the katakana タ (ta) on the left, テ (te) on the right, and the kanji 山 (yama) in the center.
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[Chitose, Hokkaido]
Chi: In Chitose’s logo, the hiragana ち (chi) is shaped like an airplane.
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[Tsushima, Nagasaki]
Tsu: The six hiragana つ (tsu) in this logo represent the six municipalities that merged in 2004 to form the current city.
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[Toride, Ibaraki]
Te: Toride’s logo incorporates the katakana トリテ (torite). デ (de) is a variant of テ (te).
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[Tōkai, Aichi]
To: The logo for Tōkai uses the hiragana とう (tō).
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[Nankoku, Kochi]
Na: In Nankoku’s logo, the katakana ナ (na) resembles a pair of wings.
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[Niiza, Saitama]
Ni: Niiza’s logo incorporates the katakana ニ (ni) and ザ (za).
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[Numazu, Shizuoka]
Nu: The logo for Numazu depicts the katakana ヌ (nu) with pine needles.
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[Nerima, Tokyo]
Ne: The logo for Tokyo’s Nerima ward consists of a katakana ネ (ne) with a horseshoe-shaped center — a reference to the “horse” kanji 馬 (ma) in Nerima.
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[Minoo, Osaka]
No: Minoo’s picture-puzzle logo consists of three (mi) katakana ノ (no).
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[Hadano, Kanagawa]
Ha: The logo for Hadano consists of the katakana ハタノ (hatano) drawn to resemble wings. ダ (da) is a variant of タ (ta).
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[Biei, Hokkaido]
Hi: Biei’s logo design features the hiragana び (bi) in the shape of Mt. Tokachi. び (bi) is a variant of ひ (hi).
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[Fukuchiyama]
Fu: The picture-puzzle logo for Fukuchiyama incorporates nine (ku) katakana フ (fu).
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[Sasebo, Nagasaki]
Ho: Sasebo’s logo is drawn with the katakana サセホ (Saseho). ホ (bo) is a variant of ボ (ho).
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[Higashi-Matsuyama, Saitama]
Ma: This logo design consists of three katakana マ (ma). The symbol as a whole is meant to represent the kanji 東 (higashi), as well as the kanji 山 (yama).
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[Minato, Tokyo]
Mi: The design for Tokyo’s Minato ward features a stylized version of the hiragana み (mi).
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[Mutsu, Aomori]
Mu: Mutsu’s symbol consists of the hiragana むつ (mutsu).
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[Kameoka, Kyoto]
Me: Kameoka’s logo design is said to incorporate letters from three alphabets, including the hiragana かめ (kame), the katakana カメ (kame), the roman letters KA, and others.
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[Mobara, Chiba]
Mo: Mobara’s town symbol is said to incorporate a stylized version of the hiragana も (mo), though it is difficult to make out.
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[Yachiyo, Chiba]
Ya: The logo for Yachiyo consists of the hiragana や (ya).
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[Yokosuka, Kanagawa]
Yo: Yokosuka’s symbol, which represents a mariner’s compass, incorporates the katakana ヨコ (yoko) styled like the Miura clan symbol.
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[Omura, Nagasaki]
Ra: Omura’s picture-puzzle logo features the kanji 大 (oh) surrounded by six (mu) katakana ラ (ra).
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[Rishiri, Hokkaido]
Ri: Rishiri’s symbol is said to incorporate the hiragana り (ri), which representing ocean waves, along with the hiragana し (shi), which represents Mt. Rishiri.
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[Rumei, Hokkaido]
Ru: The logo for Rumei consists of the katakana ル (ru) surrounded by four seagulls.
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[Rebun, Hokkaido]
Re: Rebun’s town symbol incorporates the katakana レ (re).
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[Muroran, Hokkaido]
Ro: Muroran’s picture-puzzle logo consists of six (mu) katakana ロ (ro) surrounding an orchid (ran).
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[Tokorozawa, Saitama]
Wa: The picture-puzzle logo for Tokorozawa features a yam (tokoro) surrounded by three katakana ワ (wa). In Japanese, “three” is pronounced “san,” which sounds similar to “za.”
Mobile phone giant KDDI has teamed up with Tokyo-based Flower Robotics to develop a new concept mobile phone/robot system designed to monitor and learn the user’s behavior and communicate via a home TV set.
Called “Polaris,” the prototype system consists of a mobile handset that monitors the user’s daily activities and an artificially intelligent robot sphere (it looks a lot like Sony’s Rolly music player robot) that charges the handset and displays data on the user’s TV.
When the phone is held near Polaris, the robot opens up to reveal a cradle for the handset. And when it is placed aboard, the robot automatically steers itself toward the contactless charger connected to the home TV set. Polaris then proceeds to analyze the most recent information collected by the handset, and it displays various data on the TV screen and offers advice, if necessary. Like an artificial life form with a bit of personality, Polaris can physically respond to the data with a series of lights, sounds, and movements.
According to Flower Robotics, the Polaris system — which was unveiled in Tokyo today along with a host of other KDDI “iida” brand products — is designed to learn the user’s lifestyle by collecting data, analyzing activity, and identifying trends. The robot keeps a database of information accumulated through the handset, such as the user’s daily travel and walking habits, calls and email messages sent and received, and online transactions. Using this data, Polaris learns to predict the user’s behavior and offer relevant advice and information.
Still in the concept phase, Polaris needs a number of improvements to prepare it for the real world. In particular, the robot’s navigation system needs further attention. At the demonstration, the robot was placed on a large table that had magnets embedded along the edges, and it used sensors to detect the magnets and stop itself from falling off. According to the developers, future versions of Polaris may achieve greater autonomy by communicating with sensors embedded in the walls of the home.
In addition, the developers plan to make the handset more secure by equipping the touch-screen with finger vein sensors.
Flower Robotics has been working with KDDI on the Polaris concept model since joining the au design project in 2007. The developers hope to have a commercial version of the robot ready next year, although the price and final design have yet to be decided.
Moonbell is an automated music generator that plays musical scores based on lunar topographical data obtained by Japan’s Kaguya (SELENE) explorer during its orbit around the moon from late 2007 to June 2009.
Moonbell, which was developed in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has two playback modes: “Orbit Play” and “Free Scratch.” Click the buttons on the bottom right of the screen to switch modes.
In Orbit Play mode, Kaguya traverses the moon in a circular orbit and music is generated based on the topography below. This screen displays Kaguya’s orbital path, an altitude graph of the topography, and the corresponding musical notation map. Use your mouse to change Kaguya’s location and orbit.
In Free Scratch mode, you can use your mouse to chart a path across the moon’s surface. The corresponding music plays in a loop, regardless of how long the path is. The notes are visualized as different colors and patterns on the screen.
To tweak the audio output, click the “Preference” button on the bottom left of the screen. This opens the settings panel, where you can choose from 128 musical instruments for each track, change the playback speed, set the volume for each instrument, and more.
See the “About” page for a complete description of all of Moonbell’s functions and controls.
The annual Good Design Expo — billed as one of the biggest design events in Asia — showcases thousands of well-designed products under consideration for the year’s Good Design Awards. Over 2,000 items ranging consumer electronics, automobiles and furniture to office equipment, building designs and sporting goods were exhibited at this year’s event, which was held at Tokyo Big Sight this weekend (Aug 28-30). Here are just a few of the many eye-catching designs on display.
One the most interesting items was this hourglass-shaped freshness label for meat products (designed by TO-GENKYO). The label contains special ink that changes color based on the amount of ammonia emitted by the meat (the older the meat, the more ammonia it releases).
These stylish Hana-Akari interior lamp shades by Sony are actually dye-sensitized solar cells that mimic photosynthesis by storing energy in a thin membrane. The shades collect sunlight during the day and power the lamp at night.
“Concent” USB hub that looks like wall outlet (by ELECOM) [+]
The magnetized mouths of these Kissing Octopus Couple USB flash drives (by A-Data) allow them to function as magnetic stickers when not plugged into a computer. The USB connector tucks neatly inside the body.
Honda’s experimental Walking Assist Device helps support the wearer’s body weight, reducing the load on the legs while walking, going up and down stairs, and crouching.
“Palook” spiral fluorescent bulbs by Panasonic [+]
These disposable pads are designed for use with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) placed in public areas. The imprinted design shows where to attach the pads to the body — helpful information for the first-time user.
Candy-colored portable hard drives (by A-Data) [+]
The QLD-101 table lamp (designed by Qisda Corporation) is a modular LED light fixture composed of crystal-like units that connect together with magnets. The polyhedral units can be easily configured into a variety of shapes, and the low-temperature LEDs prevent them from becoming hot to the touch.
According to the video, WAHHA GO GO is activated by spinning the torso-mounted metal disk (an optional crank arm can be used for greater speed). The disk’s rotational energy is transferred to the machine’s left and right arms via a gear assembly in the lower back. As the arms rotate, the accordion-like lungs expand upward, drawing in air that is then exhaled through the machine’s artificial vocal cords.
Another set of gear wheels in the spine transfers some of the spinning disk’s rotational energy to the head assembly, which includes a pair of tiny arms that stretch and relax WAHHA GO GO’s artificial vocal cords (thus regulating the pitch), as well as an arm connected to a valve that controls the flow of air from the lungs. This arm also opens and closes the mouth, which alters the so-called “formant characteristics” (resonant frequency) of the laugh, producing the “wa” and “ha” sounds.
By incorporating a series of mechanisms that work together to control the pitch, resonant frequency, and amount of air supplied to the artificial vocal cords, WAHHA GO GO is able to produce an uncanny human-like laugh.
