Hasta La Gadget!

[CEATEC 2012] At CES 2012 earlier this year, a prototype of the Tosy mRobo dancing robot was spotted, where it came in the form of a boombox that could “transform” into a small humanoid form factor, grooving to the kind of music that is being played back over its internal speaker. Well, CEATEC 2012 saw the Tosy mRobo dancing robot make an appearance, where this portable speaker was paraded to the tunes of Michael Jackson as well as Maroon 5. Sure, it too, did not manage to perform a Moonwalk, but it sure did draw hoots and cheers from the crowd, complete with a MJ-like fedora to boot, although that tiny fedora came with the words “mRobo” emblazoned on it. Just how much do you think you are willing to fork out for something like this? We would have liked to see a far more fluid transformation process from speaker to robot, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. Still, I wonder for how long has the Tosy mRobo been tested (its joints, bearings, etc) in terms of durability. Kids would probably make short work of it though.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Robots wields a paint brush masterfully, Tosy DiscoRobo dancing robot is no legend,

Sure, Nike+ will track your gait and help you tell your friends just how that couch-to-2K training is working for ya, but wouldn’t it be nice if it your shoes were smarter? That’s partly what Murata is enabling with its Walking Measurement System, on display at CEATEC 2012. It’s a piezoelectric sensor that sits in the sole of your shoe and detects pressure at different points. The readings from this sensor, transmitted over low-power Bluetooth 4.0, could enable a number of applications including precise shoe fitting for runners, posture detection for dancers and even golf swing analysis for duffers. Murata had this built into a lovely pink Asics sneaker that was a bit too small for us to try on, but we did try squeezing another sensor that fed its data in real-time to an app running on iPhone. Cool concept? For sure, but for now it’s just that and nothing more.

Mat Smith contributed to this report.

Filed under: Wearables

Murata Walking Measurement System hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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motheye glass demonstrated in the middle

[CEATEC 2012] When choosing to buy a display, one of the factors consumers have to decide is whether they want a screen with higher contrast and lower glare or vice versa. Well, it looks like Sharp has got a solution to the problem with its new glass panel technology called motheye. As the name implies, it was inspired by a moth’s eye – which is said to have properties that eliminate reflection. Well, they studied the insect’s eye and realized that most of the anti-reflection comes from the moth eye’s surface which is rough and bumpy. When light hits this rough surface, it is sent bouncing away instead of splitting up and causing glare. In addition to reducing glare, this rough surface will also help light from beneath it shine through without splitting up and losing its intensity.
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By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Sharp 6.1-inch IGZO display has 498ppi, WQXGA resolution, Sharp 5-inch Igzo Full HD LCD panel,

[CEATEC 2012] The ROHM CIGS (Copper indium gallium (di)selenide) Near-Infrared sensor provides the ability to see  near-infrared light waves that are normally invisible to the naked eye. By capturing near-infrared light, it is possible to see through layers of matter without having to use harmful radiations like X-rays. In some ways, it is similar to techniques used to observe space through thick clouds of dust. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Rohm hydrogen fuel cells are perfect for emergencies, CEATEC Japan 2012 – Day 2 Round-up,

[CEATEC 2012] Last year, Docomo launched its menu translation app, but this year, their translation application can handle two use cases: conversations over the phone, and conversation side by side with someone speaking another language. At CEATEC 2012, we had an opportunity to try the conversation mode at CEATEC, and it worked quite well.

The concept is simple: two people speaking different language can communicate on a turn-by-turn basis, and the Docomo app translates each phrase in both visual and audio form in real-time. At any given time, each party can easily see if their phrase had been properly translated as every phrase always appear in both languages (see above). While this app may resemble Google Translate (Android version) on the surface, the Docomo translator user interface  is much better tuned for a two-person use, while Google Translate really works OK for a single person. I found the interaction with the Docomo app to be quicker and more natural than with Google Translate. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Docomo Shabette Robo keeps you in the know, Docomo helps commuters with one-handed smartphone/tablet use,