Hasta La Gadget!

Kirobo is a 13-inch talking robot that will keep Japanese astronaut Kochi Wakata company on the International Space Station. He is now on his way to the ISS after being launched on an H-2B rocket from Japan.

Kirobo is the first talking robot to be sent into space. He’s a pretty adorable robot too. He was launched on board an unmanned spacecraft that’s scheduled to arrive at the ISS on August 9th. Along with the robot, the craft is also carrying drinking water, food, and other supplies.

Wakata will arrive at the ISS in November to take over as Commander. Kirobo will talk to Wakata and even keep a record of their conversations during the mission. Captain Kirk just has a captain’s log. Kirobo is so much neater.

Here’s some footage of the little guy being weighed, packed and shipped like so much space baggage:

If many more robots get into space, we will need to be careful they don’t build a death ray up there and kill us all.

[Kibo-Robo via Geekosystem]

Who doesn’t like having a watch that looks like it’s from the future? Well I sure would like to have one, and I have to say that the Kisai Neutron from Tokyoflash would be perfect for humans and Cylons alike.

The Tokyoflash Kisai Neutron has a metal grille over some LED light bars that curve around your wrist. The time is displayed by flashing digits, which makes it easily readable by anyone. You can view time either by watching the digits scroll or fade in. The watch is motion sensitive, so you just need to give it a shake to show the time. You can also choose to have it always on, or light up upon the touch of a button.

The Kisai Neutron watch sells for $169(USD) and is powered by a USB-rechargeable battery. It comes in black, gold, or gunmetal with white, blue, or red LEDs.

When it comes to electric vehicles, there is one very huge disadvantage that is associated with them – that is, their range, or rather a shortness of it compared to gas-powered rides. Of course, some solutions have been offered up such as the EP Tender that we talked about earlier this morning, but it is still an unsightly addition to the back of your stylish ride. Having said that, a bunch of Japanese auto manufacturers, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi has announced that they will be working alongside the Japanese government of the day in order to deliver more than triple the number of publicly accessible chargers throughout the Land of the Rising Sun, and we are talking about Level 2 as well as DC fast chargers. This would mean approximately 11,000 units and 5,700 units, respectively, now how about that?

In order to do so, the Japanese government also shared that they intend to release approximately 100 billion yen (that would amount to around $1 billion in US dollars) worth of subsidies so that additional regular chargers can be installed in various places such as shopping malls and restaurants, all the while deploying more fast chargers at or near highway rest stops and gas stations.

Like It , +1 , Tweet It , Pin It | Some Japanese Auto Manufacturers Team Up With Government To Offer More Publicly Accessible Chargers For Electric Vehicles original content from Ubergizmo.

Remember the names Martin Kaltenbrunner and Takao Someya — that way, you’ll have someone to blame when kids start pointing and laughing at gadgets we consider high-tech today. Leading a team of University of Tokyo researchers, they have recently developed a flexible, skin-like material that can detect pressure while also being virtually indestructible. Think of the possibilities: with a thickness of one nanometer, this could be used to create a second skin that can monitor your vital signs or medical implants that you can barely feel, if at all. Also, temperature sensors could be added to make life-like skin for prosthetics… or even robots! Like other similar studies, however, the researchers have a long journey ahead before we see this super-thin material in medicine. Since it could lead to bendy gadgets and wearable electronics first, don’t be surprised if your children call iPhones “so 2013″ in the not-too-distant future.

Filed under: Misc, Alt

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Via: iO9, ABC Science, New Scientist

Source: Nature

In contrast to its happy visits to the Eiffel Tower and Burj Khalifa, Street View’s exploration of Dead Island may have given you the wrong impression of Japan. Luckily, one of the country’s most picturesque symbols, Mount Fuji, was recently scaled by what must be some of Mountain View’s most athletic trekkers. The fruits of the 12,400-foot climb and incessant photo stops are 14,000 separate panoramas, including many sunrise shots only available to diligent night climbers. They’re now live on Maps, so hit the source or panorama after the break for a far less taxing peek.

Filed under: Software, Google

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Via: TNW

Source: Google Maps (Blog)