Hasta La Gadget!

Since the Fukushima nuclear plant accident there has been an increase in awareness across Japan regarding power saving. Tapping into this, the team at the Japanese creative agency,Dentsu Design Ninja, have come up with a nice social media campaign aimed at spreading the message of energy conservation named “Setsudenpo” (setsuden meaning power saving in Japanese)

Visitors to the site can write their, 140 characters or less, power saving messages and ideas on an envelope held by a carrier pigeon character. A shortened link is then generated and users have the option of sending their message out via Twitter, Facebook or email. Recipients who click on the link are sent to a screen which automatically activates their webcam and asks them to turn off their lights. The webcam recognizes the change in light and displays the message only once the lights have been turned off. Once the message has been displayed it also shows users how much energy has been saved up until now by all the people who have used the service so far. It was nice to see the site also has English instructions for those who can’t read Japanese.

The actual power saving is obviously not a huge amount, but it is a nice creative and interactive concept at spreading the message. Although no product was linked to the campaign we could think of a number that would suit it well, including trying to help Japan’s declining population problem! After all there are certain activities that lend themselves to having turned out the lights and getting romantic.

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Innovation and inspiration a plenty was on offer at last weekends fantastic TedxTokyo event which we were lucky enough to be invited to. Amongst presentations covering everything from climate change to female empowerment there was a particularly interesting session from medical bio expert Dr Yuichi Mori. Showcasing his invention of a unique, futuristic agricultural system called Imec, he demonstrated how crops can grow in almost any environment, even in space.

“A new innovative production technology of safe, high quality agricultural crops under minimized water and soil consumption,” Dr Mori exhibited what looks like a sheet of cling-film on which a healthy looking crop of cress was growing. Demonstrating how it was actually rooted onto the material by holding it upside down, it was amazing how the plant seemed to be growing very healthily without any soil at all. The cling-fim like material is actually based on medical-membrane technology, a field in which Dr Mori spent may years working in, and called a “hydromembrane”. Seeds are planted in the hydromembrane which also contains a culture medium with all necessary nutrients and water for the plant to develop. The plants develop a network of fine and dense roots closely attached to the material, and are able to fully develop using a mere one fifth of the water consumption needed in conventional soil based agriculture. The system also forces plants to regulate more sugar and amino acids in order to grow which has the knock on effect of producing particularly high quality crops, tomatoes and strawberries grown using the Imec method are particularly sweet and contain higher nutritional values.

The Imec membrane has the capability of blocking any harmful germs or bacteria usually passed through the soil to plants, meaning that the crops also require no chemical pesticides or fertilizers to grow. The fact that the sheet can be laid down on almost any surface also means that crops can be grown in nearly any environment including concrete, ice or over the top of non fertile soils. Having already been implemented in a desert environment and producing positive results it was even recently taken into space by Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi who grew herbs using the “hydromembrane” on the international space station. Dr Mori commented how he sees this technology to be an answer to restoring the agricultural business in Northern Japan where the sea water deposited by the tsunami has left soils infertile. Another great example of innovation that could help drive Japan’s economy out of disaster.

Image courtesy of TedxTokyo

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At the recent Retail Tech Expo held in Tokyo Panasonic showcased a prototype solar powered inductive charging table which is able to juice up devices simply by placing them on the table.

Although inductive coupling products have been on the market for some time, what was different about this product was how the charging panel on the table connected directly with the battery itself. A Panasonic employee demonstrated how it was possible to simply place the battery on the table and it would begin charging without any coupling or 3rd party accessories, as the circuits are integrated with the batteries themselves.

With the array of mobile devices in use today users are always looking for a quick top up of battery power on the go. Incorporating this kind of product into city restaurants and coffee shops would provide a very quick and easy way to keep the mobile offices powered, customers simply place their devices on the table as they have their coffee and automatically charging without any further cables or docking.

Sanyo’s portable Eneloop chargers, some solar powered, are already popular products on that market in Japan, so it makes an obvious next step to introduce this kind of technology into the market as well. We wrote recently about the rise in demand for alternatively powered appliances given the recent power shortages in Japan, coupled with the rise in the “eco-conscious” consumer around the world means that this kind of innovative product would potentially be hugely popular and useful.

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Toshiba have today announced the release of the industry’s first notebook PC which incorporates a terrestrial digital TV tuner capable of recording two programs simultaneously, and will go on sale from May 20th.

The notebook computer also comes with a one touch “eco” button which changes the running of the computer to optimum energy saving levels, cutting power consumption by 24% based on regular using. The product itself isn’t hugely game changing, but what was interesting was how Toshiba are marketing the new product in Japan.

The disaster in Japan has changed the way many companies approach how they advertise their products now. Toshiba with their new laptop are focusing on the ability for users to be able to watch digital terrestrial television broadcasts, even during power blackouts when normal televisions would not work. Concerns of consumers in Japan have certainly changed since the earthquake, and being able to watch developing news on the television in the event of a disaster may appeal to many who experienced the disaster firsthand.

The eco function will also be heavily promoted as consumers worry about the possibility of summer power shortages. Having already experienced blackouts shortly after the earthquake the threat of certain appliances being off limits during periods of the day is a prominent concern for many. Where before the disaster, brands advertising their eco credentials were tapping into growing environmental concerns, post quake, in Japan’s New Normal, it is targeting concerns of a different nature.

The number of appliances with built in batteries targeting this “post disaster market” will no doubt increase, as concerns rise about power shortages. With a variety of outlets available to the public which convey the electricity grid’s current consumption rate in real time, the threat of blackouts is particularly visible. Just last week with the recent warmer weather we saw the indicator rise to 85% capacity and it was only 11am. Knowing how hot and humid summers can be in Tokyo, the use of airconditioners is a must so energy consumption will rise dramatically as the thermometer does.

Sharp have already released a portable TV that can last up to 3-4 hours without mains power, and a new Tohsiba TV even comes with a “peak shift” button on the remote which switches from AC adapter to battery power. Being able to charge whilst watching during off peak times, then switch to battery power during peak electricity usage hours will help cut the electricity demand. Electric fans, refrigerators and other appliances could be next to offer back up, non mains power, and the demand for these products will no doubt spur innovation within Japan. With an interest in “Eco” products worldwide, this kind of technology could provide Japan with a unique opportunity to take the lead in energy saving products and innovate out of disaster.

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Wheego has, at long last, let its first $32,995, 100-mile range LiFe electric two-seater loose on the public, and added another cute little electric car to the US EV collective. By either stroke-of-luck or sheer coincidence (no way is it intentional), the first of the breed was delivered today, otherwise known as Earth Day, to a couple of lucky owners in the ATL. Good to see Dixieland drivers (who often prefer something with a lift kit and Super Swampers to fuel-efficient subcompacts) bringing cleaner motoring to the derrrty South.

Couple in Atlanta finally gets a LiFe, courtesy of Wheego originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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