Hasta La Gadget!

With the recent eco and “setsuden” (energy saving) activities set in place in Japan since the disasters, Sharp has just announced a new concept, energy efficient, Eco House. Reported to have “zero CO2 emissions”, the new building combines the most recent green technology and Sharp’s newest energy-saving home appliances. The wooden two-story home is located in Osaka, well known for its heavy production of solar and LCD panels which are implemented throughout. Four researchers have resided in this trial house since May, measuring its effectiveness and comfort of living; Sharp’s ultimate goal is to minimize power consumption whilst providing a comfortable living environment.

Sharp proposes to save energy with this new concept in several interesting ways,including implementing throughout the house a number of key energy efficient home appliances which they have developed over the years. In descending order, air conditioners, lighting equipment, refrigerators, and televisions use the most energy, amounting to roughly two-thirds of the total power used in an average home. Installing the newest eco-friendly and energy saving devices, it is estimated that 30% of the average electricity bill could be cut.

Another technique they plan on using is allowing residents to “see” how much electricity is actually being saved/used. By using devices such as AQUOS LCD TVs and LCD tablets networked into the HEMs (Home Energy Management Systems), or the “brains” of the eco home, the amount of energy each individual appliance is consuming is displayed to the residents. With more aware consumers, it is said that this could save up to 15% of electricity due to a more eco-conscious attitude.

LED and photovoltaic (solar powered) panel-generated electricity will also be the primary sources of lighting in Sharp’s eco house. These will be evaluated for their energy saving performance and are also able to adjust the brightness and color of the lighting to provide a comfortable and relaxing living environment. There will be sensors located around the house to detect people’s movement and activate sufficient lighting accordingly, minimizing the waste of unnecessary usage. DC (direct current) appliances will be powered by solar energy, which are collected by panels and preserved in storage batteries so that they may event operate in blackouts. In addition, Sharp has created the concept of using the storage battery of electronic vehicles to power appliances through its new Intelligent Power Conditioner.

The gradual movement towards eco houses is prevalent in Japan and has been taken place even before the disasters in March, examples seen in Pasona’s green offices, and the Tokyo Green Building Program introduced in 2005. It will be interesting to see how the new energy concerns that have risen out of “setsuden” will spur on innovation in industries and areas across the board.

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With the recent disasters in Japan and shortage of electricity, comes a new era of vending machines that are both eco-friendly as well as energy saving. We have seen countless fascinating innovations in many sectors of Japan involving the recent trend in “setsuden” (energy saving) and “teiden taisaku” (blackout countermeasures). As we also know, vending machines are a significant part of Japanese culture, located on the corner of every street, entrance of a building, and even rows of them side by side. However, these convenient, but not-so-efficient ubiquitous machines, devour an astonishing amount of electricity for their size. Numerous measures have been taken up by JVMA (Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association) to reduce the use of electrical energy such as Zone Cooling (in which the machines only cool/heat the next few cans that are ready to be sold), a sensor which enables it to turn off its lighting system during the day and when there are nearby lights, and a “Vacuum Insulation” system where materials such as glass wool and metallic films are used to prevent heat and cold loss.

Fujitaka Corporation, commonly known for its digital signage systems and eco-friendly/labor saving machines, introduced at the Digital Signage Japan 2011 event, the Ranman, a vending machine that uses phosphorescence as a method for lighting. According to a spokesman, this simple but innovative idea will save up to 30% of electricity, compared to traditional vending machines, by using phosphorescent lighting (commonly seen in glow-in-the-dark sticks) at night and times of a blackout. Powered by fluorescent chemicals and solar energy, this lighting source has a life of several hours. Fujitaka Corp. plans to utilize this efficient source of lighting in populated areas such as subway stations (to light up stairs, emergency exits, signs, etc), hospitals, schools, public restrooms, and underground parking garages.

Another product on display was the “Disaster Information Transmission Vending Machine” (DITVM) produced by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd (DNP). Unlike the Ranman introduced above, the DITVM operates solely on solar energy powered through inbuilt solar panels. More than just a vending machine the focus of the device is to provide realtime information instantaneously when a natural disaster occurs, and as happened during the earthquake in March, when other forms of media communication such as mobile devices are not available. It is connected to the internet through WiMAX and receives digital airwaves from Japan Television, which is broadcasted on the built in screen. When a natural disaster occurs, a flash light and siren atop the DITVM is triggered as police and evacuation directions are displayed, along with the information on the disaster for example location, magnitude and depth if an earthquake. Even at times of blackouts, a solar-charged battery kicks in to both operate the machine and transmit news. Similar to other vending machines the DITVM will also dispense drinks for free when it is alerted of a natural disaster. During normal and peaceful times, the display screen acts to provide daily news, weather information, and news bulletins about upcoming events.

Manufacturers within Japan have been quick to innovate from the earthquake and there was a distinct prevalence at the expo of a number of products that aimed at answering the new concerns that have arisen since the earthquake. Renewable power sources, information systems, communication alternatives are a sample of the focus that companies are putting into new products since the events in March.

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Japanese advertising giant Dentsu today announced the launch of the designated official website for the Kibo Robot Project today, which aims at putting a communicative robot into space by 2014.

As of today the website is open for the public to enter their messages which the robot will carry into space to be read out to astronauts. Messages of encouragement and simple communication from the public around the world are aimed at boosting the emotions of the astronauts who will be living on the Japanese Experiment Module, aboard the International Space Station that will orbit earth. Messages can be submitted via twitter or email and there is a ready made logo users can download to add to their Twitter avatars also. Visitors to the site can also browse other messages of support before adding their own.

The site also links to a twitter account, @space_GAL , which will give regular updates to the projects events, and in male dominated Japan it is interesting that the creators have chosen a female figure to be the official twitter reporter. Trying to make the project more “approachable” the idea is to widen the reach of the project to demographics that wouldn’t normally be interested.

The collaboration effort between Dentsu, JAXA, University of Tokyo and Robo Garage is not only aimed at the space program however, but with the wider aim to “help solve the social problems of the future through communication”. With the growing aging society in Japan and a rise in social problems the whole project is trying to address future concerns regarding a lack of communication in a “society of singletons.”

Thanks to Plastic Pals

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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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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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