Month: April 2010

Geminoid

Geminoid is the name of the robot being developed by professor Ishiguro from the Intelligent Robotics and Communication Laboratories. The objective of professor Ishiguro is to create a robot that is an exact copy of himself. That is to say, he wants to create an artificial professor Ishiguro. Seeing the results of his first prototype, he is doing a pretty good job:

Geminoid android
Professor Ishiguro next to his Geminoid.

Applying the knowledge he has acquired during the development of the first prototypes of Geminoid, the next challenge of professor Ishiguro is to develop a replica of a woman that could be used in hospitals to keep company with patients.

Geminoid robot

The cost of developing a Geminoid (a robot designed taking a concrete real human as a model) following Ishiguro’s techniques is approximately 80,000 euros (110,000 dollars). It is still extremely expensive to have viable commercial applications. What do you think about it? Does it cross the uncanny valley? Would you like to have you own “Geminoid”?

More information about the Geminoid.

Technology

3D Televisions

I think that in Europe and North America 3D televisions are starting to be available everywhere; here in Japan you can find many of them on sale in stores. This is a 32 inches 3D television that costs around 1000 euros (1350 dollars); the funny thing is that you have to buy also the glasses, which cost 40 euros (around 55 dollars). Will the Avatar Blu-ray have a 3D version? Do you think that 3D will succeed in the home market or you think it’s a temporary fad?

3D television

JapanGuide

Kichijoji

Kichijoji is a very interesting neighborhood in Tokyo which is usually ignored in many tourist guides. Manga readers maybe will recognize the streets of the neighborhood because they are usually seen in GTO and I”s among others. It is a neighborhood with a lot of “cultural movement”, it’s full of bars and music studios where bands play when they are starting out. Around the north exit of the station there are plenty of malls and smalls shops, it’s the shopping area. The northwest area is dedicated to small interior shops and the northeast area is more lively during nights: plenty of bars and love hotels.

However what I enjoy the most in Kichijoji is the south part where you can find the Ghibli Museum and Inokashira park.

My suggestions on what to do in a day in Kichijoji.
– Visit the Ghibli Museum in the morning
– Eat in a restaurant around Inokashira park.
– Go for a stroll in Inokashira park.
– Cross to the north of the station and walk around the shopping streets, eat a snack in the afternoon or even stay until late to eat dinner.

How to get there: Chuo line from Shinjuku (it’s only 10 minutes)

Kichijoji