tech e blog

JapanProbe pointed us to an interesting Japanese commercial that shows why "there’s need to worry about earthquakes or helicopter attacks when you live in the 'Grand Guardian Tokyo' apartment building." Video after the break.

[via JapanProbe]

Whether it be a scooter or van, these auto enthusiasts have found a way to customize the vehicle. This includes "bikes of all shapes and sizes, color combinations, and crazy lighting effects." Click here for first picture in gallery.

These include some amazing creations by Bikeshop Rodeo, Gull Craft (with their Honda Forza modifications), a Yamaha Maxam and some bikes whose images have spilt forth and have created pandemonium among tweak freaks.

Think of Hitachi's EMIEW 2 as a biped Segway-inspired robot. It comes complete with a "creepy child's voice, which it apparently says some unexpected things like 'What color is love?'" Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

The new video shows that his feet, tipped with wheels, give him a Segway-like way of staying upright, with little micromovements.

Jumping right in at the point where technology meets strange is Banpresto's latest Face Bank. Available in either brick or mortar versions, it's priced at $23.68. Video after the break. Click here for one more picture.

[via Geekstuff4u]

Unlike other robots, this weird Japanese robot / alarm clock announces the time and is capable of rolling around when pushed. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

I'm not entirely sure what this thing is. Here's what I know: it's from Japan, it has something to do with Gundam, it's called Haro, it's got a split personality, and it perkily yells things at you in Japanese

So you've seen press shots of Softbank's transforming 815T PB, now check out the phone in the wild. Click here for first picture in gallery.

We've just returned from a joint press conference with TV Tokyo, SoftBank, and Toshiba where we saw the 815T PB in the flesh, the very first Mecha/Transformer like 3G mobile phone. As we stated earlier, this is a kit given with the phone that you glue to the back of the handset

Japanese researchers have developed a robot that "recognizes when people are lost and helps them find their way." Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Relying on data from 16 cameras, 6 laser range finders and 9 RFID tag readers installed in and around the area, the robot was able to watch up to 20 people at a time, pinpoint their locations to within a few centimeters, and classify each individual’s behavior into one of 10 categories (waiting, wandering, walking fast, running, etc.)

CScoutJapan gives us an inside look at Japan's high-tech Tokyo traffic center, which boasts a Central Display Board that shows "1,000 intersections, and has 15,154 traffic signals in the system." Click here for first picture in gallery.

...a bunch of people work 24-hour shifts and try to stop the city from grinding to a halt. Cameras, helicopters, 17,000 vehicle detectors, as well as reports from both police and civilians, all contribute toward a harmonious transport system

Here's a first: the Japanese have built a $270,000 "sub-aquatic restroom designed to recreate the pleasant sensation of relieving yourself while swimming in the ocean." Video after the break.

It's a ladies' room, so there are no dudes allowed, unfortunately. It cost $270,000 to build, which is a lot for a bathroom but not that bad for a gigantic aquarium

This is what happens when your product designer decides to feed his hunger, for cake that is. That's not all, you also get other food-shaped USB drives to go along with the tasty-looking USB hub. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Prawns, rubber duckies and bunnies - hmmm, about as seasonal as strawbs, I suppose. As well as being pointless, the hub is expensive. A set of four cakes will cost you $450