Photos: Tokyo DC Expo focuses on 3D
With a mix of research from universities and companies in Japan, the 2009 Digital Content Expo in Tokyo features eye-popping 3D technologies and whimsical gizmos ranging from robots to umbrellas.
DoCoMo 3D phone display
Column Gear
IKABO
Pioneer Floating Vision FV-01
Infrared sensors on the sides of the screen, which can be set up either vertically or horizontally, will detect user hand movement and trigger a response in the image, such as an animated girl giggling. The system sells for about $540 in Japan.
Funbrella
Users can experience the "feel" of light rain or a downpour on the umbrella by grasping the handle. Also in the simulation program are the feel of falling ping-pong balls, spaghetti, and plastic worms.
Sony 360-degree Auto-stereoscopic Display
Despite a resolution of only 96 x 128 pixels, the photographs and CG images shown, such as a woman's head and the Earth, appear detailed. See a video from IDG here.
Sony has no immediate plans to commercialize the prototype.
Pen de Touch
Haptic Ring
HRP-4C
One of 4C's scenarios involved a customer at a hostess club in Japan falling for his lovely hostess and then discovering that she's an android. The ironic tale drew some laughs from the crowd.
4C didn't walk around the stage--probably because it wasn't specially prepared to be completely flat. She was confined to a stand but still wowed visitors at the Digital Content Expo over the weekend.