Photos: Ceatec Day 3--mascots, bling, and 3D (of course)

What would a Japanese trade show be without some kind of fun/cute/pathetic animal mascot? Actually, this was one of only two we spotted this year, which makes us kind of nostalgic. (Bonus in this photo gallery: find the CNET reporter. No, this is not her).

Some people are sick and tired of 3D demonstrations at tech trade shows, but this one showing surgery was fascinating. At one point, a stream of water squirts onto the tools and appears to come come over the viewer's shoulder.

Lots of cell phone and PC bling was on display this year, including this computer and mouse.

In this awesome 3D demonstration, an image of an ancient mirror with an ornate design on one side is displayed in the monitor at the top of the photo. The image is reflected onto the glass in front of this user, appearing to float in front of him. Not much new there. But in his hands he's holding a stylus that allows him to "feel" the surface of the plate. As he rubs to tip across the bumpy surface (in reality, the tip is being held in midair and is not touching a solid surface) the stylus will rise and fall with the peaks and valleys on the plate's surface. He can also place the stylus on the lip of the plate and push down to flip it over to the other side. Sound effects are included.

Another trade show staple: Wall o' TVs.

No idea what was going on here (no translation was available), but a Ceatec gallery must have a skull-and-sensors photo. This man was seated for a long time without moving. We left before confirming that he was OK and could walk again.

Yours truly checks out software for analyzing your golf swing made by Fujitsu. The software is loaded onto a cell phone, which is clipped to your belt behind your back. Take a few swings and the software will give you feedback on your backswing, follow through, etc. and provide advice on things such as whether your hips are too stiff.

Sony has made taking panorama images easier with its "swing panorama" technology. Simply point the camera far to the left (right), press the shutter button and release, pivot to the right up to 256 degrees (fast or slow doesn't matter--the camera adjusts) and voila, an instant super-wide-angle shot. Also works vertically.

At the Sony booth, 3D is fun and beautiful and glamorous and exciting and helps straighten your spine.

A phone that uses solar cells to recharge. Great idea if you tend to wear your phone on your head.

This is a KDDI prototype for a cell phone dock that would connect with your TV wirelessly for viewing video stored on the phone.