Story Highlights
Japan’s innovative wearable devices include archelausa “standing” chair designed for surgeons.
tokyo first wearable exposure It debuted in 2015 and was the largest in the world.
Japan’s wearable technology market is expected to grow from 530,000 in 2013 to 13.1 million units in 2017.
CNN
—
What do Discman, Tamagotchi and Game Boy have in common?
They are all iconic Japanese inventions from the 1980s and 1990s, symbols of an era when the Asian nation was a world leader in technological innovation.
But with the rise of Silicon Valley and American tech giants like Google and Apple, Japan has produced less of the era-defining technology in the past two decades.
That, says Professor Masahiko Tsukamoto, of Kobe University Graduate School of Engineeringis about to change thanks to a new generation of young entrepreneurs, an increase in international collaborations, and new partnerships with university scientists.
Japan’s focus this time is not on smartphones or games, but on portable chairs, smart glasses and communication devices for dogs.
In short, fancy wearable technology.
In 2013, Japan sold 530,000 units of wearable technology devices, according to Yano Research Institute.
That number is expected to jump to 13.1 million units in 2017.
Perhaps the best indication of the rise of this industry was the introduction of the first wearable exposure in 2015 – at launch, it was the world’s largest wearable technology fair with 103 exhibitors.
He has featured electronic kimonos, communication devices for cats, and electronic gloves for recording the finger work of a pianist.
At the next fair, from January 18 to 20, 2017, the organizers expect more than 200 exhibitors and 19,000 visitors.
“With better functionality, lighter components, and smaller designs, using devices is now no longer a fantasy,” says show director Yuhi Maezono. “Wearables are attracting attention as the next big growth market.”
inopathy is a dog harness scheduled to launch later this year that will allow pet owners to communicate with their dogs.
In addition to a heart monitor, the harness features noise-canceling technology that can isolate the animal’s heartbeat and track its reactions to stimuli, such as food, games, people and toys.
Using this data, the harness assesses a dog’s mood and changes color to inform owners.
Equipped with six LED lights, the necklace glows blue for calm, red for excitement, and displays a rainbow theme for happiness.
Joji Yamaguchi, CEO of Inupathy, was inspired by his corgi, Akane, who was a nervous pup. To better understand the dog’s anxiety, the biologist developed Inupathy to monitor the dog’s heart rate.
“I always felt like I couldn’t understand Akane very well and wanted to be closer to him,” says Yamaguchi.
“Buddhism and ancient Japanese religion say that all animals, plants, and even rocks have a spirit inside them. It’s stressful when you can’t solve the problems that are bothering them.”
Yamaguchi hopes that wearable wellness tracking will have applications for humans as well.
“Artificial intelligence personalization will be a game changer,” says Yamaguchi.
“For example, if you display a certain behavior before you start feeling depressed, then predicting your depression from that behavior is extremely valuable to an individual. An AI that works personally for you will eventually make it happen.”
archelaus – a portable chair launched in Japan this year – is also causing a stir internationally.
A collaboration between the Nitto mold factory, Chiba University, Japan Polymer Technology and Hiroaki Nishimura Design, in Japan, it was initially intended for surgeons who need to rest their legs during long operations.
The chair allows its user to sit down and stand up effectively at the same time.
“The Archelis concept is very simple, like the simplicity of the Columbus egg,” says Dr. Hiroshi Kawahira, the surgeon behind the concept. “Long surgeries can lead to back pain, neck pain, and knee pain, especially for older surgeons.”
Made with 3D printed panels, Archelis requires no electrical components or batteries.
The innovation is in the efficient design: flexible carbon panels wrap the buttocks, legs and feet to provide support and minimize pressure on the joints.
The system stabilizes the ankles and knees, so the pressure of being upright is evenly distributed between the shins and thighs.
Although the user appears to be standing, in fact, they rest their back and legs while working while standing.
Other portable devices are on the smaller side.
Measuring around 3 inches long, BIRD is essentially a modern thimble that turns your fingertip into a magic wand.
Using algorithms to decode a user’s intent, the device also features precise sensors that track direction, speed, and gestures.
The technology allows users to turn any surface into a smart screen, as well as interact with other smart devices.
Walking around the house, users can project a laptop screen onto a wall, turn on a coffee machine, read on any surface, and shop online with a simple point or swipe.
The developers, Israel-based MUV Interactive and Japan-based Silicon Technology, expect BIRD to be adopted by the educational and corporate sectors, thanks to its ability to create collaborative presentations.
