Cyber Figure ARis Popular Enough for a Guide Book

Written by: Michael Keferl on April 23, 2009 at 3:54 am | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

Geisha Tokyo, the company behind the innovative Augmented Reality character Cyber Figure ARis is now going to be releasing a guide book with publisher Kodansha that goes into detail on how to best use the software. For the uninitiated, augmented reality uses software to mix digital enhancements with real-world images as seen through a camera. For example, Sekai Camera for the iPhone can recognize items and overlay supplementary information on top. ARis works the same way by reading codes printed on cubes and on special tools.

The new guide book explores the ARis software in depth to enhance the user experience.

The book includes the secret story behind how ARis became a maid, tips for making ARis do special motions, how to change her into 10 different outfits, how to keep ARis happy, an interview with the voice of the character, and the story as to how the system was developed. In fact, we were surprised at how deep the software actually goes, considering that we’ve used it ourselves on many occasions.

Included with the book is also a diorama, though we aren’t completely clear on how it’s integrated. What it seems to be is a coded paper construction that becomes a room for ARis to live in and explore, including a closet, a place for cooking, and even a shower.

While we’ve seen Augmented Reality technology used elsewhere in the world, from magazine ads to trading cards, ARis has shown just how it can be used in a practical, hands-on way as a consumer good. Indeed, it has great potential for marketing when used properly as well, a topic we get into in the Mobile Trendpool.

For those who want the software/kit, ARis is available at JapanTrendShop.

Tags: Augmented Reality
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Digital Retail: Sekai Camera makes Japan debut with augmented reality technology

Written by: Rebecca Milner on February 20, 2009 at 9:26 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS | 1 Comment

The digital lifestyle application in development from Tonchidot, makes its first public appearance in Japan at the fashion trade show Rooms.

Tonchidot’s “Sekai Camera” made its Japanese debut in the most unusual place: at Tokyo fashion trade show Rooms. While the Japanese creators have presented this iPhone application to “tag the real world” at noteworthy expos overseas (like TechCrunch 50 in San Francisco), they had yet to demonstrate it in their home country.

To catch you up, Sekai Camera (“world camera” in Japanese) is an Augmented Reality iPhone application in development that offers users “pop-up” information about their surroundings, as viewed through the camera screen. Touch any of the approaching icons to pull up the corresponding information into the frame or drop it into your “pocket” for later. Put simply, it’s a kind of Second Life spatial interaction for your, err, first life.

Visitors to a space can also tag the place themselves through comments, photos, and eventually voice recordings, viewed by friends or the public depending on filter settings.

But returning to the first point—it was the fashion industry that got a sneak peak of this future-forward technology. More specifically Rooms is a high-profile, yet invitation only, trade show attended by thousands of buyers, designers, and press. Nonetheless these are professionals who, by reputation, are typically more interested in things more tangible and less tech-y.

Trend Potential

We have been covering the increasing convergence of fashion retail and digital lifestyle trends for some time. To read the rest of this review with more depth, as well as connections to similar trends, you’ll find it all in the Trendpool.

Tags: Augmented Reality, Fashion, Mobile, Retail
Category: DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, MARKETING IDEAS
Other categories: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Cyber Figure Alice in action via Danny Choo

Written by: Michael Keferl on February 20, 2009 at 8:53 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

Last week we went with clients to the German Embassy here in Tokyo to introduce our guests to their Tokyo-based countrymen before a week of meetings with some of the best and most innovative New Media companies in Japan (one of our popular Trend Tours).

We also like to shake things up, so we dragged along the always energetically harmonious Danny Choo who documented the goings-on and decided to have a “name that car” contest on the site with his legions of loyal readers. The result was Inkmaster naming it perfectly and taking home the innovative Augmented Reality toy Cyber Figure Alice from JapanTrendShop.com.

To see this amazing technology and how creative you can be with it, check out Inkmaster’s Flickr set (samples above) as well as the video he took below.

Tags: Augmented Reality, Events, gadgets
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

StellarWindow shows stars you could be looking at

Written by: Michael Keferl on September 9, 2008 at 12:26 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | 1 Comment

When we first met Fairy Devices in 2007 they were showing off a simple prototype on a laptop computer, but it was clear that they were doing something special. Now it seems they’ve come a long way, and have the tablet PCs and models to prove it!

Using software and a USB device with an embedded GPS receiver and 6-axis sensor StellarWindow is a window to the stars. That is, it shows you the universe that you would see if not for all of the bulky things that are in front of you. When plugged in to a tablet PC it can determine where, which direction, and at what angle the screen is facing, and changes in real time as you move it.

It’s an interesting twist on Augmented Reality as well. Instead of superimposing information on top of real images as in Cyber Figure Alice, it removes parts of physical reality (the planet and everything on it) to give information on what you’re not seeing.

Fairy Devices homepage

Tags: Augmented Reality, StellarWindow
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Cyber Figure Alice with VIDEO

Written by: Michael Keferl on July 22, 2008 at 8:45 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | 11 Comments

Today CScout Japan made a trip to the Wireless Japan Expo to check out what’s going on in the mobile world…but mostly we were on the lookout for shiny toys and fun gadgets. We weren’t let down!

Although we still have the Frepar Networks Communication Pod in our hearts (exclusive video coming soon!), there’s a new interactive computer girl on the block. Today we had a chance to play with this nifty little augmented reality toy/software from Geisha Tokyo called Cyber Figure Alice (covered recently by Asiajin).

Included with the package will be software, cubes, and sticks printed with cyber codes. While running the software, if you point your webcam at the cube Alice will then make that her centerpoint for entertaining oh-so-geeky you. She changes costumes, stands on the cube, walks around, and even sweeps up a little!

All is well until you start pestering her with your cyber sticks, each with varying patterns on each side that represent a different tool, such as a big grabber hand or a poking finger, that you can use to to flirt with your new digital girlfriend. Or, if you’re mean, torment her endlessly.

There are still a few kinks to be worked out before the Fall 2008 debut, but in general the experience was quite smooth and fun. We especially loved how the floor opens up with stairs and Alice walks down to change costumes. Using the cubes as frame of reference, there are many opportunities for adding more characters and interactive options. After all, since two cubes are included that could just well mean that we can have two characters at once. Girl fight!

Below is a quick video of Cyber Figure Alice in action, but now she’s available online!

Tags: Augmented Reality, Toys, Wireless Japan Expo
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS