Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector from Sega Toys

Written by: Michael Keferl on July 2, 2009 at 12:55 pm | In PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

Sega Toys will soon be coming out with another stylish projector for the home, though instead of the universe this time they’ll be focusing on some other shooting stars. The Uchiage Hanabi (product page) uses five moving lenses that project animated images of exploding fireworks onto the walls and ceiling.

The projector also allows users to create their own images by drawing onto special film for projection, and then shoot fireworks around it in celebration.

What’s also interesting is the detail that they went to, even creating the rocket blasting through the sky before exploding onto the wall.

via Gizmodo Japan and Impress

Tags: gadgets, Lifestyle, Sega Toys
Category: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION

Retro Paper Speakers from Princeton

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 30, 2009 at 7:38 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

Gadget maker Princeton has just come out with some nifty DIY Paper Speaker sets that look like retro audio players, but plug into your modern player or PC to become your unassuming, space-saving speakers.

Inside the paper boomboxes and record players are a tiny 3W amp and 1W speaker that, if anything like the Yorozu Audio Sound Revolution paper speaker we’ve played with before, should actually have some decent sound. It’s quite amazing how well sound vibrates through paper to become quite full.

Princeton is also doing a speaker-crowdsourcing contest for creative types to make their own papercraft speakers, so if you have any ideas that you want mass-produced, now’s the time to break out the scissors and crayons!

Tags: Audio, gadgets, Papercraft
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Mugen Idea - Infinite Crowdsourcing

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 25, 2009 at 9:43 pm | In MARKETING IDEAS, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

Crowdsourcing has been one of the more relevant trends for innovation in recent years, helping companies create and improve products by engaging the public. From cosmetics to Calpis, Japanese consumers have been engaged through social networks to give their own ideas to the innovation process.

Anyone who has a Japanese gadget fetish is surely aware of the “Mugen” (infinite) series of toys by Bandai Asovision that all started with the PuchiPuchi Infinite Bubblewrap. After going through various incarnations from soybeans to beer, they decided to enlist the help of the infinite imaginations of consumers with Mugen Idea.

The result, as you can see, is Mugen Chocolate. Not quite sure what form this will take, but I think it’s a pretty good guess that it will involve infinitely cracking off a block of chocolate that you can’t actually eat. Kind of sounds like torture actually.

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

Homestar Planetarium Goes 3D for Anniversary

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 5, 2009 at 12:02 pm | In PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

3D planetariums seem to be popping up all over Tokyo. Tokyomango explored one at the National Science Museum, the Miraikan has a pretty nice one as we’ve heard, and Sony Explorascience just opened up this week with theirs after a full renewal.

Now Sega Toys is doing a special promotion where 10,000 lucky Homestar Planetarium (shop link) owners will receive special 3D projection inserts and glasses to bring the experience home. This is to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the Homestar series of home planetariums designed by the creator of the Miraikan’s own system, the Megastar II Cosmos.

Via IT Media

Tags: gadgets, Homestar, Lifestyle
Category: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION

Twinklepict miniature Zoetrope from Banpresto

Written by: Michael Keferl on May 13, 2009 at 5:04 pm | In PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

Banpresto has an interesting new device coming out called the Twinklepict, which is essentially a miniature zoetrope.

The figures inside are backlit by a flashing internal light that, as the figures spin around quickly, make them appear animated both inside the Twinklepict, but also in the light projection made with the shadows.

The device will retail for around $33 and be out at the end of June, likely after the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show which we will definitely be attending.

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