Welcome to Aichi Expo 2005

The Aichi World Expo officially opened here yesterday and “Japan has pulled out all the technological stops to show that its gadgetry and ingenuity is the best in the world.” Opposite Toshiba’s digital cinema is Hitachi’s virtual reality safari. Hitachi equips visitors with portable handsets that contain a prototype of its mu-chip, a processor slated to become the key component of future wireless devices, including mobile phones. As the handset is brought close to particular transmitters, it instantly downloads any information on offer in that area and displays it on a small screen.

The safari ride itself employs a revolutionary 3D projection system designed to work with a set of sensors strapped to the hands. Once immersed in the virtual reality world, solid-seeming objects can be plucked from mid-air and examined more closely in the hands.

A rare butterfly, for example, can be persuaded to land in one’s palm and then be looked at from any angle. Release your fingers, and it flutters off to join its companions back in the VR jungle.

Other gadgetry that went on display for the first time yesterday included object-recognition binoculars created by NTT DoCoMo, Japan?s largest mobile phone company. As users scan the surrounding area, the binoculars will recognise certain objects and details about them will appear in the eyepiece. Fix on a passing plane, for example, and the machine will tell you the flight number and destination. Turn your attention to a flower, and it will tell you what variety it is. Full Story Here

Note: DoCoMo has also just updated its fancy flash handset gallery with all their new 901i FOMA phones HERE