Archives for May 2008
A cigarette vending machine that recognizes faces
Reuben Lee | May 14, 2008
Now why would a cigarette vending machine need to recognize faces? Apparently, this "Child Check System" introduced by Japanese company Fujitaka uses facial recognition to determine if the person buying cigarettes is over the legal age limit, which is currently set at 20 in Japan. A camera embedded in the vending machine takes a picture, compares it with its database of 100,000 faces. It even checks for lines and skin tones to ascertain a person's age.
We have it that the Fujitaka Child Check System will be installed in about half a million vending machines in Japan from July this year.
Whether this system actually works in stopping underaged consumers from smoking is still too early to tell. After all, there are lots of people who look younger than their actual age, and some who appear more mature than they are. Besides, young people can still easily buy cigarettes from convenience stores. So what's next? A vending machine that determines if you are too fat to consume sugared drinks? Hey, you never know.
Via DigitalWorldTokyo
Picture credit: DigitalWorldTokyo
"Self-cleaning" Sanyo projectors
Philip Wong | May 14, 2008
Pricing-wise, the LP-XC55 and LP-XC50 will be launched in Japan from July for USS$3,522 and US$3,016, respectively. As for whether these make it out to the rest of Asia remains to be seen.
Via Fareastgizmos | Photo credit: Sanyo
Creative's new budget video camera
John Chan | May 14, 2008
Though most well-known for sound cards and MP3 players, Creative has always had a wide range of products including Webcams and even input peripherals. The Vado Pocket Video Cam is the latest, a low-cost video camera which is extremely compact at 100 x 55 x 16mm. It has a 2-inch display and a USB connector which hides away when not in use.
The purpose of this device is to make taking videos easy. It captures at VGA quality with a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Some high-end mobile phones (like the Nokia N82 and LG Viewty) can also capture at that resolution, as well as most modern compact cameras-- a fact that narrows the target audience of the Vado. But for those without an expensive camera-phone or don't carry a digital camera around, it could be a good way to get higher-quality videos for all your YouTube uploading needs.
The Vado will be available starting June in Asia Pacific at a retail price of S$169. It comes with 2GB of in-built memory with no expansion slot and weighs 84g. For more details of its specifications, visit Creative's Web site.
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Automated Mahjong: Never shuffle tiles again
Mike Yamamoto | May 14, 2008
Poker may be considered the game of champions here in the States, but in other parts of the world mahjong holds that title. So it comes as little surprise to learn that it has its own version of the iDealer we mentioned earlier.
The Automatic Mahjong Table shuffles tiles that are funneled into a center unit and then miraculously elevates them in perfectly stacked rows before each player. (See video below.) There's even a dice tumbler that remains flush with the table's surface until a button is pushed, springing into action like a blender.
As is the case with so many products from Asia, however, we don't recommend relying on the printed directions. As Purple Pawn notes, the table's product description says it "have support for english languages".
Via Crave CNET
A backpack case for your cherished laptop
Mike Yamamoto | May 14, 2008
New parents are drawn to body-hugging slings like the "BabyBjorn" to keep their bundles of joy as close as humanly possible, as well as easier to tote. Perhaps taking a cue from that bond of love, Built NY has created a wearable carrier for another cherished possession--the laptop.
As we observed last week in its minimalist Cargo Laptop Sleeve, the designers at this company do not like to waste an iota of space. Now they've taken their economical crusade to a new extreme with the Laptop Backpack for computers measuring 12 to 17 inches, which Gizmodo says looks more like a bulletproof vest than anything else. (Maybe that's the idea, because it comes in styles called "Police Black" and "Army Green".)
This is one instance, however, where the touted comfort of the neoprene material used to make the apparatus might be a negative: If you forget you're wearing it and hit the back of a seat too hard, the purpose would be clearly defeated.
Via Crave CNET
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