Category — Gadgets

A Japanese company says it has made an airbag designed to stop elderly people injuring themselves by falling over. The device is strapped around the body and inflates in 0.1 seconds if it detects it is accelerating towards the ground, the manufacturers say.

The Tokyo-based company, Prop, says the product is designed to cushion a fall using two separate pockets of air.

One pocket will be behind the head and the other around the hips. It does not protect those who fall forward. The president of Prop, Mitsuya Uchida, says it is aimed especially at old people with epilepsy, who are very vulnerable to injury.

From the BBC - Visit to see a video showing the wearable airbag in action!

Photo via Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: airbag, gadgets, Japan, Prop, wearable airbag

TokyoMango posted this digital watch, which looks like the signage for the Yamanote train line in Tokyo. The Yamanote line is the green-and-silver train that does a big loop around central Tokyo.

I think it looks quite nice, in a designer sort of way, but I can imagine some train geeks really loving this item. Not sure if I’d feel the same if it looked like London Tube signage though - I’d break out in a sweat every time I looked at it..

The Yamanote Line digital watch on TokyoMango

Technorati Tags: digital watch, gadgets, Japan, watches, Yamanote train line

This is one nice looking robot! No idea if it’s smooth lines and subtle tones are like the real person, but its modeled after 10th century noblewoman Lady Murasaki Shikibu.

She reads you her famous novel Tale of Genji via an internal MP3 player while making relevant gestures from her era to emphasise dramatic moments.

Via TokyoMango

Technorati Tags: gadgets, Japan, Lady Murasaki Shikibu, Tale of Genji

A novel looking concept camera phone has cropped in on the shape of the yin and yang symbol.

The camera can be separated into 2 parts, the yin and the yang, which can be the camera and storage device respectively.

This camera is still at a concept stage, so don’t expect to see it at your local camera store any day soon.

Via Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: concept camera phone, gadgets, yin and yang

If you have an iPhone, you have a plethora of case designs to choose from.

Here’s an oriental option - the iTabi - so named after traditional Japanese socks, which is made of kimono cloth and comes in ten different designs.

The designs range from Asaba, hemp flowers on a cream background, to Taisho Retro, a 1920s-style floral design.

Each case comes with two straps — one is short, the other shoulder length and adjustable. They permit use of the headphone jack, and protect the screen from damage using nylon padding. A front pouch lets you store headphones, lipstick or mascara.

Via Macworld

Technorati Tags: design, iPhone, iPhone case designs, iTabi, Japanese, kimono cloth, traditional Japanese socks

Lenovo have created Olympic-themed flash drives. As noted by Core77, these information storage devices are ironically endorsed by a Communist regime that likes to censor information.

Via Core77

Technorati Tags: 2008 Beijing Oympics, Flash drives, gadgets, Lenovo

Swiss watch manufacturer Ernst Benz have created high end 2008 Beijing Olympics merchandise with their Beijing 2008 Limited Edition ChronoScope.

The dials feature a traditional Chinese pattern for fire as well as incorporating traditional Chinese characters for the numerals; with the 8th hour marker done in a contrasting color.

The 47mm watch is being offered in two shades - Noir and Vermilion. Exclusively handcrafted, 88 of each of these stainless steel watches will be out for $5,800. (Not $8,88?)

The watch maker also has exclusive special limited editions where only eight pieces per dial will be available in Black PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coated brushed steel for  $6,800.

Boasting of a Chinese-themed packaging, you can opt for a black with red stitching or vice versa combination in the hand-stitched alligator straps.

Via BornRich

Technorati Tags: 2008 Beijing Oympics, design, Ernst Benz, gadgets, ChronoScope, watches

This is the remarkably lifelike lady-robot, Actroid DER-2 made by Japanese company Kokoro (a subsidiary of the Sanrio Group - will we get scary, realistic Hello Kitty’s too?).

How real do you think she is? Here’s she’s in an advert touting a combination sunscreen/insect repellent. No one seems to know why.

Via Men.Style.com

Technorati Tags: Actroid DER-2, gadgets, Japan, Kokoro, lady robot, Sanrio Group, robot woman