Largest tech show in Asia opens

The largest tech event in Japan, The Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (Ceatec) exhibition kicked off in the city of Chiba.

Close to 600 tech firms will be at the exhibition, with over 200 000 visitors expected to attend Ceatec during the weeklong event.

Certain devices are intrinsically linked to Japan, especially in the wake of its combined nuclear disaster, tsunami and earthquake events which occurred earlier this year. Gadgets which are aimed at the improvement of urban infrastructure include space-age power saving gadgets and previously unseen radiation counters.

The lighter side to the tech show prevails, with a smartphone that can detect vital body signs, detect bad breath and gauge the levels of background radiation. NTT DoCoMo are the creators of this phone and have used hot-swappable shells in order to provide the various detection functions.

DoCoMo’s mobile prowess is aimed at gathering population data, as it displayed how it can gather information from mobile base stations — this assists urban planners in correct population mapping.

Muarta Manufacturing revealed a “smart skin” for electronic devices. This transparent organic film can be programmed to deliver instructions to each section of a multi-limbed device. As an example, its gadget called the Leaf Grip Remote Controller was operated when the user bends and twists it. No buttons existed on the device creating a truly organic feel to the operation of the control.

Murata spokesman Kazuhisa Mashita said, “Currently we give commands two-dimensionally on touch panels in smartphone’s and tablet computers but this invention would give us another dimension — how hard they are pressed. This could enable users to scroll screens slowly by touching the screen lightly and move images faster by pressing it harder.”

Nissan demoed a vehicle-to-home charging solution. Its electric cars could power homes by delivering stored power into private power supplies.

Consumer electronics included Sony’s new 2D and 3D binoculars, Toshiba’s “world’s thinnest and lightest tablet computer” at only 7.7MM thick and Pioneers GPS which projects onto the drivers screen.