The Omote 3-D photo booth, which opens in the Eye of Gyre exhibition space in the Harujuku district of Tokyo on Nov. 24, features a 3-D scanner and 3-D printer setup that takes the likeness of its visitors and convert them into miniature figurines.Wired
Posers must stand in position for around 15 minutes as the manually operated scanner records a full-body image. The raw data can then be modified and tweaked to achieve a better likeness and fine detail can be added before the 3-D color print is made.
The service offers single, double or group portraits in a variety of sizes, the largest being up to 8 inches. If you’re a fan of the results — or looking to build a miniature army — you can also order reprints of yourself and others ... Prices start at ¥21,000 (around $265) for a small single figurine.
If you ever wondered what it would be like taking a stroll through an intergalactic nebula, Japan has got you covered–since November 3rd, the Nabana no Sato botanical garden has been transformed into a light theme park of cosmic proportions. The park features millions of LED lights spread across the vast grounds of the garden, water and plant alike, and unlike the Christmas light installations we dread seeing around Christmas time in the Rockefeller Plaza, Nabana no Sato installations follow an artistic theme–this year’s being “nature.” The exhibit includes an illuminated rendition of Mount Fuji as well as an AuroraMore photos at AnimalNewYork
The most recognized attraction of the park is the light tunnel depicted above, consisting of thousands small floral lights that can glow in different shades, enveloping the park visitors is warm tones as they pass through.
TBWA London ... has created Eastern Eggs, an online site/ store selling wooden eggs decorated with the Egg-bot by various artists, with a portion of the proceeds going to Red Cross - Japan Tsunami Appeal.If It's Hip It's Here
Original upload by http://www.youtube.com/user/onaradaijobu. Following is taken and translated from an original uploader.TDW
This video was created based on the simple analysis of the current state of the Fukushima Nuclear power plant by media artist Kazuhiko Hachiya (http://togetter.com/li/111871). Neither Mr. Hachiya nor video creator is an expert on the subject, and we advise you to obtain acurate information from the Tokyo Electric Power Company.
My thoughts and prayers are for those affected by the disaster. And for us living outside of an affected area, should not take irrational action based on unofficial reports. We're hoping for everyone's quick recovery so more people can have a smile.
NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] has released this image showing maximum computed tsunami amplitude (in cm) “during 24 hours of wave propagation.” The data was calculated using the MOST [Method of Splitting Tsunami] forecast model. According to NOAA, “this method takes into account three processes of tsunami evolution: earthquake, transoceanic propagation, and inundation.”NOAA Center for Tsunami Research | TDW
Ghostly trees covered in snow and rime ice -- known as "snow monsters" or juhyou (frost-covered trees) in Japanese -- are a celebrated feature of the winter landscape in mountainous areas of northern Japan.More photographs at Pink Tentacle.
Facial motion test of Affetto, which is an child robot that is currently under development in emergent robotics laboratory at Osaka university for simulating infant cognitive development. Its face is created realistically so as to be treated as a human being by human caregivers, not as a robot.Much less creepy than the Yotaro Baby Simulator. I predict a Japanese remake of "Child's Play."
A month-old Abyssinian Colobus cries in Japan's Nogeyama Zoological Gardens.
The Bakemono Zukushi handscroll, painted in the Edo period (18th-19th century) by an unknown artist, depicts 24 traditional monsters that once used to spook the people of Japan.Pink Tentacle
Enoshima Aquarium (Fujisawa, Japan) has released some time-lapse footage of a molting Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi), whose 3.8 meter (12 ft 6 in) leg span makes it the world’s largest arthropod species. The video was shot over a 6-hour period.If spiders or spidery-shaped things give you the creeps, don't watch. It's mostly ok until you realize this thing could easily straddle a Hummer.
While most people have heard of small baby-simulator dolls used to teach people about childcare, they probably haven’t heard of Yotaro, a robotic baby simulator with an interactive screen for a face. This strange creation is the result of research at the University of Tsukuba in Japan ...University of Tsukuba (Site is in Japanese)
Yotaro is an interactive robot that portrays a variety of facial expressions, movements, and physiological characteristics that are all natural to babies. The device reacts to the user through a sophisticated emotion-control system that watches and senses what the user is doing and provides an appropriate reaction. That the baby can do a variety of things (like crying real tears) makes it much more sophisticated than the standard baby-training dolls. Edited for clarity.
Rice paddy art began in Inakadate, Japan in 1993 as a local revitalization project. The effect, which is invisible from the ground, is achieved by planting different varieties of rice to create the colored patterns.
