Search: Web        
powered by
Nerdvana: Sci-fi, comics, games & more ~ Sci-Fi, fantasy, TV, film, comics and games - all the keys to your inner geekdom.

Archive for the 'japan' Tag

Japanese TV mascot invades 7-Eleven stores

November 7th, 2009, 12:22 am by Jayson Peters

domoup_01

Ever heard of Domo?

Those not in the know are probably scratching their heads after visits to 7-Eleven convenience stores. That’s because Domo, the mascot of Japan’s NHK television station, has expanded his empire to include Slurpees, bad coffee and truly terrible hot dogs. The gassy, meat-loving, apple-hating, egg-born cave-dweller can be seen on 99 cent coffee cups and other products. (You can check out lots of pictures at Top Cultured, or just head on down to your local 7-Eleven.)

It’s not Domo’s first foray into American retail: In 2008 the character was used in Target’s Halloween promotions.

Watch out, Iron Man!

August 3rd, 2009, 11:51 pm by Chris "KeL" Adams

While Marvel Comics’ Tony Stark still holds the advantage with his Iron Man suit, citizens of Japan are getting closer. Cyberdyne, Inc., a Japanese company, has unveiled a robotic suit that amplifies the strength of the wearer by up to 10 times. There’s no clumsy joystick or difficult control schemes to master. All the wearer has to do is move normally.

The “Hybrid Assistive Limb” or HAL works by detecting the trace electrical charges that are transmitted when a person moves. Once detected the robotic limb moves in concert with the real limb and prest-o: super-strength.

The system can run between two and a half and five hours on a single charge. The two-leg version is available for a $2,300 monthly fee. Which seems to be a small price to pay for superpowers, given what most comic characters have to go through. Unfortunately, the company is only offering it to Japanese residents currently.

Read the rest of this entry »

ADVERTISEMENT