What if you could wear a chair?

CNN
—

What do Discman, Tamagotchi, and Game Boy have in common?

They are all groundbreaking Japanese inventions of the 80’s and 90’s, emblematic of an era when the Asian nation was a world leader in technological innovation.

However, with the rise of Silicon Valley and the rise of American tech giants such as Google and Apple, Japan hasn’t produced many era-defining technologies in the past two decades.

says Professor Masahiko Tsukamoto. Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe Universityis about to change, thanks to a new generation of young entrepreneurs, increased international cooperation and new partnerships with university scientists.

This time Japan’s focus is not on smartphones and games, but on wearable chairs, smart glasses and dog communication devices.

In short, quirky wearable technology.

Japan sold 530,000 wearable technology devices in 2013, according to Yano Research Institute.

This number is projected to jump to 13.1 million units in 2017.

Perhaps the best illustration of the industry’s boom is Tokyo’s first wearable expo 2015 – At its launch, it was the world’s largest wearable tech fair with 103 exhibitors.

It features an electronic kimono to record the pianist’s finger movements, a cat communication device, and an electronic glove.

At the upcoming exhibition, which will take place from January 18 to 20, 2017, organizers expect more than 200 exhibitors and 19,000 visitors.

“With increased functionality, lighter components and smaller designs, wearing the device is no longer a fantasy,” said show director Yuhi Maezono. “Wearables are attracting attention as the next big growth market.”

Inupathy is a dog harness that will be available later this year, allowing pet owners to communicate with their dogs.

Similar to a heart monitor, this harness has noise-cancelling technology that can isolate an animal’s heartbeat and track its response to stimuli such as food, games, people and toys.

Using this data, the harness assesses the dog’s mood and changes color to inform the owner.

Equipped with 6 LED lights, the collar glows in muted blue, red for excitement, and rainbow for happiness.

Joji Yamaguchi, CEO of Inupathy, was inspired by his corgi, Akane, who was a nervous puppy. did.

“I always felt that I didn’t understand Akane very well, so I wanted to get closer to him,” says Yamaguchi.

“Buddhism and old Japanese religions say that all animals, plants, and even rocks have souls.

Yamaguchi hopes that wearable wellness tracking can be applied to humans.

“Artificial intelligence personalization will be a game changer,” says Yamaguchi.

“For example, if you exhibited a certain behavior before feeling depressed, predicting depression from that behavior could be of great value to an individual. will make it possible.”

Archerys The wearable chair released in Japan this year is also attracting attention overseas.

Originally aimed at surgeons who need to rest their feet during long surgeries, in collaboration with Japan’s Nitto Mold Factory, Chiba University, Japan Polymer Technology and Hiroaki Nishimura Design.

This chair allows the wearer to effectively sit and stand at the same time.

“Arkeris’ concept is very simple, like the simplicity of Columbus’ egg,” says Dr. Hiroshi Kawahira, the surgeon behind the concept. “Long surgeries can cause back pain, neck pain and knee pain, especially for older surgeons.”

Made from 3D printed panels, Archelis requires no electrical components or batteries.

Innovation lies in effective design. Flexible carbon panels wrap around your glutes, legs and feet to provide support and minimize pressure on your joints.

This system stabilizes the ankles and knees so that standing pressure is evenly distributed over the shins and thighs.

The wearer appears to be standing, but is actually resting his back and legs to move his legs.

Other wearables are on the smaller side.

At approximately 3 inches long, BIRD is a modern thimble that turns your fingertips into magic wands.

The device also has precise sensors that use algorithms to decode user intent and track direction, speed and gestures.

This technology allows users to turn any surface into a smart screen or interact with other smart devices.

Users walking around their home project their laptop screens onto their walls, turn on their coffee machines, read books on all sides, and make online purchases with just a point or swipe. can do.

Developers at Israel-based MUV Interactive and Japan-based Silicon Technology hope BIRD will find acceptance in the education and corporate sectors thanks to its ability to create joint presentations.