Augmented Reality is a pretty hot topic currently, but it seems to me that the Japanese in particular have really embraced the concept of mixing the real world with computer-generated imagery and data. One case in point is the Crimsonfox project [JP], an “Alternative Reality” scavenger hunt game event that took place over the weekend in Tokyo, Japan.

The main idea here was to use a tailor-made augmented reality app on the iPhone (which is only available in the Japanese App Store) in a mass-player game in the real world, namely the central district of Shibuya.

And over 200 players showed up in flesh and blood on the day of the event, all equipped with iPhones. Using said app, GPS and the built-in compass of the 3GS, players ran around in the city looking for hidden (physical) hints to find the real-world hideout of a “secret society called Moonlights”.

On the screenshot below, you can see those hints in red and an interim goal in blue.

Players were able to “scan” hints they found with their iPhones, for example a graphic printed on a piece of paper somewhere. The app would then verify the hint by superimposing an emblem (see below) over the image on the iPhone camera, give away points for finding the right hint and then lead players to the next part of the game.

Very cool concept, so it wasn’t too surprising that the Crimsonfox project was watched by a total of 7,000 people live online. Tokyo-based Ubiquitous Entertainment, the main organizer of the event, was even able to win the support of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

While this is probably possible in Japan only, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this kind of event copied for marketing or other purposes outside this country in the future (hit this link for more information on the game in English).

Here’s the official Crimsonfox promo trailer:

Remember that guy who made the DuckPhone iPhone app? And how his app was rejected due to “Minimum User Functionality?” Well, Apple just approved his app after he added some news streams and a twitter feed from the stars if Jersey Shore. It just goes to show that one man’s dumb garbage app is another man’s acceptable piece of useful software.

Justice, friends, has been served.

Nick writes:

I’m happy to report that after some slight additions to the application, and a re-submit, it is now live in the iTunes App Store in all its’ quackarific glory. I don’t know if I’d consider it a victory against Apple, but I suppose it is a lesson to developers that persistence is the only option if you want to survive in the app store.

I think the App Store fiasco, if it can even be called that, puts a human face on Apple. It shows that it is not a Borg-like hivemind full of men and women in dark, lint-free turtlenecks (but by God if that isn’t a great image) where judgement is passed using a rational flowchart based on app success and failure rates. Instead it is a place where flesh-and-blood, average Joes and Janes are given leave to pass judgement on the work of others and, depending on their sugar intake, sexual activity, and general mood, arbitrarily dismiss or accept that work on a whim.

I’m not sure which vision Apple prefers.

Image from Mercy for Animals

Adam’s disturbing adventure with the Fleshlight (NSFW) this week got me thinking about the flipside of sex with machines. What about our emotional needs?

German designer Stefan Ulrich’s Funktionide is like a body pillow best friend (or lover as this video suggests).

Based on EAP-technology “Funktionide” is a concept for an emotional robot that substitutes human contact. In a future where technology will play a huge part in our lives it is very likely that some day it will shift from satisfying our basic functional needs to include our emotional needs as well.

Can a man love a blob made from plastics? Rosanne Barr was married more than once, so I suppose anything can happen. [Project Page]
Let’s say you actually have a flesh and blood “girlfriend,” but you met on the internet, she has never seen a real picture of you and she barely speaks English. Mutsugoto can break down all of those physical and geographic barriers to create a genuine intimate experience with light.

the device was designed to communicate intimacy and to offer an alternative to text and e-mail messaging. While lying on their beds miles away from each other, the couples wear touch-activated rings visible to a camera mounted above them. A computer vision system tracks the movement of the ring as one of the device’s users passes it across their own body, or bed. At the same time these strokes are transmitted to and projected in beams of light on the body of their partner. The lines change color if they cross.

Plus, this way she won’t feel how fat you are.
Experience Twitter on a more personal, emotional level with this DIY Guardian robot.

Meet the Guardian Robot: This friendly little fellow stands on your desk and monitors your Twitter feed for “happy” and “sad” posts by your friends on your Twitter feed. But unlike conventional alert systems, this robot encourages you to interact with the posts it finds.

For example, when it finds a “happy” post, the Guardian Robot raises its head and arm in triumph. It holds the pose until you give it a “high five” by pushing the switch in its raised hand. Once you do that, the robot pass the high five on to your buddy via a reply Tweet.

Likewise, when the Guardian Robot comes across a sad Tweet, it lowers its head in despair. You cheer it up by giving it a hug, which it will forward on with another reply Tweet.

[Link]
Lonely people often turn to pets to fill the void, but not everyone is cut out for the responsibility. Perfect Petzzz offer a solution with a robot that looks and breathes like a real dog or cat during a slumber that is interrupted only by an on/off switch or the death of a D battery. It’s all of the fun of owning a dog that’s in a coma without all of the hassle. [Perfect Petzzz via Link]
Tired of coming home to an empty house every night? The Expected Curtain makes it appear from the outside as though you have several friends just hanging out in your home, enjoying a motionless staring contest for hours and hours on end. [Link]
One of the saddest products on this list has to be the girlfriend pillow. But look at the guy in the photo—he seems content with a soft, uni-breasted torso. Plus he has the option of picking up a lap pillow for more intimate moments. Also available in a boyfriend version.
Thanks to 64 strategically located actuators, this jacket from Philips reacts with scenes from movies—heightening your emotional reaction. For example, it might hug you repeatedly during a Lifetime movie or pulse like a heartbeat during a tense scene in a horror flick. [Link]

“I need a friend!”, this is what my inner voice keeps telling me for a day or two. I would be thankful if someone came to me and begged for my friendship. I don’t want for people to beg, don’t get me wrong, but I’d like to see a dose of interest showed towards my person. I need a friend and I’d be happy to spread my love and care all over the place, to overwhelm a special someone with everything that I hide somewhere deep inside.

But what I need should be flesh and blood, should be alive just like I am. Imaginary friends, I’ve had so many of them. I’ve shared my secrets with enough souless creatures, so I’m more than entitled to say no to this penguin, even if I love penguins, as I’m one myself. Don’t laugh, there’s someone who thinks I’m a penguin and if he says so, then I will surely believe it myself.

< -300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->

MyDeskFriend is supposed to be such a friend for those who need a shoulder to cry on. It is presented as the “social-media companion” for people who live their lives on Facebook. Created by Arimaz, the cute penguin is expected to start selling sometime in September. And, for only $99, you’ll be having someone to talk to.

Actually, no. For this amount of money, you’ll have to exercise and feed the creature, if you don’t want him to get moody. And if you feel like you can’t handle the situation, you can always invite some Facebook friends to play with it using the gameplay interface. What you should know right from the start is that you won’t be able to lure the penguin, because te MyDeskFriend comes with five infrared sensors that help it avoid the edges of the desk. So, before making the worst move ever, it will stop.

In addition, the penguin will let you know when your Facebook friend log on, will read your messages, while the eyes are able to display five different moods. Besides the Facebook functions, it can read other information such as e-mail, RSS feeds, weather, Twitter, instant messages and so on. Last, but not least, it can memorize 15 different vocal commands.

(Source: Coolest-Gadgets)