Earlier in June I blogged about mygengo.com and their online tweet translation service Twiyaku. I argued that the service was not ideal for Corporate Japan to depend on, since it is difficult to translate technical terms and maintain a consistent image of the corporate identity. Apparently I underestimated the demand and how much people like the idea. According to Asiajin’s report, myGengo has raise 50 million yen (or $583,000 USD) from a group of angel investors. That shows the confidence that these investors have on the growing demand in human translation service for micro-blogging systems. Since the introduction of API (application [...]
Category Archives: Design
myGengo Raised $583K USD From Angel Investors, Doing Human Tweet Translation
Earlier in June I blogged about mygengo.com and their online tweet translation service Twiyaku. I argued that the service was not ideal for Corporate Japan to depend on, since it is difficult to translate technical terms and maintain a consistent image of the corporate identity. Apparently I underestimated the demand and how much people like the idea. According to Asiajin’s report, myGengo has raise 50 million yen (or $583,000 USD) from a group of angel investors. That shows the confidence that these investors have on the growing demand in human translation service for micro-blogging systems. Since the introduction of API (application [...]
Robot to Serve You Soft Ice Cream
YASUKAWA-KUN (やすかわくん), created by Yaskawa Electric Corporation, is a Dual-arm robot that serves you soft ice-cream while smiling at you. You can choose different combinations of flavor from the touchscreen, then the robot will slowly and joyfully follow the sequence and fix you a perfect cone of ice-cream. According to it’s Youtube description, YASUKAWA-KUN will be working at Tokyo Summer Land from 2010-July-25 to Aug-22. Make sure to run there if you want to see this smiling robot happily serves you a cone of soft cream. You can follow KASUKAWA-KUN on Twitter.
Animated Construction Worker Sign Directs Traffic
An animated road work ahead sign that looks like a worker waving a growing stick at the drivers. Taken in Japan. Thoughts: Does Japanese drivers response to humanoid signage better than wordy ones? What is the history of Japanese road work signs? How well does it work in day time vs. night time? Weather? Low visibility conditions?
SPAM Japanese Package – Luncheon Meat Sushi
On the classic SPAM luncheon meat can, there is a burger made with a slice of SPAM. However on the localized Japanese version of the package, it is a luncheon meat sushi. This is an example of branding for culture, where the designer acknowledges the different food consumption habit, that in Asia SPAM is more often served with rice than burger buns. However this SPAM sushi package is only available in Japan, perhaps because the company figured that the Japanese market is more sensitive in cultural difference and would be more receptive to special localized branding? I lived in Hong [...]
My name is Calvin Chun-yu Chan, also known as カルビー or Jeepu. I'm a web app developer by trade, with curious and enthusiastic eyes on design, usability, culture and creativity.
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