tokyo street report

Plen Desktop Robot

tokyostreetreport — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:06:26 +0000

Plen, designed by Systec Akazawa in Osaka is billed as a “desktop robot” which stands 23 cm tall, and can be controlled from a PC or mobile phone via Bluetooth technology. There are 18 joints in the body, and the battery pack rests on the back like a backpack. The central location of the backpack is designed to improve over all balance, as the battery is the heaviest component and establishes the center of gravity. Plen can not only walk, but also move around quite well on roller skates and a tiny skateboard. Systec was taking reservations to purchase Plen for 250,000 yen, well over $2,000, a hefty price to pay for what is essentially a toy. The site has not been updated for nearly two years, and it remains unclear if it will every be mass released.

Here we can see the Plen show off its moves.

The official Plen website.

Natccu

tokyostreetreport — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:06:08 +0000

Tokyo-based singer Natccu is a study in contradictions. She often takes the stage wearing a stylish dress, but wields a beat-up Stratocaster. Her songs, which she writes herself, are highly melodic, bordering on pop, with poetic and highly personal lyrics, yet her live shows seethe raw energy. Her voice is silken, but her guitar hisses. And while Natccu is still doing the obligatory round of small venues around Tokyo, she has already achieved recognition overseas, touring the UK last year and winning a coveted spot at this year’s South by Southwest festival. This final irony may become a thing of the past, with an upcoming album that will expose her to a wider audience both at home and abroad.

Natccu at MySpace