Too goofy becomes cool! Yep, that is the funda if the Japanese electric car Eliica is anything to go by! Designed by a team of students led by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu at Keio University, Tokyo, the Electric Lithium-Ion Car (ELIICA) prototype has been around since 2003.

The design of the car is absoultely unique. It comprises of eight wheels with the axles one in front of the other. All four tires in the front turn simultaneously to give a good steering radius. Now they are working on giving the same edge to the rear wheels for easy parallel parking.

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Robots will one day overtake human beings, so say the Science Fiction writers. We have been laughing at them for ages but their prophesies have been coming true time and again. At Tokyo’s CEATEC conference, the new age Ms. Robot, MechaDroid Type C3 has been launched. MechaDroid is the robot receptionist that claims to be more effective, punctual, careful and pleasant than her human counterpart.
Receptionsts typically meet hundreds of new faces everyday, so much so that, it becomes difficult to recognize each and every person. But MechaDroid has been inbuilt with a unique face recognition technology. It has a number of other useful features that makes it truly worth spending $28,000.

This news reminds me of my University days when I played the role of Sulla, the receptionist in a production of Karel Capek’s RUR. It amazes me how the Czech writer predicted a future nearly 100 years forward as he wrote the play in 1921! And What scares me is that the play ended with a rebellion by the Robots. I wonder if MechaDroid also demands worker’s right in times to come! Chuckle!
Via techfresh

Have you ever comes across any product that shields you against frequent mood swings or protects you from harmful cellphone radiation? If you are curious about the existence of any such product then look forward to the Beauty World Japan exhibition in Tokyo that lately unveiled this bra designed utilizing snake oil tourmaline trinkets. Tourmaline is considered as a “miracle electric stone” that fights against harmful radiation coming from cell phones and stops them from entering into your body, thereby improving moods and burning stress. Called the “La-la” tourmaline bustier, manufacturers believe this would counteract harmful emissions by discharging fields of negative ions.

Via 3Yen

Featured above is another luxury product inviting people in a mood to burn their spare amount of dough. Measuring 66cm tall and weighing 57kg, this elephant shaped liqueur tantalus is a striking creation by French luxury crystal maker Baccarat. Exhibited at the Baccarat’s exhibition and Tokyo’s Mitsukoshi department store, this masterpice is up for sale demanding a hefty price of 63 million yen ($612,000).

They say original piece of crystal encrusted elephant bathed in pure gold carrying four decanters on its back, was especially designed and developed for the Paris exposition in 1920 and countee 17 models were replicated.

Via MSNBC

If you want to celebrate the birth ceremony of your one-year young kid in an elite manner, then only read further; otherwise free feel to move to my previous post or wait for next one.

This 18th century wooden cradle clad with gold plates and embedded with a total of about 2,000 gems of diamond, ruby, emerald is displayed at the “Treasures of the Topkapi Palace and the Magnificent Ottoman Dynasty” exhibition in Tokyo.

Besides this, around 140 treasures from the residence of the Ottoman Empire, the precursor to the Republic of Turkey, including the cradle are exhibited.

The occasion is to celebrate the birth of Prince Hisahito on 6 September 2006 to Princess Kiko, the wife of Japanese Emperor Akihito’s second son Prince Akishino.

These riches will be on for demonstration from 1 August to 24 September.

Sony lately unveiled its surround sound chair-Za at the design exhibition scheduled in Tokyo.

The chair is escalated with two huge speakers on its head. The leather made couch offers an elite experience to its customers by providing them with the private theater ambience for music, games and movies.

Imagine your pet dog (Simba) sleeping on the lap of your catty. Its possible now with the Sanrio’s first-ever elite dog house designed to express love for your pets at JUST $31,660.

The company gives credit to its renowned fictional character by adorning the cushion with the face of Kitty. Implanted with almost 7,600 Swarovski crystals, this designer bedroom for your dogs will be available for sale later this month. The makers of the cartoon-cat together with maker of high-end pet goods have designed it specifically for a sales event at a Tokyo department store.

Sanrio spokesman Kazuo Tohmatsu has been quoted by an agency as saying that it is an innovative technique to add water to the burning boom of luxury couches for pets.

Hello Kitty is the most well-known of many fictional characters produced by the Japanese company Sanrio. Hello Kitty was created in 1974 by the Sanrio Company of Japan in Tokyo, Japan. Registered in 1976, Hello Kitty is now a globally known trademark.

Via Allheadlinenews.com

Japanese local hotel chain posing in a golden bath made of 18-karat gold and stainless steel during a promotional press preview to attract customers at a jewelry shop in Tokyo. A bathtub just like this one made of gold has disappeared from the Japanese resort hotel, police said 30 May 2007, adding they had no clues to help them catch the cunning thief or thieves. The 71-centimetre (28-inch) long tub weighs 80 kilograms (175 pounds) and has an estimated value of 120 million yen (one million dollars).