'IoT' makes a splash at Japan's premier technology fair

According to The Asahi Shimbun today, tourism, retail and other players in the nonmanufacturing sector are stealing the limelight from electronics manufacturers at this year’s Ceatec Japan, the country’s largest electronics and information technology commodity fair.

Once the domain of electronics companies, Createc Japan, held through 10th Oct at the Makuhari Messe convention complex here, features a growing number of service providers thanks to the development of “IoT” (Internet of Things) technology to connect electronic devices to online services.

On 7th Oct opening day, visitors tried out “Smart glasses” technology, a personal imaging system that adds information to what the wearer sees, at a booth operated by Kinki Nippon Tourist Co.

The device allows a user walking around ancient ruins, for example, to see how the site looked in its prime as well as have access to other information.

It represents the latest advance in IoT technology, which connects electronics devices and household appliances to service providers via the Internet.

Company officials said Smart glasses offer the “experience of next-generation travel."

Online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. took part in the fair for the first time to promote its new shopping services using smartphones, while electronics appliance makers also showed off their latest IoT products.

Sharp Corp.’s "Friendly home appliances" microwave oven, for instance, can give suggestions for a recipe by intercepting information on what is available in the refrigerator via an Internet program.

Ref:​ http://digital.asahi.com/articles/ASHB864YGHB8UEHF01J.html

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http://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/90
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