Kazuhito Shiratori

bubble cosmos

In the field of entertainment, fantaraction is aggressively being developed these days. Fantaraction places emphasis on entertainment and art and imparts momentary surprise or pleasure. This paper proposes a bubble display system (Fig.1) that projects an image onto a real bubble containing smoke and changes the sound effect and image when the bubble bursts. This system enables a user to interactively enjoy written characters or other images projected onto a smoke-containing bubble, and a beautiful tone sounded upon bursting of a bubble, along with a different image projected onto the smoke. To detect a bubble and determine its bursting, a camera input image is divided into areas and each area is checked for a bubble. The bubble position and size are also detected, and an image is projected from a projector.

Mounting and application of bubble display system: bubble cosmos

In this paper, we propose the soap bubble display method that the image can be projected to the real soap bubbles that white smoke entered. The position and the size of soap bubbles tossed in the air are detected with the camera. By projecting the image only to the position with the projector, the soap bubble display is realized. And the image and the sound can be interactively added when the explosion of soap bubbles are judged. We mount the soap bubble display, and evaluate usefulness as entertainment that player can enjoy.

Baby type robot "YOTARO"

Everyone had experienced meet a baby in the train or elevator and unconsciously smiles, waves hands or tries to outstare him. The kindness feeling to babies is inherent in humans natural emotion. When we interact with a baby, while they still not have capacity to do things by themselves, we will need to do anything and everything to them. The humans baby is the most conspicuous example about humans instincts where everybody takes care and be tender to him.

Baby robot YOTARO

YOTARO is a baby-type robot developed to create a new communication perspective between robots and humans through interaction experience based on the reproduction of a babys behaviors and user actions. YOTARO exhibits different emotions and reactions, such as smiling, crying, sleeping, sneezing, and expressing anger. It is controlled by an emotion control program that executes in response to inputs such as touching its soft and warm face, touching its stomach, and shaking a rattle. The output is in the form of interactive reactions such as emission of sounds, change of expressions, limb movements, sniveling, and variation in skin color. In addition, we used questionnaires to observe the impression on users before and after their experience with YOTARO.

Kangaroo: the trampoline entertainment system for aiding exercise

Trampobics is an aerobics training method using a mini trampoline. It substantially decreases damage to the joints compared with aerobics on the floor. The benefits of trampobics include an improvement in balance, more active internal organs, and burning of fat. Thus, trampobics promotes a healthy posture[1][2]. Today some people engage in trampobics in trampobics class. However, it is not gaining in popularity. In this paper, we add visual effects to trampobics and aim to make it more engaging to the general public.

The trampoline entertainment system for aiding exercise

Trampobics is known as a kind of an aerobics training method with a mini trampoline. This method can reduce damage on the joint of legs than the aerobics with the floor aspect. In addition, trampobics promotes the consumption of the fat cell and takes a balance of the internal organs. Thus, trampobics promotes a healthy posture. In late years people of wide age begin this exercise. However, it is not gaining in popularity. In this paper, we add visual effects to trampobics and aim to make it more engaging to the general public.

Flexible foot interface for versatile training field

We propose the wellness entertainment system Versatile Training Field (VTF). In this system, we use the flexible foot interface as the input device. The system enables the user to move and jump freely in VR space by exaggerated movement corresponding to walking or jumping on the mini trampoline of the flexible foot interface. Improvements in exercise motivation and support for continuous exercise are achieved in our system, since it is possible to enjoy strolling through a virtual space, which is usually difficult to experience, by exercising on the mini trampoline without injury to the users joints.

Versatile training field: the wellness entertainment system using trampoline interface

We propose the wellness entertainment system Versatile Training Field (VTF). In this system, we use a mini trampoline as the input device. The system enables the user to move and jump freely in VR space by exaggerated movement corresponding to walking or jumping on the mini trampoline. Improvements in exercise motivation and support for continuous exercise are achieved in our system, since it is possible to enjoy strolling through a virtual space, which is usually difficult to experience, by exercising on the mini trampoline without injury to the users joints.

Virtual blowgun system for breathing movement exercise

Breathing is the most basic requirement for having good health. However, unhealthy breathing like overbreathing and hyperventilation will happened easily without any awareness. We propose an experimental breathing movement exercise system - Virtual Blowgun System (VBS), offering an easy way of breathing exercise, for people of different physical strength, without space and safety limitations.