Today CScout Japan made a trip to the Wireless Japan Expo to check out what’s going on in the mobile world…but mostly we were on the lookout for shiny toys and fun gadgets. We weren’t let down!
Although we still have the Frepar Networks Communication Pod in our hearts (exclusive video coming soon!), there’s a new interactive computer girl on the block. Today we had a chance to play with this nifty little augmented reality toy/software from Geisha Tokyo called Cyber Figure Alice (covered recently by Asiajin).
Included with the package will be software, cubes, and sticks printed with cyber codes. While running the software, if you point your webcam at the cube Alice will then make that her centerpoint for entertaining oh-so-geeky you. She changes costumes, stands on the cube, walks around, and even sweeps up a little!
All is well until you start pestering her with your cyber sticks, each with varying patterns on each side that represent a different tool, such as a big grabber hand or a poking finger, that you can use to to flirt with your new digital girlfriend. Or, if you’re mean, torment her endlessly.
There are still a few kinks to be worked out before the Fall 2008 debut, but in general the experience was quite smooth and fun. We especially loved how the floor opens up with stairs and Alice walks down to change costumes. Using the cubes as frame of reference, there are many opportunities for adding more characters and interactive options. After all, since two cubes are included that could just well mean that we can have two characters at once. Girl fight!
Below is a quick video of Cyber Figure Alice in action, but now she’s available online!
Michael is the Editor of JapanTrends.com and Director of the 
So you’re praising the virtual alice girlfriend and yet the same blog that got pissy when everyone thought that Japan was making robot girlfriends?? hypocritical no??
So you’re praising the virtual alice girlfriend and yet the same blog that got pissy when everyone thought that Japan was making robot girlfriends?? hypocritical no??
Not at all. The difference is that my problem with the story about the robot was that it’s (a) actually a foreign product anyway and (b) the insinuation was that it’s for “lonely Japanese men who don’t know how to interact with real women” (I’m paraphrasing).
This is simply for entertainment, and is not being confused as some kind of substitution for the real thing.
Where can I find that figure ?
Where can I find that figure ???