This year, Frepar Networks will be releasing a device that projects 3D character holograms of your choosing onto a platform for you to communicate with. By using the “CODEC Cell” cartidge containing character information you can view him or her (likely…her, right?) in stereoscopic 3-D without needing any special glasses. It’s possible to interact verbally as well as physically! For example, if you blow air at her you will actually see her skirt move as if in the wind. Touching will affect her as well, though we really don’t want to know where this is going to go.
The coolest part is the “physical transfer field” where you can use special barcoded cards that have clothing and item information on them. When you lay the card on the device the character will immediately have the item! This even includes items you buy at the store, such as cup noodles, that are scanned in via the barcode. She’ll even eat the food if she’s hungry. There’s even a weight meter that has the characters get fatter as the user does in order to assist in dieting.
The possibilities for the Pod are extremely varied. She can practice English with you, tell you the news, entertain you, educate you on software (She works with Microsoft Office 2007 to give a tour), or just sit there and be pretty. What we know for sure is that if it takes off there will be a massive market for the item cards.
Much like Love and Berry or Mushi King, card-based arcade games for kids, the cards would be collectable and highly desired by otaku who want to dress up their new friend. It’s been suggested that the famous Gravure idols will also be available to, um, look prettier than should be legal at times. Perhaps new cards and CODEC Cells will be included in magazines and books to make the experience even more real. With the massive amounts of characters for any genre in Japan, we doubt they’ll ever run out of material.
Look for the Sub-Spacial Communication Pod to be released at the end of this year, just minutes before Apple sues them for copyright violations. It’ll go for JPY 30,000 or about $250.
Pictures vis Frepar Networks
Microsoft campaign for Office 2007
Michael is the Editor of JapanTrends.com and Director of the 
Dang, having this would be pretty cool…Hope it stays on the market long enough to buy one.