Maker Faire, the globe-trotting DIY convention that attracts both weekend hobbyists and high tech tinkerers, landed in Tokyo over the weekend. Arduino Unos and Raspberry Pis outnumbered attendees by a wide margin, with drones buzzing overhead and the smell of 3D printer plastic wafting through the air.
The event, which started in the Bay Area back in 2006, took on a uniquely Japanese feel for its trip through the capital, embodying everything weird and wonderful about the interaction between tech and domestic pop culture.
Held at Tokyo’s massive Big Sight convention center, Maker Faire Tokyo featured more than 300 exhibitors and 13,000 attendees.
Guests were greeted with a 3D photo booth that used an array of 24 iPods. The 3D image file they capture can then be used to 3D print your very own Roman-style bust.
CUBE Works was on site with its kooky musical instruments. This one is called Otamatone – it’s played by sliding your fingers on the neck’s touch panel and squeezing the “mouth” open.
Another interesting musical instrument that’s played through a cute puppet.
Got an extra bento box lying around? Why not turn it into some DJing equipment?
Fully-functioning mini tools for those hard-to-reach places.
Neon samurai.
A clock that uses robotic hands and sign language. Speaking of robots…
They were everywhere.
In all shapes and sizes.
This one can use an elevator and deliver your office supplies.
This one drives along the lines you draw on a dry-erase board.
These guys make the most complicated grilled cheese sandwich, ever.
Mini Gundam?
Heard about the space elevator that Japan wants to build? This robot could transport goods to people at the top.
Hakuto, the Japan winner of Google’s Lunar XPRIZE, let kids drive robots on the moon.
Ok, so this one wasn’t a robot, per se, but it still looked pretty cool.
Really cool…
With all these robots, you’d expect a robot death match, right?
FIGHT!
Despite his cute appearance, “Bear Guy III” was the winner.
This team’s flying robots were a huge hit with the audience.
Flying bear centipede?
There was no shortage of Oculus Rift headsets, including this one that reminded me of a particular Spiderman nemesis.
This University of Tokyo project allows you to leap into space (and fall back to Earth). The closest I’ll ever get to feeling like Goku…
Things got weird when I used an Oculus and a vibrating stick to virtually brush a scantily-clad anime character’s teeth…
These guys couldn’t afford an Oculus, so they made their own with a tablet and some dollar-store parts.
This hanging printer was drawing pictures by swinging back and forth.
And this tiny 3D printer was about the size of a baseball.
This wheelchair was controlled by the user’s temples – just clench your jaw (or think really hard).
This was an earthquake simulator… for 1/3 scale dolls.
And, of course, a 1/3 scale doll personal mobility device.
Tokyo-based circuit board printing startup AgIC was at the event, selling these cool circuit markers.
And Osaka’s own wearable toy maker Moff was there, too.
The most aptly-named invention award goes to: Human Potential Extender.
Nerds were rejoicing at this otaku’s painstaking recreation of Attack on Titan’s 3D Maneuver Gear.
Outside, it looked like Tokyo Drift, with Toyota’s iconic AE86 cruising around.
Not quite. This “EV86″ has a full-electric engine swap!
And that’s it for Maker Faire Tokyo 2014. But here’s a final shot of the funky Big Sight complex where the event was held.
This post Check out the weird and wonderful creations from Maker Faire Tokyo 2014 (GALLERY) appeared first on Tech in Asia.
Check out the weird and wonderful creations from Maker Faire Tokyo 2014 (GALLERY)
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