Wow Japan...

[DoctorPhil]

You can always count on Japan to invent awesome technology and then using it for useless weird stuff.

 

[CommanderKirov]

Only in Japan can this thing be "Ok".

Seriously, you walk around with that in any other country and you will most likely be called crazy.

 

[UberNoodle]

You can always count on Japan to invent awesome technology and then using it for useless weird stuff.

Japan isn't doing anything. One company has made a toy which will have fairly limited sales and be discounted and forgotten in no time. What you CAN count on Japan to do is, not take itself too seriously, never forget that life is supposed to be fun, and not be so pretentious as to enforce their own cultural ideals onto other's.

 

[UberNoodle]

Only in Japan can this thing be "Ok".

Seriously, you walk around with that in any other country and you will most likely be called crazy.

That says a lot more about the judgemental attitudes and selfish pretentions of those 'other countries'. Thus, your statement compliments the Japanese for their ability to allow other poeple simply to 'be'. That's why I enjoy living there.

 

[DoctorPhil]

You can always count on Japan to invent awesome technology and then using it for useless weird stuff.

Japan isn't doing anything. One company has made a toy which will have fairly limited sales and be discounted and forgotten in no time. What you CAN count on Japan to do is, not take itself too seriously, never forget that life is supposed to be fun, and not be so pretentious as to enforce their own cultural ideals onto other's.

Oh I have nothing against them, they're a good bunch of people and I agree with you. It's just funny that the Japanese take awesome ground breaking technology and make nigh-useless weird shit with it. That's not to say they're not going to implement it for usefull things of course.

 

[CommanderKirov]

Only in Japan can this thing be "Ok".

Seriously, you walk around with that in any other country and you will most likely be called crazy.

That says a lot more about the judgemental attitudes and selfish pretentions of those 'other countries'. Thus, your statement compliments the Japanese for their ability to allow other poeple simply to 'be'. That's why I enjoy living there.

No, that says a lot about how Japan actually forsake something that normal people call "Acceptable Social Standards" long time ago. But than again, I'm one of the prude people that cringes looking at oddness of their culture and does not understand the appeal of all the "Kawaji" cute things and finding the whole animu "art" quite simplistic and laughably bad.

Not saying I hate everything about Japan, I like their culture before everything took a nice U turn on the normality lane. And well gigantic robots that shoot lasers because there is nothing better than that.

And so yes, I agree that Japan is a perfect place for people who consider social politeness something that happens to others. There is a reason that people do not walk around in their spandex uniforms around streets, because no matter how good can it feel. There are some people that might not appriecieate it and find the image disturbing.


But hey, what do I know. I'm a hater after all.

 

[Raddra]

In 10 years time? Mecha furries.

 

[UberNoodle]

You can always count on Japan to invent awesome technology and then using it for useless weird stuff.

Japan isn't doing anything. One company has made a toy which will have fairly limited sales and be discounted and forgotten in no time. What you CAN count on Japan to do is, not take itself too seriously, never forget that life is supposed to be fun, and not be so pretentious as to enforce their own cultural ideals onto other's.

Oh I have nothing against them, they're a good bunch of people and I agree with you. It's just funny that Japan invents so much weird shit with awesome technology.

Weird is subjective, however. And it is sad that every 'Oh Japan' thread on forums like this, is mostly full of judgmental comments about a 'Japan' that exists largely in Western stereotype. It frustrates me to see a wonderful culture reduced to the sum of select articles, anecdotes and misrepresentation, and then even ridiculed for it.

But sure, granted, Japan does produce a fair of bit of things unsual to the rest of the world. More power to them, I say. Japan just wants to have fun. Why get caught up in what's 'appropriate' or 'normal'?

 

[NickCooley]

I love Japan when it comes to things like this. Everyone else is like "Bawwwwww! Cure cancer science!" while Japanese scientists are like "Fuck that shit! I want a robot that'll punch my neighbor in his Jacobs" or something.

Shine on you crazy diamonds.

 

[UberNoodle]

Only in Japan can this thing be "Ok".

Seriously, you walk around with that in any other country and you will most likely be called crazy.

That says a lot more about the judgemental attitudes and selfish pretentions of those 'other countries'. Thus, your statement compliments the Japanese for their ability to allow other poeple simply to 'be'. That's why I enjoy living there.

No, that says a lot about how Japan actually forsake something that normal people call "Acceptable Social Standards" long time ago. But than again, I'm one of the prude people that cringes looking at oddness of their culture and does not understand the appeal of all the "Kawaji" cute things and finding the whole animu "art" quite simplistic and laughably bad.

Not saying I hate everything about Japan, I like their culture before everything took a nice U turn on the normality lane. And well gigantic robots that shoot lasers because there is nothing better than that.

And so yes, I agree that Japan is a perfect place for people who consider social politeness something that happens to others. There is a reason that people do not walk around in their spandex uniforms around streets, because no matter how good can it feel. There are some people that might not appriecieate it and find the image disturbing.


But hey, what do I know. I'm a hater after all.

Yeah, what DO you know, exactly? I fail to see how cosplay, mechanical ears, and things done in privacy have any bearing on 'social standards'. I fail to see what could motivate you to be 'quite disturbed' about toy cat ears (which will barely sell to a niche market), unless you are driven by greatly limiting pretentions. And for you to say that Japan has FORSAKEN 'acceptable social standards', only shows how little you actually know about the culture.

Japan is one of the most conscientious cultures in the world, when it comes to acceptable social standards. In fact, the importance of such a thing is so deeply ingrained in the culture so as to be inseperable. Thus, the Japanese tend not to dictate how others should act, because there is a realisation that each person has their own way and it is not for others to judge or change that. As long as each person upholds the 'social bargain', everybody gets along quite well and peacefully, toy cat ears or not.

 

[UberNoodle]

I love Japan when it comes to things like this. Everyone else is like "Bawwwwww! Cure cancer science!" while Japanese scientists are like "Fuck that shit! I want a robot that'll punch my neighbor in his Jacobs" or something.

Shine on you crazy diamonds.

Well, I think that there are more scientists and engineers in Japan than those working at toy companies. It is illogical that people see this toy as able to affect the course of serious scientific research in the slightest. The Japanese can multitask, and the country has numerous industries. But otherwise, yes, shine on!

 

[CommanderKirov]

Only in Japan can this thing be "Ok".

Seriously, you walk around with that in any other country and you will most likely be called crazy.

That says a lot more about the judgemental attitudes and selfish pretentions of those 'other countries'. Thus, your statement compliments the Japanese for their ability to allow other poeple simply to 'be'. That's why I enjoy living there.

No, that says a lot about how Japan actually forsake something that normal people call "Acceptable Social Standards" long time ago. But than again, I'm one of the prude people that cringes looking at oddness of their culture and does not understand the appeal of all the "Kawaji" cute things and finding the whole animu "art" quite simplistic and laughably bad.

Not saying I hate everything about Japan, I like their culture before everything took a nice U turn on the normality lane. And well gigantic robots that shoot lasers because there is nothing better than that.

And so yes, I agree that Japan is a perfect place for people who consider social politeness something that happens to others. There is a reason that people do not walk around in their spandex uniforms around streets, because no matter how good can it feel. There are some people that might not appriecieate it and find the image disturbing.


But hey, what do I know. I'm a hater after all.

Yeah, what DO you know, exactly? I fail to see how cosplay, mechanical ears, and things done in privacy have any bearing on 'social standards'. I fail to see what could motivate you to be 'quite disturbed' about toy cat ears (which will barely sell to a niche market), unless you are driven by greatly limiting pretentions. And for you to say that Japan has FORSAKEN 'acceptable social standards', only shows how little you actually know about the culture.

Japan is one of the most conscientious cultures in the world, when it comes to acceptable social standards. In fact, the importance of such a thing is so deeply ingrained in the culture so as to be inseperable. Thus, the Japanese tend not to dictate how others should act, because there is a realisation that each person has their own way and it is not for others to judge or change that. As long as each person upholds the 'social bargain', everybody gets along quite well and peacefully, toy cat ears or not.

See, I do not mind such a thing in privacy. Please go ahead and do whatever you do in your own household.

But on the same matter lately I saw a group of about 15-16 year old kids going to some animu happening in my home town and one of the girls was dressed as one of the odd fetish maids while the other had to be guided by her friends since she was coseplaying as a blind person. There should be a limit on how you act publicly.

 

[UberNoodle]

Spoiler: snipped for rant

Oh science, when will you develop a cure for cancer instead of cat ears?

Right?

I don't even... yeah, I don't know. I try not to think about some of the things Japan does anymore. Seriously, what's with the animal people? Recently, I saw a girl on the bus with whiskers drawn on her face. Someone said something about "naruto" or whatever that is. I didn't understand.

And did you make an attempt to understand? And are all Japanese supposed to be the same, ie, there's no room for individuals? If you saw the same thing in your own culture you'd not indict the whole of it. What's whith the animal people? Well what's with anything? It's not your position to lay judgement on things you don't, but are quite capable of, understanding, with a little bit of openmindedness.

As for the post you replied to - only an idiot would even assert that a niche gadget that probably most Japanese haven't heard about, would in any way infringe on medical development, or any other essential industry. These 'ears' aren't government funded. They are a product looking for a market, and even so, that market is very tiny. Science is developing all kinds of things, and every breakthrough only strengthens the whole.

Shinto is animism and thus all things contain a spirit or 'soul'. It is not uncommon in Shinto myth to have athropmorphic animals, as well as people becoming animals. Also, Kami (gods) are not adverse to appearing as, or through, animals, such as the Kami, Inari's relationship with foxes. Additionally, via China, Japan has the Zodiac Animals which define personality via animal archetypes. But hey, in the quest to make Japan look like the weirdest country on earth, we can waive any understanding of cultural relativity in order to do so.

Fair enough. I'm not at all knowledgeable about Shinto, so I wasn't aware those concepts also applied to the major figures of the religion.

Now then, in what part of my post was I trying to paint Japan as the weirdest country on earth?

Was talking about this thread and every single other 'oh how weird is Japan?' thread on these forums. People should get off their high horses and consider how their own cultures and national characteristics and actions of their their fellows could be interpreted. Every culture is weird and strange, and even 'wrong', if viewed via a xenophobic mindset. This gadget was made for pure expression and fun. There's nothing at all wrong with that, especially when such attitudes exist in large amounts in every culture.

What a surprise, someone in Japan invented something incredibly weird, hi-tech, and pointless.

What a surprise. A utterly misinformed post on an English 'Japan thread'.
Read above. Take a step back and see just how 'weird and pointless' your own cultural output could easily be perceived to be. I had hoped the information age would have quelled ignorance.

I didn't say "the Japanese government" or "Japan" as a whole invented this. I said someone in Japan, because even though not EVERYONE in Japan invents weird things or even uses these weird things, if you see something eccentric and fucked up to any degree being invented, there's a damn good chance the person who made it is Japanese. You get some dumb shit here too, but a car with voice activated Facebook installed just doesn't reach the level of EKG cat ears, talking toilets, and a machine that attempts to simulate making out.

LOL. "Snipped for rant"? I guess that's what you call an opinion you don't share. And you basically DID imply at least that 'japan as a whole' is responsible for these 'weird and fucked up' inventions. I love your disregard for objectivity. Regardless, who are you to judge what is 'weird' and 'fucked up'? You're run the risk of sounding like a pretty arrogant person.
I have lived in Japan for a decade, and I have seen very little of the fetishised and distorted Western view of the nation and culture. If you want to see 'weird and fucked up', look a bit more critically at your own culture. A voice activated Facebook car is not the extent of it. As for a machine to similate making out, need I remind you that the modern dildo, Real Doll and the Flesh Light are all American inventions? If you value intellect, avoid gross generalisations based entirely on the Availability Heuristic.

You made an angry series of replies that added up to a spoiler-worthy wall of text that you probably post on every thread like this, you angry, ranting person.

Again, if you'll actually read my replies instead of hearing what you want to hear, I didn't say everyone in Japan is like this. I said the people who invent things like this are often Japanese. I also said that a weird, fucked up invention is likely to be from Japan. In other words, they come up with MOST of the crazy ideas, not every single weird thing you can think of. Go ahead. Read it. It's there. If you don't read my comments, then arguing with you is as pointless as a pair of cat ears that acts as a high-tech mood ring.

The 'angry' part is entirely your invention. The problem here is that I did read what you wrote, and you never said "the people who invent things like this" until you started backpeddaling. Regardless, I would like to see something objective from you to support your assertions that 'most' of the crazy ideas are from the Japanese. And in terms of 'reading' what people write, I suggest you look up what the availability heuristic is and how that affects you. Also, you might want to address the actual point of my replies, which wasn't to tally up all the 'weirdness' from each culture. I showed that such classifications are purely subjective and self-centric. Thus, they are as pointless as you obviously think 'a pair of cat ears that act as a high tech mood ring', must be.

 

[NickCooley]

I love Japan when it comes to things like this. Everyone else is like "Bawwwwww! Cure cancer science!" while Japanese scientists are like "Fuck that shit! I want a robot that'll punch my neighbor in his Jacobs" or something.

Shine on you crazy diamonds.

Well, I think that there are more scientists and engineers in Japan than those working at toy companies. It is illogical that people see this toy as able to affect the course of serious scientific research in the slightest. The Japanese can multitask, and the country has numerous industries. But otherwise, yes, shine on!

Oh I know this probably doesn't even represent a fraction of Japan's scientific output. But I love that almost all the weird and wonderful stuff that is reported usually comes from Japan. It's like all the other countries are stuffy boring old men doing what is "safe and acceptable" while Japan is just chucking stuff in a beaker going "lets see what this does!"

 

[Cpu46]

I'm thinking something like this would be great for a school situation. Teachers could easily make sure you are concentrating.

OT: I want to gets some for my cousin for two reasons

1: She is a big anime fan
2: They would look adorable on her

 

[Findlebob]

Its a great day to be a furry

 

[Kenni-chan]

OMG I want these so bad >.<

 

[Lenin211]

Couldn't this technology be put to better use than cat ears?

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

We've had this tech for a while...

SO WHY DON'T WE HAVE MIND CONTROLLED TV SETS, VIDEO GAMES, OR ANYTHING ELSE?

 

[=HCFS=Discoman]

Am I the only one who thinks this is all bullshit? How exactly does a headband "detect brainwaves" and "concentration"? If it was that easy to minaturise this shit, why are CT scanners the size of vans?

a single small sensor, like in an EKG

a CT scanner actually looks at your entire brain and maps out activity.
the single sensor just notes activity in an area and responds to it.
plus, at CT scan can work in the outer brain areas, which is some weird part that the mapping of varies from person to person.

basically, someone rigged an EKG sensor to some electronic bits.

I'm still not very convinced. Detecting brain impulses is all well and good, but normally such devices have dozens of little receivers which you stick all over the head. I find it hard to believe that one sensor in a small box on the side of your head can actually gauge your "attentiveness" and "relaxation" states, especially when relaxation itself still uses a lot of brain activity (you use as much brain power to look at a beautiful sunset as you would to complete a difficult maths puzzle).

sunset=math problem in brain power? i'd be interested to see the sources that did that research.
the device seems to be a modified neurosky
http://www.neurosky.com/
the company even has development applications and simple games that are controlled by the device.
on the topic of neural sensors, emotiv http://www.emotiv.com/ has development, games, and a far more advanced and expensive sensor.

besides, there is that nerf mindbullets project that also uses a neurosky to make a mind controlled nerf gun.