Meals in pill form and flying cars may still be a few decades away, but that doesn't mean technology hasn't made a some significant leaps and bounds.
At the Fujitsu Forum in Tokyo on Thursday, partners and startups of the Japanese tech giant were on hand to demo their latest gear. From a smart glass that can measure your beer orders to watching the NBA with augmented reality, a lot was on offer.
Here are some of the best things Newsweek came across:
AR Sports
Through the use of an augmented reality (AR) kit, including goggles and a vibration platform that can sense the bounce of the ball, sports fans could soon be closer than ever to the action. While Fujitsu does not develop the AR or vibration gear, it does build the processor that makes this combination possible.
Coaches can also use the tech to study plays in real time through AR. Stat feedback will give coaches an on-screen view of shots scored and missed on the court.
Computer Gymnastics Judging
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games rapidly approaching, technology could hold the key to more accurately judging gymnastics. The system uses advanced cameras to track the movement of limbs and joints as contestants land and perform.
The system would not replace human judges; instead it would become a tool to help them give scores. Fujitsu announced a partnership with the International Gymnastics Federation in October and has confirmed the tech will be used at the 2020 Olympics.
Smart Beer Glass
Drinking a beer at a bar could soon lead to data-mining aimed at improving your customer experience. The Serendipity Tumbler can be used for any liquids, from coffee to alcoholic beverages. So far, Fujitsu has partnered with one of Japan's largest beer companies. (It was not revealed which one.)
The benefits promised include meal suggestions on a small screen on the glass, personalized messages such as "Happy birthday!" and any information the staff may want to convey to the customer (think: last call).
The cup itself will even be able to weigh the liquid inside and suggest when staff should refill it. For example, if there is around 10 percent left in the glass, staff will be alerted to replenish your drink.
Matey, the Stock-Checking Robot
With the rapid rise of self-checkouts in supermarkets, taking stock of store shelves may be the next job to fall to machines. Matey is a scanning robot that can manage stock levels on supermarket floors. Although it cannot yet stock the shelves itself, it can monitor numbers and alerts when a section should be replenished.
Say hello to Matey! This stock robot can measure when a store's shelves are getting low and order a stock replenishment. #Fujitsu #FujitsuForum #Tokyo pic.twitter.com/FoDONbdOru
— James Hetherington (@james_heth) May 17, 2018
Stock replenishment may be safe for now, but the robot is intended to replace staff. It will monitor stores at night and even suggest more efficient layouts based on customer selection of products.
3D Printed Nail Polish
Women and men lined up to trial a 3D nail-polish printer that could create images chosen via a touch screen. It took between 20 and 30 seconds for the image to print and was polished off by an assistant.
Newsweek is reporting from Tokyo as a guest of Fujitsu.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Hetherington is a staff reporter for Newsweek covering technology.
Based in London, James previously covered technology for International Business Times ... Read more
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