Here at Eyes, JAPAN we are lucky to have access to new Gadgets and interesting Tech almost all the time. There are too many to talk about them all, so I’d like to talk shortly about two of them.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus_Rift#/media/File:Oculus-Rift-CV1-Headset-Front.jpg

When the Oculus Rift was still in development and a rare sight, we could get our hands on a kit and start experimenting with it. While it is exciting and fun to be able to “play” with such new things it is also an important part of what we do. Only this kind of curiosity allows finding new applications for hardware and platforms. And sometimes new ideas can be followed up with new business opportunities.

Source: https://www.linefriends.jp/products/317551472

Just recently this new LINE WAVE “AI Speaker” has arrived at the office. It seems to be designed to do similar things to what Amazon’s Echo is doing, yet it is still in a beta state. It’s AI component listens to the name “Clova” and has a limited set of commands it understands. For now it tells the time, weather, sets alarms and is able to have minor casual conversations. It can also control music streaming via LINE’s own music service. It already peaked the interested of some people in our office and surely, as soon as an API is at the horizon hacking and more experimenting will start.

Many more things are around in our office. While some perhaps forgotten, others became big. A few even made it into our daily lives (like the first Android phones and iPhones before they were widely available). All in all it is a forest of great opportunity and possibility. Always fun to see what is the next thing coming.