This paper shows our system called as Somect, which is the digital system to experience Kaga-yuzen dyeing. In recent year, young people are losing interest in local traditional handicrafts. One of the reason is that they have preconceived images about them. In order to rediscover the fascinations of traditional handicrafts, innovative promotion method is needed. Therefore, we developed the digital system with Kinect sensor and image processing. The feature of the system is to experience virtual dyeing manipulated by hands. Furthermore, we designed the box and the event site to experience dyeing through the digital system. Finally, we reported the result of our event for the demonstration experiment.

View full abstract

In recent years, lightly-adhesive paper tape products have been expanding their use, including roll sticky note and masking tape of various colors. Further demand can be expected in such applications as proofreading in editing work or note-taking in office work as well as paper surface decoration and other creative work The user was required until now to use scissors or a small hand-held cutter with both hands in service. This has been produced as a dispenser allowing two types of tape rolls 25mm in core diameter to be set side by side on the desk and enabling the user to cut tape with one hand. The characteristics of its development was effective use of 3D printers to make prototypes repeatedly at each stage of the design process. This approach was beneficial in confirming functionality, operability, detailed shaping and proportion.

View full abstract

This work enables, by combining an expressive visual system using LEDs with the "Vibracion Cajon", a percussion instrument allowing mutual communication through vibrations made when struck, the enjoyment of music through sensory organs other than the ears (sight and touch). In this research, with the aim of applying the concept of "accessible design" to musical instruments, and with consideration of the hearing impaired from the perspective of universal design, I am aiming to develop a musical instrument which allows as many people as possible to participate in the enjoyment of music. The sense of "unity" felt when performing with others may be given as one example of how to enjoy music, but as an approach to enhancing this feeling, I carried out the design and development of the percussion instrument "Vibracion Cajon" which (1) allows communication through direct vibrations mutually created by the players, and (2) has a function which transforms music into visual information (light).

View full abstract

Japanese cedar is growing mostly in this country, and it is material which can serve as a cause for solving environmental problems, such as preservation of a "Satoyama", and also global warming prevention, by using them as material for furniture. This design uses Japanese cedar as the material to build furniture-- the Japanese cedar that grows in the environs of the areas in Tohoku region that were devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Not only does this design encourage the revitalization of the forests in Japan, but it also provides economic as well as reconstruction support to the people in the disaster-stricken areas who are engaged in forestry and woodworking.

View full abstract

Plant factory has a technique to provide stable and high efficiency without being affected by the climate pesticide-free vegetables mainly leaf vegetables. By the technology of LED, artificial light plant factory is running realistically. By using the technology, we tried to design development of the joint vegetable garden. The purpose of this is the improvement of community spirit by eat and grow vegetables together. We have developed through support activities in temporary housing complex two places. The reason, we thought because realization of this purpose is appropriate in temporary housing complex of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Now, we completed the installation in this two places, and we are advancing the development program so that it can be used effectively.

View full abstract

This work focused on bonding with connection mechanisms by the magnetism of flat surface units, and developed teaching materials for learning modeling which allows bonding between flat surface units without requiring a high level of experience. The teaching materials for learning modeling realized easy bonding between units by using the magnetism of neodymium magnets for the connection mechanism. It was confirmed that a modeled object could be produced utilizing the characteristics of flat surfaces in combination of bonded units. The characteristics of the flat surfaces are the flexibility, ductility, lightness, safety, covering and the large size of modeling objects. This paper explains the design and process of the teaching materials for learning modeling, the usage method and features of the teaching materials for learning modeling, modeling and modeled objects by teaching materials for learning modeling.

View full abstract

The Event Capturing Device (ECD) is a tool for supporting reflections developed to clarify theories of learning in workshops and to train practitioners. ECD is software mounted on the iPad. The practitioner records workshop activity on video, selects a number of important events and scenes from the recording, and observes them. A characteristic of ECD is that the interpretation of a scene is not fixed, but constant observation produces new interpretations. As a result, the practitioner gains the capacity to understand events from a number of angles. During the observation in reflection, several annotation functions are used to add notes directly to the video image. Besides this, "differences and connections between before and after the selected scene can be understood", and "understanding can be intensified through different interpretations of the same scene". Several events to be observed can be grouped into a story, and the significance of learning is intensified.

View full abstract

In recent years, small-scale workshops such as "FabLab" and "FabCafe," which adopt digital work equipments such as laser cutters and three-dimensional printers, are increasing in number and popularity. Using these equipments stored in these workshops, members of the general public can rapidly manufacture their own items, i.e., "personal fabrication". This work was experimentally performed as a work of personal fabrication and developed an intellectual training design tool composed of a duralumin unit and a neodymium magnet. The duralumin serves as a frame that is harnessed to the vertices of a triangle, which is the minimum unit of a field. Based on the theory of top delta polyhedra, any form without restriction can be constructed by the proposed tool.

View full abstract

It is hard to know what is designed in the workshop, since it does not have a clear form. We can say, however, that the activity that the participants of the workshop experiences could be rich and significant in case various elements built in intentionally by the designer overlap effectively. The authors have been providing a creative and cooperative activity to the children of the primary and the secondary school by holding the workshop which they worked on as one of the contribution to the social activity of the company. They have shown it in the items of "environment" (space, placement), "tools" (material, worksheet), "facilitation" and "progress plan" (schedule, contents) how this activity is designed, and how they drew the creative activity (producing new things from an experience) and cooperative activity (cooperating each other with a friend for the same purpose) of the participants.

View full abstract

We proposed the production of the overwhelmingly big screen image which takes the initiative in the world, and Japanese heart of a reception by a concept called "NARITA FRONTIER VISION", and did the formal order received from Narita International Airport Corporation in August, 2011. We made three concept Keywords as follows, 1. Seamless and stress-free, 2. Plus value, 3. Frontier. We've developed the design in detail based on the concepts above. Especially the store search terminals which correspond to four languages - Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean - are focused on finding shops easily for anybody regardless of age or nationality.

View full abstract

We apply user centered design (UCD) to NEC's social infrastructure through ICT. For example, ATM (automated teller machine) is very important system because people interfere with everyday activities without it. We applied user centered design (UCD) to make social solution systems user friendly. We described characteristics of UCD for solutions for society and development process of ATM. Seven Bank, Ltd. and the NEC Group have co-developed an innovative ATM using UCD in order to achieve a product that will enable a variety of users, including persons with visual impairments, persons in wheel chairs, to use the machine conveniently, safely and securely.

View full abstract

In Japan, there are a number of refugees from various countries in the world. We considered it means there are multiple cultures existing together in the same country, which is a very interesting point to focus on. Therefore we aimed at learning their cultures and suggesting Japanese users new experience service to learn refugee and enjoy their culture with them. Moreover, we found that the story behind refugee's life is unimaginable and totally different from ours from research. This result of research works out a storybook and creates service. Most of refugees in Japan came from Myanmar and they manage their own restaurant that offers cuisine of their home country. We thought their restaurant is a perfect place to step into their community quickly, therefore we chose Myanmar to explore and understand culture.

View full abstract

This multi-usage shelf is usually used as a ordinal way at public institution such as school or community center, but it can be used as a partition which function in appropriate way at the emergence situation. The fact is clear that every public institution has to function in multi way owing to the disaster happened at March 2011 at Japan. In that case, this proposed shelf is suitable for that needs and people can survive by its usual-unusual way of using. Basically this shelf can stand by combining its own slit each other, and these two ways can be convert by a brief method such as realizing with a driver. In daily situation, using it at the regular disaster training, people can get used to that two ways. Furthermore usual usage such as exhibition panel make us learn how to change the use of it and prepare for the future emergency.

View full abstract