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Japanese gadget of the day
No, it's not the glasses-cleaning machine or for that matter the Tenga. Rather, if it is raining, and you enter one of the fancier department stores, they put out a machine which allows you to very rapidly shrink wrap your umbrella. You just plunge your umbrella in and it takes about two seconds. The point is that you don't drip water from your umbrella across the whole department store. Simple, no?
And if that doesn't convince you to visit Japan, maybe Human Tetris will.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on June 4, 2008 at 10:40 AM in Travels | Permalink
Comments
of course...we've all seen MXC, right?
Posted by: shawn at Jun 4, 2008 10:56:52 AM
Re: human tetris — it's an old joke about the Russian(Soviet) army, where officers play tetris with soldiers in a pit.
Posted by: A Tykhyy at Jun 4, 2008 12:09:29 PM
I love japan. Its like if geeks ran an entire country.
Posted by: kevin at Jun 4, 2008 12:23:43 PM
Apple store in Manhattan has the umbrella machines. We used them 2 weeks ago during a visit to NYC.
Posted by: Dave Barnes at Jun 4, 2008 12:35:33 PM
In Soviet Russia, Tetris plays YOU!
Posted by: d.cous. at Jun 4, 2008 12:38:43 PM
Here's a picture of an umbrella packing machine.
Posted by: chug at Jun 4, 2008 2:43:36 PM
Human Tetris is coming to the U.S. The American version is called Hole in the Wall and it's going to be produced by Fox.
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/05/human_tetris_finally_coming.html
Posted by: Samara at Jun 4, 2008 2:58:44 PM
Anyone who has visited or spent time in Japan will be amazed with the variety of watches available to the consumer. I am talking about your typical watch, but watches that push the creative boundaries. Here is a link http://www.tokyoflash.com/en/ . I can't wait to get back to Japan, will be moving there in August.
Posted by: n0rd1x at Jun 4, 2008 3:14:16 PM
The umbrella wrappers have two other wonderful features.
Firstly, they are a testament to the most important part of the Japanese aesthetic. Packaging. Not content with excess packaging of bags within boxes within boxes within bads wrapped in paper when new products are bought, you can now package things you already own!
Secondly, when the water collects at the bottom of the bag, it inevitably gets ripped, spilling the water all at once, perfect for magnifying social awkwardness.
Posted by: Richard Green at Jun 4, 2008 5:02:31 PM
the umbrella wrappers are increasingly common in Australian office buildings
Posted by: dk.au at Jun 4, 2008 9:52:42 PM
Umbrella -wrappers are ubiquitous in Singapore; you'll see them at regular grocery stores and office buildings, not just at fancy department stores. Not sure where they originated, though.
Posted by: Andrew John at Jun 4, 2008 11:19:11 PM
Tenga link NSFW!
In any case, it seems a bit over-engineered to me.
Posted by: Xmas at Jun 5, 2008 6:02:39 PM
New homeowners are most concerned about leaks, someone to 抓漏grasp Henmomianzai leakage, a good new home, can not find a good 清潔公司cleaning company to clean up clean. That day I had bought a 機票ticket in Paris, a house was found leaking in the morning, quickly hit a 租車taxi to find out who repair, really bad
Posted by: 環保袋 at Dec 9, 2008 2:16:36 AM
Welcome to our company which sells all kinds of FFXI Gil.
Posted by: FFXI Gil at Jan 1, 2009 9:07:34 PM
Tiffany Replica Jewelry/a>
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Posted by: aion kina at Mar 17, 2009 11:25:03 PM
New technology is always given us surprising and life way changing.
Posted by: macheal at May 13, 2009 5:03:31 AM
Is it realistic?
Posted by: aura at May 13, 2009 5:04:07 AM
It is enlightening!
Posted by: jack at May 13, 2009 5:04:45 AM
Please let us introduce that we are the manufacturers and exporters of wet umbrella wrappers.The wet floor is one of the main causes of slipping accidents. Slipping is one of the main causes of major injuries in rainy and snowy days. Lots of people every year suffer a serious injury as a result of slipping. Society has become more claim conscious. And the goods displayed in deparment stores or other places may be also damaged by the dropping water from shoppers' wet umbrellas.
Our wet umbrella wrapper prevents the floors from getting wet and slippery due to water from the customers’ wet umbrellas. On top of it, you save the cleaning work and maintenance as well as you do not worry about accidents on the slippery areas. The wet umbrella wrapping machinewraps quickly and simply the wet umbrella in a bag. We are proud to say that you would be much more satisfied with the smooth wrapping process by the advanced wrapping mechanism than any others in the world.
Keep the entrance area clean and free of water.
Smart wrapping in a single move.
Compact and elegant design.
Easy to place where necessary.
Usable for both short(folded) and long umbrellas.
Fast wrapping for visitors storming in.
Maintenance free.
No electricity or other connection required.
Proven a must in rainy cities.
Our products are manufactured under the strict quality control and thoroughly tested and inspected. If you are interested in the wet umbrella wrappers, Please get more information at http://www.umbrellawrapper.com and kindly contact us.
Posted by: s.k.kim at Jun 24, 2009 9:41:22 AM
Please let us introduce that we are the manufacturers and exporters of wet umbrella wrappers.The wet floor is one of the main causes of slipping accidents. Slipping is one of the main causes of major injuries in rainy and snowy days. Lots of people every year suffer a serious injury as a result of slipping. Society has become more claim conscious. And the goods displayed in deparment stores or other places may be also damaged by the dropping water from shoppers' wet umbrellas.
Our wet umbrella wrapper prevents the floors from getting wet and slippery due to water from the customers’ wet umbrellas. On top of it, you save the cleaning work and maintenance as well as you do not worry about accidents on the slippery areas. The wet umbrella wrapping machinewraps quickly and simply the wet umbrella in a bag. We are proud to say that you would be much more satisfied with the smooth wrapping process by the advanced wrapping mechanism than any others in the world.
Keep the entrance area clean and free of water.
Smart wrapping in a single move.
Compact and elegant design.
Easy to place where necessary.
Usable for both short(folded) and long umbrellas.
Fast wrapping for visitors storming in.
Maintenance free.
No electricity or other connection required.
Proven a must in rainy cities.
Our products are manufactured under the strict quality control and thoroughly tested and inspected. If you are interested in the wet umbrella wrappers, Please get more information at http://www.umbrellawrapper.com and kindly contact us.
Posted by: s.k.kim at Jun 24, 2009 9:41:50 AM
