Saturday, December 15, 2012

Smart something : reinvention of products and idea

I think that many people already noticed that many products which names start from a word of "smart" are coming out recently. For example, smart phone, smart TV, and smart phone appliance have already come out. These products are reinvention of existing products and idea which have been popular but have not changed so much so far. As far as smart something is concerned, reinvention comes together with implementation of internet to existing products by using ethernet or wireless technology, especially WiFi. With internet, smart devices allow us to connect peoples each other and connect peoples to internet world, and make our life better and more fun. 

Smart phone is obviously one of most successful smart products which we have seen ever because it can totally change the way of use of phone from a device by which people can connect each other to a device by which people can stay connected all the time by using internet. Needless to say, staying connected all the time is controversial issue with which people suffers from distracted moment all the time and people can not focus on their jobs. However, there are a lot of benefits. For example, it could help people contact each other by using smart phone when the large earthquake hit the Japan last year because phone system was down due to over capacity but internet system was still alive. 

Here is a question which many people might have in their mind, "What comes next ? ". 
Many peoples already have worked on them like smart grid, smart car, etc. In electrical and electric industries, smart grid has huge potential for next market because it can enhance power efficiency to which even government in many countries pay attention. Many companies can expect financial support from governments. Smart grid is a technology which combine internet netwrok and existing power system to make the system more efficient to reduce power. 
Honestly, nobody knows what comes next with high possibility, so let me list up as much as I can by putting just a word of "smart" to existing products and idea inside home.


  • Smart mag gup
    This would analys ingredient of liquid and shows how much each ingredient is in, and send data to could data base, and you can check it out with your smart phone or PC.
  • Smart refrigerator
    This already exists so far which analysis ingredient in it and show date of sell and tell you it's time to use before it's out of date.
  • Smart dining table
    This would analys what you eat everyday in terms of heath care, and collect data everyday and suggest what you miss and what you should eat to keep yourself healthier.
  • Smart chair
    This would measure your weight, body fat percentage, etc, and send data to could data base so that you can access it.
  • Smart door
    This would have a camera, a microphone and a speaker connected with network, and it would be helpful for you to watch who comes and push a door bell and you can answer from anywhere. For example, if someone comes to your place and push a door bell when you are out of the place, it connect you with camera, and you can  answer it if you want.
  • Smart toilet
    I'm sure that Japanese toilet advanced more than any countries' one.
    Smart toilet idea is clearly explained by Japanese, Morinosuke Kawaguchi at the TED Tokyo. He explained not only advanced toilet in Japan but also its history.

Regarding smart toilet, there is a video which is a presentation from him. He talks in Japanese, but there is English translation together. It's worth watching to be able to figure out how advanced it is.




If you can understand Japanese, you can enjoy the presentation more because his way of speaking is very humorous.

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