Region SPOTLIGHT ON
Region SPOTLIGHT ON JAPAN Japan is driving uptake of 8K TV Waichi Sekiguchi, Senior Staff Writer at Nikkei, says that thanks to “Abenomics”, the Japanese economy has been in good shape for the past four or five years. With the Olympic Games coming to Tokyo in 2020, we started by asking him about how Japan has changed in recent times. Because of the Olympic Games, all eyes are turning to Japan, and this should stimulate business. What are Japan’s key manufacturing assets? We are trying to find new products where Japan can add value, and one of them is 8K TV. The Japanese broadcasting company NHK is trying to push 8K, and the government is very supportive of that project. At the end of 2018, in the run-up to the Olympic Games, 8K broadcasting will already begin. What moves are Japanese companies making in the area of robotics? Japan is a country where a lot of robotic “animation” took place over the past years, however Japan’s real know-how lies in the manufacturing of the physical parts of the robots rather than the operating systems or AI. What have been for you the standout products from Japan at this year’s IFA? When it comes to 8K, I believe Sharp is a real industry leader in terms of R&D. It already announced it would release its products this year. When it comes to OLED, Sony has taken this technology to make some very attractive products for export markets, and it still has a lot of expertise in TV manufacturing Waichi Sekiguchi Senior Staff Writer, Nikkei 8K BROADCASTING WILL BEGIN AT THE END OF 2018 SELECTED JAPANESE EXHIBITORS AT IFA LONGER-LIFE VACUUM TUBE Prototypes that use Korg’s next gen Nutube vacuum tube technology are on display at IFA. Nutube, a collaboration with Noritake Itron Corp., is a dual triode vacuum tube that consumes much less energy, has a longer life, produces less heat and is smaller with a much more attractive and elegant design when compared with regular vacuum tubes. At the IFA Korg stand, delegates test and listen to the prototypes that are using Nutube and developers are present to answer questions. ONLINE ACCESS TO 74 LANGUAGES Pocketalk, innovated by Japanese software company Sourcenext, is a smart device that connects to the internet - using wireless connection, mobile data or a personal hotspot - for access to language engines and cloud technologies that form the basis of accurate translations. According to Sourcenext, it’s “the new and easy way to have a real conversation with someone who speaks a different language”. Pocketalk allows the user to speak in full sentences and has access to 74 languages with more being added. AID FOR INCONTINENCE PATIENTS DFree is the first connected wearable device designed to help elderly and disabled people who suffer from incontinence, by notifying them or their carers when they will need to go to the bathroom. The device uses ultrasonic sensors to monitor the change in bladder size and analyzes data collected using a patented algorithm. The notification is sent to a smartphone or tablet used by the patient, families or caregivers. DFree has been used by 2,000 people in Japan and it will be expanded to the US, France, Germany and the UK this year. 20 Hall 26 / Stand 321 Hall 26 / Stand 110 Hall 26 / Stand 103
© Thomas Keller HOSPITALITY / RESTAURANTS / BARS WHERE TO GO IN Berlin CLUBS / EVENTS / SHOPPING / CULTURE Neukölln: A melting pot with a fascinating past Berlin’s most multicultural district is home to around 180 nationalities and an equal diversity of sights and sounds The vibrant district of Neukölln is famed for its pan-Arabic and Turkish culture and cuisine, and its international newcomers, but partly began as a home to Bohemian protestants fleeing persecution. The remains of its 300-year-old Bohemian village of Rixdorf can be seen around Richardsplatz, a large historical square that hosts a legendary annual Christmas market. Here you can find some of the oldest architecture in Berlin, along with a number of traditional German eateries like Villa Rixdorf (Richardplatz 6), which serves up Berlin specialities like “Eisbein”, or pickled pork knuckle. Any visit to Neukölln these days includes a walk around the huge expanse of open space that was once Tempelhof Airport. Said to be twice the size of Central Park, the airport was designated a public park in 2010 after the airport shut down two years before - it was the site of the Berlin Airlift (supplies were flown into the city via the airport when Stalin blockaded West Berlin). Today, Tempelhof Park offers Berlin’s grandest vista, plus several runways along which the visitors walk, bicycle or even rollerblade the kilometres of tarmac. Check out the massive Nazi-built terminal (once the largest building on earth and these days home to music and fashion festivals), or wander the open vegetable gardens that have mushroomed across the northern end of the park as the sun goes down. © visitBerlin Walking north towards the Landwehr canal, visitors can check out Neukölln’s “Little Lebanon” along Sonnenallee which is jammed with baklava and falafel shops. The backstreets around Reuterplatz make up one of Berlin’s most upcoming areas, an axis of cafés, boutiques, bookstores and galleries that attracts young people from around the world. Enjoy lunch at Burrito Baby (Pflügerstrasse 11), a popular institution selling Mexican street food - and afterward visit Tischendorf café (Friedelstrasse 25), renowned for its cosy ambience and homemade cakes. Tempelhof Park www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Wednesday 5 th September 2018 21
