kokuyo
Latest
Kokuyo's CamiApp brings paper back to note-taking (video)
Between Samsung's Galaxy Note and the Boogie Board Rip, a mini-trend emerged at IFA last week with companies attempting to bridge the gap between paper notebooks and digital devices. Japanese office supply manufacturer Kokuyo is looking to get in on the action, utilizing devices that consumers already own. In August, the company's CamiApp was released for iOS, with an Android version coming later this month. The app scans and digitizes handwritten text, letting users edit, highlight, email, tag and share the information with apps like Evernote and Dropbox. The apps are specially designed to work with forthcoming "smartphone-friendly" paper notepads from the company. According to Kokuyo, the notebooks have "special features" that make digital capture easier. Eight different notebooks will be made available tomorrow. The company is also working on making the CamiApp notebooks available overseas.
Kokuyo's X-VIZ designer calculator is tailor-made for one-armed accountants
We're not exactly sure why anyone would ever want a designer calculator, but for those who do, Kokuyo's got you covered. The Japanese company has just announced the X-VIZ -- a super slim, matte-finished device that can help you balance your checkbook with one hand. Crafted by robot designer Tatsuya Matsui, the X-VIZ probably isn't something you'd use to carry out heavy duty operations and, at just 12mm thick, it certainly won't double as a mouse, either. But at least Kokuyo refrained from tacking on another superfluous laser or detachable holster, as it's been known to do. Both black and white models of the X-VIZ will hit the Japanese market on May 11 for ¥5,250 ($64), so hit up your favorite importer if you're interested in grabbing one.
Kokuyo's USB mouse with pointless laser
Good Lorf, another unwanted bastard of convergence: the Laser Pointer Mouse from Kokuyo. While Kokuyo's wireless laser mouse pointy thing was at least palatable and potentially useful, how the hell are you going to benefit from a laser pointer tethered to a laptop in the conference room? Come to think of it, we guess it works for the type of timid forest creatures who like to present while seated. The mouse features an 800dpi optical sensor with a 1mW, class-2 laser which can keep it together over a distance of about 25-meters. Hits Japan December 27th for about ¥4,500 or right around $38. [Via Impress]
Kokuyo's Just One Mouse: 'cause 3 caps are better than none
Kokuyo of Japan have a new, adjustable mouse for your consideration. The "Just One" optical mouse developed jointly with Japan's Digital Human Research Center comes with three different size-caps for those equipped with the wee hands of porcelain, regular, or the kind of manhooks which make the ladies swoon and robots shudder. Other than that novelty, you're looking at an 800dpi optical mouse with 2 buttons plus scroll for about ¥3,480 (about $29) when these land November 17th. Yeah, we're all a bit too lazy to bother switching caps at home, but these little critters might just tempt HR into an OSHA-inspired purchase for the office.[Via Impress]
