Wii Street View
Some dude has come up with a way to save the Hikkikomori (otaku who don't go out) by making it possible to control Google Street View with a Wii balance board.
Hes made it so that while you walk on the Wii board, the street view advances forward and if you lean on one side then the screen rotates. This means otaku can get out while staying in doors forever - fantastico!
Video at Vimeo.
Hmmmm. Not only is this good for the hikikomori, its also great for folks who don't have time (or money) to go on holiday - you can be in Japan in an instant!
If you want to try this out then you are going to have to break an arm - you need a mac and knowledge with java, jetty and jsonp > intructions here ^^;
If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.
If you don't have much time now, maybe subscribe to the RSS Feed, Twitter Feed or join the other readers in the FaceBook Page.
Alternatively, you may want to read more about the site.
If you are a regular reader then this message will probably annoy you each time - hide it forever.
-Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
hikikomori
This actually sounds like good exercise, if it requires actual legwork as shown there. It would be kind of weird though that nothing else moves in that frozen world :D
Network Admin
Its cool that they were able to make Street View work with the balance board. Though the Hikkikomori should really learn to venture out and about.
Student & Authorized Chicken Slapper
http://www.otakuinternational.com
Uhh Maybe it is just me but this sounds like it will only make the problem worse ...
Network Engineer
http://www.aggitan.blogspot.com/
What problem?
Underdog Artist, Outcast to the Society, Tetsuya Nomura art fan
Zou's right Mr. Choo. This can bring potential harm. And adds laziness to other fellow otaku...no offense.
http://www.marvinryan.com
travel the world from your living room! sounds like a fantasy turned reality. ^^ the guy who made this should make a program of this and sell it. ^^
pervert
so can i take a vacation at an onsen in the womens bath?
super otaku, doujin-ka
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!? FANSERVICE!!!!!
:D
People just get lazier and lazier .. >_>
GET OUT :D
Danny does !
Underdog Artist, Outcast to the Society, Tetsuya Nomura art fan
You said it. Life is better when you go out and EXPLORE!
Network Admin
Definately Agree
Network Admin
Spelling FTL =/ Definitely*
Pokemon master
http://thecococafe.wordpress.com/
You can go everywhere and yet go nowhere at the same time! :D
However, I do think something like this can potentially be a good training tool for recovering hikikomori,
The town drunk
I never thought I could get any lazier... thanks Danny!!!!
browsing the nets
http://otakuposts.blogspot.com/
windows users just need a mouse i guess? so that's even less troublesome.
yeah, i know it made for only for mac right now, but since it uses google earth, anybody with a computer, internet and the google application could use it with the mouse, right?
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Too bad you can't touch the scenes...
Your local Otaku Cashier.
Sounds like an interesting idea, but how many hikikomori would actually use this?
The Sword of Magus
http://daichouginga.blogspot.com/
Except for the exercise thing and for the interesting idea, I think this is useless. xP
Maybe it will be more interesting if you put interactive 2D girls in it? xD
Overman
http://myplasticmoustache.blogspot.com/
Well, at least their legs move.
Student/Part-timer
Actually, that is really kinda nifty. If I had a Wii, a mac, and any kind of knowledge with Java and whatnot, I'd totally do that. :D
free lance otaku, full time Protector of Peace.
get the wiimote and u have akiba stabbings in Game format.
Student, Ex Forum Mod, Newbie GFXer
http://kyourankyodai.com/
That's a bit...violent.
I didn't realise you could go that far with your Wii.
MS pilot
haha omg...anti-social
Digital animation
To be honest, I have used Google Street View to "walk" around a good portion of Tokyo myself, the problem is that everytime I see something cool like a shop that I would like to go to, I feel even farther away than I did in the first place, but I do like the idea of actually getting to know the area before I go over there. This methed of using the Wiimote with it is pretty nifty, though it seems kind of sad that individuals are coming up with more revolutionary uses for the Wiimote than Nintendo is.
student
http://zephi-san.deviantart.com/
Exploring in a world where nothing moves seriously sucks.
Student
http://bk201.wordpress.com/
There's no real Japan unless you actually go there!
JR. College Student
http://npc.talkingincircles.net/
That's really cool... don't think it has much use for encouraging people to go outside... but it's cool.
Programmer
http://www.nowloading.co.uk
Sounds a lot like that GameCube game where you have a pedometer and can go on a tour of temples in Kyoto.
anime/cosplay events organizer
http://www.cosplay.ph
The things homebrewers do on the Wii...simply limitless lulz
???Confused???
The speed of advancing technology is scary...
Graphic Design student | Receptionist | Otaku
http://sukidesho.blogspot.com/
Innovative but, it seems to encourage people not going out...
中学生
http://thezhukeeper.blogspot.com
I think very soon people will forget how to talk and even walk ^^; but this is a pretty cool idea for me poor people with no $$ to buy ticket
Pre-U Student
http://wakuwakusuru.zeroclipse.net
How much does that Wii Fit thing cost again? Don't think it comes cheap and you will most prolly void the warranty by doing that.
Not to mention with the crappy internet connection here, "walking" through the streets isn't going to be a pleasant experience,
Student
http://anime.tedfox.com/
lol i ended up clicking on that image several times before realising that was an image file!
how sly of you danny!
in training
in my oppinon
the whole idear also reminds me of the psp(GPRS) lump which will never sell
i admit that these are idears are nice "on paper" but please who is really gonna want this?
btw raptor i think wii fit is around the £30-40/60-73$ ime not sure on currency atm
thats what i last saw it for
Art Student/Freelancer
http://jenarwen.deviant.art.com
That's pretty cool for folks like me who can't afford to travel all that much. All I need now is a Wii, and a balance board.
Student
Sounds cool:)
Interesting concept. It's like that guy who got his robotic vacuum cleaner to work with the Wii board. But I wouldn't really feel like I'm getting much of a workout. There is too much of a latency in Google Street.
Otaku
http://imperiomoe.wordpress.com
I think it's a good idea, you can do exercise specially in winter, going to walk to the park even though is cold outside, or if you don't have enough money to travel you can walk thought other cities.
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
The technical trouble would deter all but the most NEET of NEETs.
オタク all day long
http://www.nekomagic.com
Good idea LOL! XD
Remote Support Engineer
http://jedling.wordpress.com
Haha, since arriving in Tokyo I've become hikki myself, and will continue to keep this trend until I run out of money, kek.
Software Developer / Space Marine
At least most hikikomori would have the technical savvy to set one up, esp. since they are the only people who really need one ^_^...
Radical Dreamer
Street view can never replace the real experience of actually going to Japan.
Humanitarian worker slash undergraduate student
i agree, nothing beats the real thing ^,^
*HINT* MY BIRTHDAY IS AUGUST 12TH *HINT*
http://www.facebook.com/TeresaStockroske
I could see how this would be a good idea if you couldn't afford to travel. The downside is, you can't actually go inside of businesses(sp?).
Technically, you are still getting your daily walking by using this.