IP: Tokyo Diary #1

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

As usual the flight to Tokyo was uneventful and also as usual the
immigration lines were long and slow. The ride into Tokyo by Town Car took
close to 2 hours due to traffic (can be done in 1 hour normally by car (if
it is ever normal) and 55 minutes by Narita Express.


I am staying at the Imperial Hotel where the rooms are large and the
service excellent , rates good (group rate is 24000 Yen) and food prices
are murder (but right around the corner are lots of good and more modest
places for breakfast etc).


I strolled over to the Ginza on Sunday and noted a lot less buyers and a
lot more closed (empty) stores than in the past. It gave the strong
impression of an economy that has slowed way down. That was conformed in
discussions with people. 


During those discussions I found out a few interesting computer related facts:


Many new Japanese computers use the touch pad to allow the authentication
of users by requiring the users to sign in. A company called Cadix (Tokyo)
supplied bios software that allows the registration of signatures as well
as the tracking of changes to how you sign. Also many of the new touch pads
allow 8 levels of pressure which is also factored into the algorithm. It
works for cursive writing and Chinese/Japanese


ALL NHK video is being recorded from the time of the Princes wedding in
HDTV STEREO. 


There is now available a stereo LCD TV with a type of lenticular
multi-level screen that displays a decent stereo image . It is sensitive to
angle of viewing and does handle normal TV. I think it is by Sanyo.


The Toshiba Libretto 100 just came on the market. It is 166 mh Pentium and
seems to have sound input and two type 2/ 1 type 3 pcmcia slots.


The new VERY EXPENSIVE laptop that Mashusta(sp)/HP will be selling is just
coming on the market again. Production was halted for a problem and then
restarted.


I will be going to the Akihabara today and will check up all the above and
a lot of other things which I will report in my Tokyo Diary #2.


I am off for home on Wednesday Tokto time.


Dave