Yahoo Japan provides search experience for visually impaired kids

The company, with Hakuhodo Kettle and AID-DCC, created a cloud-shaped machine that contains a voice interface and a 3D printer. The machine was introduced to students at the Special Needs Education School for the Visually Impaired, a Tokyo facility affiliated with the University of Tsukuba.

After a child performs a voice-activated search for an item, the machine responds by creating a 3D-printed object that the child can then experience through touch.

The machine is limited to an unspecified number of objects in a database, which is where the public appeal part of the project comes into play. The company will be running ads across its platform to publicise search requests for which no 3D model exists and asking the public to provide the data to make those objects.

Companies including Nissan Motor, Amana and Tokyo Sky Tree are supporting the initiative.

CREDITS

Advertiser: Yahoo! JAPAN
Creative Agency: HAKUHODO Kettle Inc.
Digital Production: AID-DCC Inc. / Katamari Inc.
Movie Production: TOKYO / TAIYO KIKAKU Co., Ltd.
Creative Director: Kazuaki Hashida / Kyosuke Taniguchi
Planner: Shota Hatanaka / Chiharu Shimizu / Kenichi Seki
Technical Director:  Saqoosha
3D Printing Director:  Takayuki Kitai
Designer: Yuichi Takatani / Kenjiro Nakayama
Design Engineer: You Tanaka
Developer: Saqoosha / Kenji Mori / Yuka Hatae
System Engineer: Takanobu Izukawa
Assistant Developer: Kiki Hasegawa
Sound Designer: Masashi Ohashi
Producer: Yusuke Tominaga / Kenichi Seki / Keitaro Kamijo
Assistant Producer: Kojiro Matsumoto
Movie Director: Hiroshi Kondo
Movie Producer: Toshiyuki Takei
Production Manager: Takahide Uchibori
Camera: Ryosuke Toyama / Takahide Uchibori / Hiroshi Kondo
Mixer: Akari Tatsumi
Music：AUDIO FORCE
Event Producer : Hiroaki Sakai
PR Director : Takashi Uno / Saeko Kawano
Agency Producer : Ken Okada