Commuting on a bicycle is quite popular. Recently I have started to do so as well, but I have to say I really have a great appreciation for my LED light. My headlight and rear-light are LEDs, and the batteries last for a very long time. It's so bright even though it's small! I understand why they've started to use LED lamps for traffic signals here in Japan. I'm sure the amount of power consumed differs greatly. Many of the bicycle lamps sold nowadays are LED lights as well.

And of course, since they offer great benefits, it only makes sense that they also be applied to our homes. In the Panasonic booth you will find the bulb-shaped LED lamps, "EVERLEDS" on display as an example of "energy saving technology." LED lighting has been used in stores and facilities, but from October 21, LED lamps for homes will become available from Panasonic. Two types, the regular bulb-shaped (E26 bayonet cap) and industry's first small bulb-shaped (E17 bayonet cap) LED lamps are offered in 2 colors - one the color of ordinary light bulbs and other a daylight color.

Even though they are the same brightness, the silica light bulbs consume 51.7W of energy, whereas LED lamps only use 6.7W.

Their key feature is that they are energy-saving and long lasting. If you compare them to ordinary light bulbs (60W silica light bulbs using 54W of energy), LED lamps offer approximately 5.5 times the efficiency. With ordinary light bulbs the annual electricity bill is approximately 2,380 yen, but with LED lighting, the annual electricity bill is only about 300 yen. So there is a 2,000 yen difference. Moreover, its lifespan of 40,000 hours is approximately 40 times the ordinary silica light bulbs. This is amazing because it means that if you used it for 5.5 hours a day, these light bulbs would last for 20 years. So you will probably be released from the hassle of changing light bulbs!

On the left is the ordinary bulb-shaped LED lamp (E26 bayonet cap), and the one on the right is the industry's first bulb-shaped LED lamp (E17 bayonet cap). They are both sizes that are similar to regular light bulbs so they may be used for a wide range of fixtures.

CEATEC JAPAN 2009 has just ended as the melody of Auld Lang Syne rings through the venue. Visitors have already gone home and dismantling has already begun in each booth. We experienced a typhoon during the exhibition, but it still ended without major hiccups.

I did my best to report about the booth and write my entries, but I hope I did a decent job. It was my first time covering CEATEC as a professional writer, but I was really overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors and the content displayed here. I still have a few entries to write, but the electricity to the booth will be cut off soon, so I have to take my leave of the "secret back room."

I will continue to write the entries I wasn't able to finish during the exhibition, so please check back with us once in a while. But I'd like to say goodbye for now. See you again soon!

Click on the image to watch the video.

The video report, which has just finished being edited, has been uploaded. The first video is the "Panasonic booth exhibition overview."

The video report well communicates the nuance and the overall atmosphere that is hard to communicate with photographs and text. It's a bit long, 12 minutes total, but the exhibition content has been compactly packed in, so it provides a great overview. Please take a look at the energy in the Panasonic booth.

Good morning. It seems to have gone by in a flash, but today is the last day of CEATEC. We had typhoons during the exhibition this year, but the last day looks like it will be rain-free.

Today is Saturday, and because it is open to the public for free, I am sure many people will come to the exhibition. We have an hour to go until the exhibiton begins for the day, but I saw families standing in line waiting to get in. Special events will be held today, so the atmosphere in the venue seems different from yesterday.

It is also my last day here, so I'll try my best during this last stretch too!

Have you ever had an experience where you haven't had the time to relax in front of the TV to watch all the content you've recorded, and so the memory has become full? I have. As digital devices evolve, the way we enjoy TV content becomes more and more variegated. What Panasonic proposes is a viewing style that lets you watch the content recorded on the "DIGA" in many different situations.

Also, let me introduce the "Room Jump Link" that lets you enjoy the programs recorded on the "DIGA" in the living room in your bedroom via the home network. It's great that you can watch programs right before you go to bed, and it's also a plus that you can operate the "VIERA" in different rooms using the same GUI as the "DIGA." What I am just worried about is getting so into watching the TV programs that I miss out on my sleep.

This is the portable digital terrestrial TV with Blu-ray Disc player on display in this corner. Not only can you enjoy content on the Blu-ray Discs or DVDs, it is also embedded with 4 diver city antennas, so you can enjoy terrestrial TV in many situations.

This is the portable digital terrestrial TV with Blu-ray Disc Player compatible with wireless LAN (IEEE802.11n). You can enjoy "Room Jump Link" wirelessly, so you can enjoy the programs recorded on the "DIGA" in the living room from any room you like.

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"

Unfortunately, we have to be mindful for crime prevention nowadays. I have heard that surveillance cameras are being set up in public spaces and roads school children often use. Recently, network cameras sell quite well in electronics shops, so this trend is also spreading to people's homes. In this corner Panasonic proposes a safe and secure lifestyle created by connecting the "VIERA" to the sensor cameras and "Docodemo Doorphone."

For example, if you set up the sensor cameras so that they can oversee the front entrance, parking areas, children's bedrooms, and the doghouse, you can check to see that everything is nice and safe on the "VIERA" before you go to bed. If you divide the large screen "VIERA" into 4 screens, you can check on your family's safety at one glance. What's more, you can register up to 8 sensor cameras on one "VIERA." So you can implement crime prevention measures in your home at relatively low costs. Moreover, if you connect the "Docodemo Doorphone" to the "VIERA," a little screen on the "VIERA" will pop up when the doorbell rings. And if you connect the "DIGA," you can record the images of people who came to your door while you were away from home.

In addition, you will have to sign up separately for this service, but if you use the "Miemasu (You Can See) Net Light," you can check to see who came to the door or images on the sensor camera from your mobile phone. You can make use of this while you're on vacation, check to see who came to the door when you were out, how your pets are doing, or on the status of your house. As you can see, there are many different ways to use this.

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"
• Home Network Camera

As the gravity of environmental issues increases, there is greater focus on household solar power generators and fuel cells. These devices "create energy." But storing the electricity created is a big issue, too. So what is needed is a storage battery for homes. In the Panasonic booth at CEATEC, there is a prototype of the lithium-ion battery module used for the household lithium-ion battery on display.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used as rechargeable batteries for PCs. This module uses a similar lithium-ion battery used for the "Let's note" PCs. Each module is comprised of 140 lithium ion batteries, which collectively provide a voltage of 25.2V and an electrical capacity of 58A. If even greater voltage and capacity is necessary, these modules can be combined to meet such demand. According to the staff at the booth, the modules will be designed so that they may be applied to homes and as back-up power source for buildings. High capacity, high stability, and a high degree of safety are required of batteries. This is the reason why the well-reputed technology used for the "Let's note" has been applied here as well.

This battery is for the "Let's note." A similar battery is used for the module unit.

Storing the electricity created and using it when the energy supply is low, such as in the morning or evenings when the energy use is at a peak or when it's raining – this is what the household storage battery allows you to do. Of course there is a move to "sell" the extra energy generated from ideas that "create energy" to power companies, but the idea of becoming "self-sufficient" in terms of energy – being able to stably supply the energy you need at home – is very interesting as well.

Having said that, if the modules are to be used in people's homes, they have to be very efficient, have a long life span and durability, and they also have to offer high degree of safety, so people can set it up in their yard. These modules are still undergoing development, but they are essential to realizing a "lifestyle with virtually zero CO2 emissions throughout the entire house." I am looking forward to what they will look like when they appear in the market.

Have you heard of the term, "ECO NAVI"? Panasonic's air conditioners, refrigerators, washer-dryers, and other home appliances have lead the way in energy-saving performance. And the technology that helps save energy day to day in a very smart way is called "ECO NAVI."

If we relate this to cars, hybrid cars have a superior energy-saving performance. But in order to achieve even great energy savings, the driver would have to take initiative and stop idling or accelerating/stopping rapidly. Well, "ECO NAVI" automatically performs these actions with home appliances, like a driver of the hybrid car.

What is key here are sensors and control technology. With refrigerators, the "ECO NAVI" will change the temperature settings inside depending on the season or the family's active time of day. With lighting fixtures "ECO NAVI" will change the brightness according to the brightness outdoors. With washing machines, "ECO NAVI" will change the washing mode depending on how dirty the laundry is. Panasonic effectively reduces energy use by incorporating this function, which is in a way like a "professional housekeeper."

With washing machines, the sensors will detect how dirty or how sweaty the laundry is. If the laundry doesn't seem too dirty, it reduces the amount of time and water used for washing.

On this stage, designed to look like our home, Panasonic proposes a "Lifestyle with Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions Throughout the Entire House" in a very easy to understand way. The 3 pillars of this proposal are ideas that "save energy," "create energy," and "store energy." Panasonic aspires to realize an even greener, comfortable lifestyle by linking these ideas together with the Home Energy Management System and intelligently controlling them.

To "save energy," Panasonic has endeavored to rein in the power consumed by its home electronics and it also introduces "ECO NAVI," which helps its products operate in the most energy efficient manner with the help of sensors and control technologies, while keeping an eye on how people use energy in their homes. And Panasonic also introduces energy saving products such as LED lighting, which is drawing great attention as next generation lighting.

To "create energy, the stage presentation introduces the household fuel cell cogeneration system, "ENE-FARM," which creates electricity and hot water from natural gas, and solar power generation system, "Sun Best." Panasonic proposes a lifestyle in which the required energy is created right at home.

And to "save energy," the stage presentation introduces how Panasonic promotes the development of household lithium-ion batteries that have the industry's top-level durability and storage capacity.

There are great hopes for household fuel cells, solar power generation systems, and household lithium-ion batteries as the next generation energy source, but the presentation also introduced Panasonic's AC/DC Hybrid Power Distribution System, explaining how this system reduces the loss that occurs when transforming current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current) by supplying DC created and stored to the home directly as DC.

Moreover, as a proposal for the future, the presentation demonstrates the "Intelligent Home Energy Management system." This system detects people's movement and automatically controls LED lighting and air conditioners, for example, to create an optimal environment. For example, if you sit on the sofa in the living room in the morning, the lights and air conditioner will automatically come on. And if you select the "eco mode" from the menu displayed on the TV screen, the sensors detect the conditions indoors and outdoors and will automatically open the curtains to let the sunshine in and dim the indoor lights if it is sunny outside. The system makes automatic, eco-conscious adjustments, i.e. adjusting the level of air conditioning by incorporating the air from below the floor boards that are warm in the winter, cold in the summer. Also, if you select the theater mode great for watching movies, the system will create a cinema like environment, by dimming the lights slightly and turning down the air conditioning.

The lighting used in this living room is the LED lighting system that can change color temperatures, so the stage presentation introduced how you can change the color of the lighting and have cool, white lighting in the summer and a warm glow in the winter to create a sense of coolness or warmth. Because the presentation recreates such environments on stage, it was really easy to understand.

The term "intelligent" reflects Panasonic's desire to help realize an even greener lifestyle with the latest technologies encompassed in this system that looks at each and every individual's lifestyle.

Overall, the stage presentation was very easy to understand because the images on the large screens on stage and the motions of the people on stage were linked. There is a crowd in front of the stage at every presentation, which made me realized anew how many people had a keen interest in eco. From what I heard, Panasonic's introduction of eco-conscious activities and ideas at last year's CEATEC was distinctive. This year, Panasonic has given more weight to eco, and communicated its commitment in the stage presentation, but it seems like more and more companies are incorporating ecology into their themes. In a way, we could say that Panasonic's activities have created a new trend for CEATEC.

There is substantial energy loss when converting DC supplied by household fuel cells, solar power generators, and storage batteries to AC. Panasonic has introduced the AC/DC Hybrid Power Distribution System that can supply DC power to our homes directly as a solution to this problem. Paying due consideration to safety, Panasonic is going to start with low voltage products such as ventilation fans and LED lighting to make them run on DC.

The "Intelligent Energy Management System" automatically turns on the lights in the dining room when people move from the living room to the dining room, and, at the same time, automatically turns off the living room lights.

• Household Fuel Cell Cogeneration System
• LED Light Bulbs "EVERLEDS"

September 8 (9:00 am) - Good morning! It's the third day of CEATEC JAPAN 2009, but typhoon Melor (18th typhoon we have had this year) has disrupted public transportation. The organizers of the exhibition has just announced that "In consideration for visitors' safety, the exhibition will start at 1:00 pm today."

Depending on the weather, the organizers may adjust the opening hours again, so please check the official website for the latest information.

The "VIERA" wall located adjacent to the stage in the Panasonic booth is the Z series, which just became available in the marketplace this April. These screens are embedded with a highly efficient luminance technology, so they only use about 1/2 the electricity (PZ800/85/80 series, in comparison to the V series). Moreover, they are compatible to full high definition wireless transmission and are only 1 inch thick. The Z series is a new series developed by applying the NeoPDP technology introduced last year at IFA among other exhibitions.

But a thinness of 1 inch is really worth mentioning, and many people are here at the Panasonic booth checking out its profile. The Z series comes as a line-up of 54-inch, 50-inch, and 46-inch. Isn't it amazing that the screens are so big, but are also so thin? If you hang it on the wall and watch beautiful images of landscapes, it'll seem like the screen has become a "window." Or even a portrait, but these screens are thinner than a canvas. Because the screens have become thinner, they have less presence, and so viewers can now concentrate on the world depicted by the content more naturally.

Being part of the cathode-ray generation, I feel like it's already amazing enough that the screens have become so thin, but I'm sure they will keep getting thinner and thinner. At this year's CEATEC screens with better luminance efficiency promising 1/3 the power consumption are being introduced. I hope products with such technologies will become widely available soon.

• Flat TV "VIERA"

If you happen to come across an interesting program, wouldn't you want to watch the older episodes as well? Well, you can watch related program with simple operation with the "IPTV service compatible with data broadcasting." And a prototype Blu-ray Disc recorder is also on display. You can also watch a demonstration about it. This service is being spearheaded by the IPTV FORUM JAPAN, an organization that establishes specification standards. Home electronics manufacturers and companies from the telecommunications and broadcasting industries can join this forum.

I tried out the demonstration prototype myself, and I thought it was very easy to use and it made me wish I could start using it right away. When you select the desired program, you can start watching it right away or download it. Currently, adjustments are underway to create standards and realize services, but I hope it will become available very soon.

I have written about the theater where you can experience the FULL HD 3D imagery, but you can also experience such imagery on the 50-inch plasma display panel, which will become available to the market next year, in another area of the Panasonic booth. There are 3 types of content provided – Nature/Archives, Sports, Movie/Music. Many people are lining up to have a go.

If you try all 3 types of content, you will see that the fun and excitement differs depending on the type of content. With sports content, the images look more dynamic. And with images of nature, you feel "immersed," as though you are really there. It felt as though the possibilities of FULL HD 3D imagery has expanded. It would not only be great for movies, but also for footage featuring nature or the environment and video games. For example, it would be amazing for football content that would make you feel as though you are also playing as part of the team or racing games. And I think that the 50-inch screen is the optimal size for enjoying such content at home.

The Movie/Music corner has been designed to resemble a living room. They let me take a seat on the sofa, but it really felt like I had sat down in front of a window, and outside it lay another world (a 3D world). I thought this was a great size for enjoying 3D images in your living room.

This is a panel you will find in this corner. It described how Panasonic has reproduced the system used to screen 3D Hollywood movies in theaters with the plasma TV and Blu-ray.

• FULL HD 3D Global

I was looking forward to checking out the FULL HD 3D imagery with my own eyes. Well, I finally was able to, and I have to say it was an amazing experience. First of all, there was no double image (ghosting), so I was naturally drawn into the stereoscopic world that spread in front of me. Moreover, the beauty of the FULL HD 3D imagery was fantastic. And to be able to watch that on a 103-inch… It really was a great experience.

There are lines of people in front of the Panasonic booth every day. I also stood in line to get into the theater, but I was amazed at just how many people stood in line to get a glimpse of the imagery. Because Panasonic passes out numbered ticket with a specific show time written on it, you only have to wait 10 minutes, but people waited in line reading the pamphlet distributed, and perhaps they were imagining what the FULL HD 3D imagery would be like. This atmosphere of anticipation reminded me of standing in line waiting for a screening of a popular movie.

In the theater you can learn about how FULL HD 3D works and how it was developed. After this brief explanation, you can watch images from F1, the trailer for the movie, "AVATAR," and highlights of sports images. I wanted to stay there and keep watching 3D images. Although I wore special glasses called active shutter glasses, my eyes did not get tired, and I was very impressed by the 3D imagery experience, which incorporated the "frame sequential method" also employed in movie theaters.

The active shutter glasses await your arrival. From its name, I had imagined that the glasses had shutters that opened and closed in quite a visible way, but at a glance, they look like normal sunglasses. According to the staff, the shutters function in response to the signal sent from the screen, and its movement is so minute, it's hardly detectable with the naked eye. Even when I wore it, I couldn't really tell that something was opening and closing.

The explanatory video used to explain how the technology worked was also in 3D. Text and diagrams floated in front of us, making it quite a new and interesting way of introducing to sophisticated technology. In our reading culture (of course in 2D), we make the letters bold or add shadows to emphasize words or select fonts that make the words look stereoscopic. But in 3D, the letters look as though they are in a completely different phase/layer as the other elements in the 3D world, and it really creates an iconic effect. If this technology continues to evolve and if it becomes possible for us to create the images we want in 3D, the way we make presentation will certainly change.

The 50-inch plasma TV scheduled to hit the markets in 2010 made an appearance at the end of the presentation. The footage of fishes in water displayed on this screen looked so real, it seemed as though there really was an aquarium right in front of us. It's amazing that 3D imagery, which I had thought was something from the world created in SF movies, will be available next year. Perhaps we are at a great tipping point in the history of TV.

A prototype of the 3D camcorder released this April is on display. You can shoot high quality FULL HD 3D images with this camcorder. I'm sure many people are anxious to get their hands on such a product.

• FULL HD 3D Global

Good morning! Unfortunately it is raining again today. And the approaching typhoon is a little worrisome. But the Panasonic booth is really vibrant. I would like to begin my research for the day with the same level of energy.

This is the map of the Panasonic booth. The red portion in the upper left corner is where you will find the theater showcasing FULL HD 3D imagery. The green portion on the lower right corner is where you will find ideas on how to make your entire home green. And the blue portion in the lower left corner is where you will learn about the "VIERA Link." Both of these stage presentations are really interesting.

Pamphlets like these are being distributed within the booth. It has a map of the Panasonic booth on it, as well as the must-see areas of the booth, so I suggest you get one before you start looking around the booth.

You can also download the PDF of the booth pamphlet from here. Those of you who didn't manage to pick one up or couldn't come to the CEATEC, please download a copy and check it out.

These companions will welcome you to the Panasonic booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2009 over the next 5 days with big, warm smiles! They add great energy to the already exciting booth.

Please take a look at this photograph of the "VIERA" line-up. These pillars showcasing the rich line-up of "VIERA" have great presence in the Panasonic booth. You will find the latest Z series incorporating the NeoPDP technology through to the 17-inch display of the colorful C series. So a wide range of screen sizes and distinguishing models are available.

I took a photograph of the pillars from the side. There are 37 "VIERA" TVs on display. In the past, quite a lot of depth was necessary to showcase such a great line-up of models, and so it used to occupy a lot of the space in the booth. But because the panels have become slimmer, Panasonic is able to showcase all their models only using this much depth.

• Flat TV "VIERA"

When you think about eco for your entire home, it's first important to get to know exactly how much electricity you use in your home and also to manage it. This corner introduces the "Lifinity ECO Management System," which displays the amount of electricity used every day, and how you've done against energy-saving targets set. It's also very characteristic of Panasonic that you can also see this on the large screen "VIERA."

In this corner you will also see a prototype of the "AC/DC Hybrid Power Distribution System," which is drawing great attention. The electricity supplied by fuel cell, solar generation, and batteries is direct current. However, the wiring that delivers electricity throughout the home is, for now, ordinary alternating current. That is why the current has to be transformed from DC to AC. This solution helps reduce the energy loss that occurs during this transformation. I'll tell you more about it in a separate entry.

• Flat TV "VIERA"

We are entering an age where we should be creating energy at home. In order to do so, we need technology that efficiently creates energy, and technology that stores the energy created, extracts what is needed and uses it well. Such technologies that create energy and store energy are exhibited here.

In the "Create Energy" corner, you will find "ENE-FARM," the household fuel cell cogeneration system that creates electricity and hot water from gas. The model well explains its mechanism. In the "Store Energy" corner, you will find a prototype of the lithium-ion battery module that can store the energy created and use the energy for various purposes. Since these technologies are often talking points today, many people are here to get a closer look.

• Household Fuel Cell Cogeneration System

Here you will find Panasonic's LED lighting offering a wide range of solutions for facilities through to people's homes. What is particularly drawing great attention is the bulb-shaped LED lamps, "EVERLEDS," which is introduced with 3 key phrases – smallest UD in the industry, lightest and most resource saving in the industry, and the most energy-saving in the industry. The "EVERLEDS" are drawing great attention, so I'd like to tell you about it in detail in a separate entry.

• LED Light Bulbs "EVERLEDS"

Have you ever heard of the term, "ECO NAVI"? Panasonic not only saves energy by curtailing products' energy use, its new energy-saving technology reins in wasteful use of electricity by using sensors and control technology while keeping an eye on how people use energy in their day-to-day lives.

A washing machine is being displayed here as an example of this. The sensor embedded in this washing machine will detect the type or degree of dirt/muck on the laundry and can wash with less electricity and water accordingly. It is a very smart product. I would like to tell you about some of the other products that are equipped with "ECO NAVI" such as the heat pump water heater, "Eco Cute" and refrigerator in a separate entry, so please stay tuned.

• Heat Pump Water Heater "Eco Cute"

Here, you will learn about Panasonic's 3 'eco ideas' – 'eco ideas' for Products, 'eco ideas' for Manufacturing, and 'eco ideas' for Everybody, Everywhere. It was 2 years ago around the time CEATEC was held that Panasonic globally introduced its eco activities through its eco declaration. And this year Panasonic has added a new factor, "energy" and is endeavoring to push forward its eco activities with even greater speed.

You can also learn about the eco activities Panasonic conducts globally from the video on spreading eco activities around the world by operating the touch panel screen. The video introduces eco activities that have been undertaken worldwide, but it really does encompass a wide variety of activities.

In front of a motif of planet Earth, you can watch a message video that seems to tell us a story with its beautiful imagery and music.

• Environmental Activities
• ‘eco ideas’ Special Site

In the "LUMIX" corner you will find the new-generation system camera "GF1," just introduced to the market last month, and colorful compact digital cameras. Not only can you pick up the models and try them out for yourself, you can also look at the images you've taken with the "GF1" on the "VIERA."

By the way, have you already tested out a "GF1"? Personally, I think that it is shaped similar to the LX series, but is equipped with the functions of a digital system camera. I have great interest in this camera, so I would like to take some time at CEATEC to see how it operates. I'll write about my impression about it in detail in a separate entry.

• Digital Camera "LUMIX"

This stage looks like a cross section of a home. And in the presentation held here, Panasonic proposes a "Lifestyle with Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions Throughout the Entire House."

Environmental issues are global issues, and not just particular to a specific country. They pose a threat to all human beings. But I think that it is quite amazing, and very Panasonic-like that it describes its solutions as being for the "entire home" because it is a place that is most familiar to us. Being a little cynical, I tend to think "Really?" when I hear something like this, but let me tell you more about this stage presentation in a separate entry.

Here you will find Panasonic's proposal for home security using the "VIERA." By connecting sensor cameras, door phones, and network cameras, you can check to see who is at the door or check on the situation around your home on the large screen "VIERA." For example, even when you're watching TV, if the doorbell rings or the sensor cameras detect a disturbance, the image is automatically displayed in a small window that appears on the TV screen, so you can check to see what is going on.

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• Home Network Camera

Here Panasonic showcases ideas that let you readily enjoy high definition video shot with the digital camera "LUMIX" and high definition camcorders on the large screen "VIERA" by simply inserting the SD Memory Card into the SD card slot. Digital cameras and camcorders are must-have items when you go on vacation or even if you're just stepping out for a bit. And of course it would be great if you could enjoy what you've shot in a smart way, without all the wiring.

• Digital Camera "LUMIX"
• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"
• SD Memory Cards
• HD Camcorder

Here, you can learn about how you can enjoy the network service, "acTVila," which lets you watch desired movies and programs anytime you want and various content on "YouTube" by connecting the "VIERA" to the Internet.

And this time, there is also a prototype TV on display, which lets you use "Google Map." Content you're used to seeing on your PC looks more dynamic on the large screen, you might feel as though you're on a trip around the world. I looked up Dubai in UAE (United Arab Emirates), where the GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2009 will be held in a little over a week, on the "Google Map" compatible prototype TV. I could see the Palm Islands off the coast of Dubai very clearly.

Watching "YouTube" and "Google Map" content on a large screen feels completely different from looking at it on a PC. Now you can have fun watching such content with your friends and family! But I thought that the mouse is a little easier to operate. TV and the network will continue to converge, so developers at Panasonic, why not invent a new remote control with a track ball for the "VIERA"?

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• VIERA Link

Here, Panasonic proposes how you can have more fun by connecting the "DIGA" and "VIERA" to the home network. The function that lets you enjoy the content recorded with the "DIGA" in a different room in the home via the network is called "Room Jump Link." Not only can you enjoy the content in the living room where your "DIGA" is located, you can also enjoy watching the content in your bedroom, study, or where ever you like, giving you greater freedom and making watching various content more enjoyable. You will also find the new line-up of "DIGA."

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"

This is the "VIERA Link" zone, where you will discover how various digital devices link around the "VIERA" and offers new convenience and excitement.

First, we would like to introduce the SD Memory Card and how it helps enhance our enjoyment. You can transfer TV programs or downloaded content recorded on the "DIGA" into an SD Memory Card. Then you can watch the content on your mobile phone on your way to work, while you take a bath with the "VIERA One Seg (waterproof/portable TV)," or in the car with the car navigation system "Strada."

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"
• SD Memory Cards
• VIERA Link
• Home Network Camera

The "VIERA Link" stage has areas that have been designed to resemble various rooms in the home. And a presentation is held here every day that "explores lifestyle possibilities with VIERA Link."

"VIERA Link," which offers new convenience and comfort, is expanding as more and more digital devices get connected around the "VIERA." For example, you can watch the content recorded on the Blu-ray Disc recorder in the bedroom or kitchen, and you can also check the images captured by the sensor cameras on the large screen "VIERA." You can also take the content with you and watch it on the move, on your mobile phone. So "VIERA Link" creates a new convenient and enjoyable environment. The demonstration that describes such possibility in an easy to understand way draws a great crowd every time.

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• DVD Recorder "DIGA"
• VIERA Link
• Home Network Camera

This is the next generation display, which has 4 times the resolution of full high definition, the 103-inch 4K2K (3840 x 2160 pixels) plasma display panel. Unfortunately it is quite difficult to communicate its true beauty with just photographs, but I would like to describe it in more detail in the entries to come. I am not quite sure I can do its beauty justice, but I will try. If you can make it out to CEATEC JAPAN, please come see its beauty for yourself. It's one of the key attractions on display at the Panasonic booth this year.

In this corner, you can experience FULL HD 3D under 3 themes - Nature/Archives, Sports, and Movie/Music. There are FULL HD 3D compatible 50-inch plasma display panels exhibited here and you can experience dynamic footage on them.

The 50-inch plasma display panel is easier to picture in your living room. It is quite a good size for people's homes. And to think that next year the FULL HD 3D will be available in our living rooms.

It's the first time you can experience the FULL HD 3D imagery on a 50-inch plasma display panel, so this corner is always packed.

• FULL HD 3D Global

The exhibition has just begun, but there is a long line in front of the theater where you can experience the FULL HD 3D system. You can not only learn about the FULL HD 3D technology here, but you can also watch a demonstrative footage featuring the movie, "AVATAR," directed by James Cameron and experience the world of FULL HD 3D. I went to see it, and it was just amazing! If you are going to be here at CEATEC, you have to go see it! I will write about it in detail tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Please take a numbered ticket from the staff near the theater. The tickets will have your assigned show times written on it. The demonstration lasts approximately 10 minutes. Please bear in mind that you won't be able to watch the show if you show up late.

• FULL HD 3D Global

On the first day of CEATEC, I'd like to briefly introduce the Panasonic booth with some photographs.

First, on left side of the Panasonic booth facade you will find a wall of "VIERA." This "VIERA" walls is located in the most prominent location of the booth and the wall serves as an ad tower. These TVs are the latest "VIERA" Z series. Beautiful images of the environment, etc. are displayed on the very slim, stylish screens. Many people stop in their tracks to admire the picture quality.

• Flat TV "VIERA"

This theme, which is displayed prominently on the front cover of the booth pamphlet, expresses Panasonic's thinking that underlines this year's CEATEC. One of these directions is a comfortable, convenient world that expands with the "VIERA Link." The other is eco. And what links the 2 together is the key word, "connectivity."

The convenient and exciting world that comes to life with the ever-expanding "VIERA Link" will be thoroughly communicated in the stage presentations and corner exhibitions. By being committed to eco activities that not only look at energy-savings offered by each household device, but also creating and storing energy in the "entire home," Panasonic proposes a lifestyle that realizes virtually zero CO2 emissions. This is one of Panasonic's business policies.

The concept of "connectivity," which encompasses the 2 themes "VIERA Link" and "eco," can be seen throughout the booth. Various digital devices and services get connected around the "VIERA." And connecting the whole house together with, for example, the home energy management, which connects energy-saving products and systems that store and create energy, Panasonic will propose a new, convenient and ecological lifestyle.

And then there is an introduction of the latest technology for the ever-evolving digital TV. The "FULL HD 3D," which creates an unparalleled realistic sensation and the "4K2K," which gives us a glimpse of the possibilities of the next generation, beautiful imagery, represent the intriguing ideas showcased in the booth that determines the direction of the future of TVs.

Enhanced connectivity offers an even more convenient and fun lifestyle, and it also leads to further energy savings. And what about the future of TVs? I will tell you more about the answer to this question Panasonic has showcased here at CEATEC in a separate entry.

• Flat TV "VIERA"
• VIERA Link
• FULL HD 3D Global

At 10:00 am, CEATEC JAPAN 2009 has just begun here at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba prefecture. Having said that, from 10:00~12:00 is "Premium Time" reserved for media and VIP guests, so the general public can start coming to the exhibition at 12:00 pm.

Unfortunately it is raining here in Makuhari, and it's quite cold. Those of you who are going to make your way here now, I suggest you dress warm. Despite the bad weather, the Panasonic booth is packed with people. There is already a long line in front of the FULL HD 3D THEATER.

For more information about the Panasonic booth at CEATEC JAPAN 2009, please click here. I will try my best to upload new and exciting information over the next 5 days, so please stay tuned!

Many overseas press are also here. The FULL HD 3D system seems to be particularly popular. There are also many camera crews standing by in front of the stage waiting for the presentation to begin. The popularity among the media seems to be indicative of how much attention Panasonic and its ideas are drawing.

• FULL HD 3D Global

CEATEC JAPAN 2009 will be held for 5 days starting tomorrow. Only 16 more hours to go until the exhibition begins. (Tomorrow morning is reserved for the media and VIP guests. So the general public will be able to get in starting 12:00 pm.) Final adjustments for the stage presentations and equipment set up are underway at the Panasonic booth.

I always think you can feel the tension emanate from the staff in the booth right before the exhibition begins. Professionals from various different fields come together to create a single environment. Watching them work is very impressive. Of course I like to think of myself as a semi-pro, so I hope to do my best to give you real-time updates about the booth.

In this entry I'd like to briefly introduce the must-see areas of the Panasonic booth.

[First, let's start with the FULL HD 3D] The key attraction is, of course, FULL HD 3D system. Especially, a great line is expected to form in front of the theater. Panasonic will be passing out numbered tickets, so when you get to the Panasonic booth, I suggest you stop by the theater first to pick up a numbered ticket, and then look around the booth.

[Two stages you can't miss] In the front side of the booth you will find the expanding "VIERA Link" stage and the "Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions" stage. If you watch the presentations on both of these stages, you will be able to grasp the overview and concept of the Panasonic booth. The presentations occur in a sequential rotation, so you can watch the 2 presentations one after another.

[The next generation beauty brought to life with 4K2K PDP] Another thing I really recommend is the 4K2K 103-inch plasma display panel. It offers 4 times the resolution of FULL HD, so its beauty really blows you away. It's the first time it is being displayed at an exhibition. I'm sure many people have yet to experience such beauty.

By the way, the Panasonic booth is located in Hall 3, in the Home and Personal Zone. When you are standing facing the 2 stages, the theater on the left hand side, towards the back. Please take a look.

The ceiling of the Makuhari Messe hall is very high. You can see many steel beams joined in a complicated formation. The Panasonic facade is also hung from the ceiling.

The staff are approaching the homestretch as the exhibition is beginning tomorrow. The rehearsals for the stage presentations are becoming more and more heated. You can feel the intensity with which MC are practicing their parts. A great number of people are indeed involved in every area, i.e. the stage presentation, of the booth.

• VIERA Link
• FULL HD 3D Global

CEATEC JAPAN 2009 will begin tomorrow. I arrived at the venue this morning, and finished setting up in the "secret back room." Unfortunately the skies in Makuhari, located in Chiba prefecture are overcast, but the booth is full of energy. I am going to start looking around the booth to gather information for the entries.

There was an advertisement in the morning papers in Japan this morning. The theme of the ad was ecology. Panasonic is exhibiting various 'eco ideas' at CEATEC JAPAN. There is a georama expressing a "Lifestyle with Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions Throughout the Entire House."

Walking around the booth while it is being set up, I realize how truly committed to eco Panasonic is. For example, a large portion of the Panasonic booth at this year's CEATEC is occupied by 'eco ideas.' I don't think there are many other companies that are putting this much effort into the environmental theme as Panasonic. "Lifestyle with Virtually Zero CO2 Emissions Throughout the Entire House" is a slogan unique to Panasonic, that offers energy-saving products to household equipment, can uphold. I will talk more about this in detail in my blog entries I will write tomorrow onwards.

This is the ad that appeared in the newspapers today. You can also see a copy of it on the Panasonic website.

The development of solar batteries for homes and electric vehicles is drawing great attention as concern for environmental issues rise. For these products to become widely available, however, an energy storage system that can efficiently store energy is key. Panasonic has just announced a great solution to this challenge, the lithium-ion battery module. In comparison to other secondary batteries (or batteries you can recharge and reuse over and over again), energy storage system that uses lithium-ion batteries offer higher capacity and are lighter, so there are great hopes for their commercial viability. In this sense, Panasonic has a proven record; it uses the industry's highest level, high capacity lithium-ion battery, the 18650-type (18mm in diameter x 65mm in length), for its notebook PCs. I'm sure those of you who use PCs are well aware of the length of time "Let's note" and "TOUGHBOOK" PCs can run.

According to the news release, Panasonic has put together 140 lithium-ion 18650-type batteries used for notebook PCs to create the 1.5kWh battery module. Moreover, Panasonic plans to combine a few of these batteries together, so they may be used to store energy at home or for electric vehicles. The idea to connect together multiple battery modules for various purposes is a new and interesting idea.

A prototype of this module will be exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2009, which will begin on October 6th, as well as at the New Energy Industry Fair Osaka (held at INTEX OSAKA from October 7~9th). Those of you who want to learn more, please take a look at the battery on exhibit at these exhibitions. Of course I will be writing about it in detail on this blog, too.

CEATEC JAPAN is about to begin next week, on October 6, but Panasonic made a big announcement today, so let me tell you a little about it.

In the press release issued today, September 28, in order to reproduce in your home the same quality of dynamic 3D imagery you can experience in theaters, Panasonic announced that it will develop a "50-inch Full HD 3D plasma display panels" and "high-precision active shutter glasses," and to make them available to the market in 2010. The press release also talks about how these prototypes will be exhibited at the CEATEC JAPAN 2009.

As it has been introduced in this blog, the FULL HD 3D PLASMA THEATER, which combines the 103-inch plasma display panel with the Blu-ray Disc Player and active shutter glasses, was first introduced at last year's CEATEC JAPAN, and has been a must-see content at the Panasonic booth in CES in January (Las Vegas) and IFA in September (Berlin) bringing joy and wonder to many people. And this technology will finally be made available to people's homes next year! I am sure it will be much talked about at this year's CEATEC.

According to the press release, the 50-inch plasma display panel just announced is embedded with many new technologies - "3D high speed drive technology" that maintain the same level of brightness and realize high speed luminance, "cross talk reduction technology" that reduces double image (ghosting) that occurs between the right and left eyes, and "Full HD x 2 frame sequential method" used to air Hollywood's 3D images in the theater. I wonder what kind of visual experience we can have and what kind of contents will be released in the future. I am sure there will be more information about the new technologies at the Panasonic booth at CEATEC, so I can't wait to tell you more about it.

Unfortunately I couldn't go the press event, but hiro-san, a writer for this blog who was able to take part, sent me documents and photographs from the event. There was an actual demonstration there, and he said that it was quite an interesting press event. I hope to take a good close look at CEATEC JAPAN.

• FULL HD 3D Global

We're right in the middle of the fall exhibition season. And CEATEC JAPAN 2009, which will begin on October 6, is right around the corner.

The theme for this year's CEATEC is "Digital Convergence – Defining the Shape of Our Future." The words, "digital convergence," seem to indicate the shift that is taking place, where various media and equipment are converging with the help of digital technology.

"Digital convergence" has been part of the CEATEC theme since 2006. And since then this shift has really been taking place. Everywhere around us, we see products such as mobile phones, digital players, and portable music players equipped with functions that have gone beyond their original capacities, offering new ways of enjoyment. Moreover, since broadband has become widespread, TVs can now get connected to the network, and on the other hand, there are services that let you watch broadcasted content on the PC. So convergence is happening all around us, and at CEATEC JAPAN you can experience such tides of the time for yourself.

This year CEATEC celebrates its 10th anniversary. However, this is only counting from when the exhibition changed its name to "CEATEC." It used to be called the "Electronics Show." This exhibition began back in 1964 when the Tokyo Olympic Games were held, and since then it has continued to introduce the latest information on home electronics and communication technologies throughout its long history. Since last year, the world has faced an economic downturn, which has had a grave effect on the market and the industrial world. However, I hope that this year's CEATEC will introduce innovative technologies and products that will blow away this sluggish mood and that I will be able to make "astonishing discoveries" that will give me hope for a bright future.

If you register in advance from the CEATEC JAPAN 2009 official website, you can get in to the exhibition for free. You can also reserve a seat at the conferences that welcome top people and opinion leaders from various industries, so you should check out the website soon rather than later!

Long time no see! This is mino, one of the writers of the Cyber Showcase Blog. I see that many great reports from Berlin IFA 2009 have been uploaded on a daily basis. Job well done hiroyuki!

CEATEC JAPAN 2009, an event many AV fans all over Japan have been long waiting for, is beginning on 6th of October. For me, this will be the first time reporting on an event in Japan. Perhaps many of you feel likewise, but I can't wait to see all the new technologies that will be introduced at the event. I will be uploading more information about the exhibition even before it begins, so don't forget to come back and check it out!

CEATEC JAPAN 2009

Period: October 6 (Tues) – October 10 (Sat), 2009
Venue: Makuhari Messe (Chiba, Japan)
Sponsors: CEATEC JAPAN Organizing Committee, Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ), Computer Software Association of Japan (CSAJ)
Official site: http://www.ceatec.com/2009/en/index.html