Digital Music Forum: East is a yearly gathering “that brings together the top technology and policy leaders for high-level discussions and debate.”   New York-Tokyo serves as one of the forum’s media partners.

Here’s what I took to be most interesting:

Russ Crupnick (VP & Senior Industry, The NPD Group)

• Regarding the younger set, Crupnick says “We need to Twitter them and Myspace them.”
• Crupnick likes graphs.

SET Japan is currently promoting a system called “built” codes. These new codes offer brands a unique opportunity to connect the real world to the online world. SET is currently working to incorporate these “built” codes into print media in addition to events which will allow consumers to truly interact with the codes in fun and alternative ways. Another way to have fun and get more information through mobile phones.

Nissan has developed a mini robotic car that can autonomously move in groups or schools like fish and avoid crashing into obstacles in their path. This new technology will eventually make way into automobiles to prevent accidents. Read more about the EPORO at the Nissan website.

Looks like Honda’s prolific ASIMO robot finally has competition in the bipedal service robot competition. It can stand upright, can recover and maintain balance after experiencing small external forces and can even run up to 7 km/h, a whole km/h faster than ASIMO. What’s amazing is that this robot is actually running like a human would. It’s not just shuffling it’s feet rapidly. If you watch the video of it in motion, you can actually see both of its feet leaving the ground (however briefly) as it runs. Not sure what kind of scientific black magic Toyota’s scientists are using to make that happen, but it’s pretty impressive.

Via Artificial Intellgence and Robotics

By Stewart Smith

Yes, you read that right. I mean, it’s one thing to have a robot work for you, build your cars, clean your homes, etc. Those are all good, necessary things. But do we really want to teach them how to ride motorcycles? First of all, this “Flossie” robot is learning. What good has ever come of a robot learning beyond what its initial programming was? The answer is nothing. Ever. Especially when they’re now learning how to ride motorcycles. That sound you hear? It’s the roar of the eventual robot uprising, and it’s speeding toward you at 6,000 RPM on a Kawasaki Ninja.

Flossie Is A Motorcycle-Riding Robot (image and story via DVICE)

By Stewart Smith

You thought it was over after the 1/1 scale Gundam in Tokyo, huh? Well Kobe City is upping the challenge in the classic icon department by building the iconic Tetsujin 28. It is reported that this monument’s tab is $1.4 million and is being paid for by the city and the rest by donations and businesses. This project will be completed on October 4th in Shin-Nagata, Kobe. Images of the construction after the jump!

danny choo