Italian
inventiveness and creativity come together to create
the must-haves of the future at the recent Exhibition
of Italian Technology in Tokyo
To
say that the Japanese are fond of Italy is a bit
of an understatement - just think of the numbers
of Japanese tourists who flock to Italy each year.
However it's now Italy's turn to visit Japan, bringing
with it the latest in cutting-edge technology -
a bit of a risk given that Japan is the recognised
home of high-tech. The risk, taken for the recent
Exhibition of Italian Technology in Tokyo,
paid off and the Japanese have now added electronics
to their love of all things Italian. Items on show
were not the usual collection of fanciful, futuristic
inventions but rather a series of useful and functional
gadgets and devices designed to make life easier
for those who adopt them. The current tendency towards
green living was reflected in a series of polyurethane
fridges from Cannon;
tiles with inlaid with fibre optic threads
for the houses of the future from Assopiastrelle
and electronic noses and extendable cars
straight from Italy's prime research centre, CNR.
A
nose for business CNR's electronic
nose is a complex system of sensors not unlike
our own noses in both appearance and functionality,
with the advantage of increased sensitivity to all
substances present in the atmosphere. The 'nose'
was devised for use in a wide range of sectors from
microbiology to toxicology and can be used to check
sewage, monitor food fermentation levels and check
the state of preservation of works of art,
all thanks to its ability to detect 'give-away'
chemicals and particles in the environment .
Problem-free
parking What use is a car that can lengthen and shorten
at the press of a button? Just think of the number
of times you passed up a parking place because it
was too small and you have the answer. Your parking
problems will vanish with Eta
Beta, the car with the telescopic rear which
can 'lose' up to 20 centimetres when needed or even
gain them to create space for an extra two passengers
behind. Italy may be synonymous with fashion and design
but it is also making a name for itself in technology.
However Italian creativity and inventiveness is
at its best when design and technology come together
such as in the Eco-jacket by Sistema Moda
Italia, with its built-in pollution-meter
for the oxygen-conscious city-dweller of today .
. .
Love
Italy – The official website of all things Italian
in Japan. (You'll need to download the Japanese
character support.) Electronic
nose – A detailed presentation of the 'electronic
nose'- for enthusiasts and scientists. Eta
Beta – More about the telescopic car that can
adjust its size to meet your needs.
THE SURVIVOR'S 
To
say that the Japanese are fond of Italy is a bit
of an understatement - just think of the numbers
of Japanese tourists who flock to Italy each year.
However it's now Italy's turn to visit Japan, bringing
with it the latest in cutting-edge technology -
a bit of a risk given that Japan is the recognised
home of high-tech. The risk, taken for the recent
Exhibition of Italian Technology in Tokyo,
paid off and the Japanese have now added electronics
to their love of all things Italian. Items on show
were not the usual collection of fanciful, futuristic
inventions but rather a series of useful and functional
gadgets and devices designed to make life easier
for those who adopt them. The current tendency towards
green living was reflected in a series of polyurethane
fridges from 
A
nose for business
Problem-free
parking