ISSUE 04
ISSUE 04
[SPECIAL]
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, TRIATHLON and TAEKWONDO
The spiritual strength
of para athletes is the essence
of human power and a source
of inspiration for all of us.
Mika NINAGAWA
“Thank You” Inequality and How to Overcome It
Ory YOSHIFUJI | ROBOTICIST
The remote-controlled robot “OriHime,” the star of the avatar robot café “DAWN” is controlled by the people who have difficulty going outside, whether due to intractable diseases like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or severe impairment through their computers at home or in the hospital. This is developed by Ory Yoshifuji. You could say that Ory’s principles as a researcher, including his ultimate goal regarding loneliness, were all cultivated during this period of his life. Take, for example, the words “Thank you.” An expression of gratitude. According to Ory, “Thank you” is a finite resource.
“Why Can’t We Read Braille?”
Kosuke TAKAHASHI | INVENTOR
“I want to make a form of braille that sighted people can read.” A sudden idea, borne of an accidental encounter. Kosuke Takahashi came out with Braille Neue, a new typeface that combines braille with traditional writing. After its announcement, Braille Neue was quickly picked up by the media as a new braille system that would allow both sighted and visually-impaired people to read the same typeface. “It’s different from what you’d call barrier-free design,” says Takahashi. Another thing he says is, “Braille is an update on traditional writing.” Indeed, Braille Neue is a glimpse of our future—a tool not just for the visually-impaired, but for all of us.
