Feeling jealous of Tony Stark’s Jarvis? Soon, you may have a hologram assistant of your own!
Established in 2014, Japanese startup vinclu Inc. is still quite young, but they’re certainly ambitious — the company just released a concept video for their hologram assistant, Gatebox, interacting with a young businessman.
It’s not quite the Holodeck from Star Trek but it could be pretty cool!
Azuma Hikari, the character in the Gatebox, will talk to users, waking them up in the morning and greeting them when they come home at night. Gatebox is also designed to connect to Internet of Things (IoT) devices in your house, so you can control everything from you high-tech bath to your TV just by talking to Azuma. She can also connect to the Internet and let you know stuff like how the weather is.
The hologram device will also apparently have sensors so it can better communicate with you — and it looks like vinclu is setting up some server-side technology to handle artificial intelligence as well. Fortunately, even if Gatebox or Azuma become fully sentient and decide to murder you in your sleep, the worst they could do cause your bathtub to overflow.
▼ Unless your oven is also connected, we suppose…
Nevertheless, Gatebox probably won’t be something you buy to better control your IoT devices — Amazon’s Echo can already do that well enough, for example. The selling point for Gatebox looks to be the hologram display and the character that lives within it, which, we have to admit, could add a fun dynamic to what is basically a really nifty remote control. Of course, unlike a remote control, Azuma will actually have a personality of sorts.
You can’t buy Gatebox yet, but it looks like the company is planning to offer them via crowdfunding preorders later this year. However, they’ve already launched another product, called Ayatori, which is a glowing device you plug into your smartphone. The device is intended to enable communication by searching for people in your vicinity who also have an Ayatori plugged in and sharing your common interests — it’s basically a way to digitize and outsource small-talk to your iPhone. It also has a kind of party mode that is apparently meant for events like music performances as well as a “pair” mode for couples.
You can buy an Ayatori from DMM for 1,480 yen (about US$12.70), though we’re not sure how many matches you’ll be able to find right now. We haven’t seen any in the wild yet…
But if you’d prefer your holograms to be less talkative and more on fire, maybe this Dragon Ball figure is more what you’re looking for!
Sources: Kai-you, Gatebox, vinclu Inc.
Featured image/images: YouTube/vinclu Public
Live with a 3-D virtual servant inside your home with Gatebox, now available for pre-order【Video】
Chance to play Teris on a massive staircase in Kyoto Station coming in March
Japanese restaurant chain serves Dragon Ball donuts and Senzu Beans this spring
How to speak Japanese like a gyaru【2024 edition】
It’s time to vote for Japan’s most beautiful butt! 【Photos】
Is the all-you-can-eat KFC buffet in Tokyo really as good as they say it is?
Japan’s craziest burger chain takes menchi katsu to new extreme levels
Potama serves up epic rice balls like no other, and there’s only one store in Tokyo
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Kyoto’s for-adults immersive samurai theme park announces opening date
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Highest Starbucks in Japan set to open this spring in the Tokyo sky
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 1]
Japan has only one airport named after a samurai, so let’s check out Kochi Ryoma【Photos】
Japan Extreme Budget Travel! A trip from Tokyo to Izumo for just 30,000 yen [Part 2]
Japanese drugstore sells onigiri at pre-stupid era prices, but how do they compare to 7-Eleven?
Yakuzen ramen restaurant in Tokyo is very different to a yakuza ramen restaurant
Tokyo Skytree turns pink for the cherry blossom season
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says