SXSW 2018: Panasonic to Bring New Ideas, Projects and Interactive Sessions

Panasonic Corporation’s Appliances Company will be on site at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin from March 10-13, showcasing eight new business ideas and three projects that look at the future of home appliances and related services. In addition to the technologies and products on display, Panasonic will host “OpenHub,” a series of 10 original sessions, featuring experts looking at the latest trends in the fields of business, society, technology and culture.

“We look forward to providing a fresh perspective to visitors at SXSW,” says Masa Fukata, director of Game Changer
Catapult, the innovation team from Panasonic’s Appliances Company.

“Both our new business ideas and original sessions are designed to help facilitate a conversation around the future of home appliances. We hope to open people’s minds to see what could be possible.”

Products/Business Ideas On Display:

• Sylphid, a new teeth whitening system that uses Panasonic’s nano-like technology. The system can be used on a continuous basis at home, without using chemical substances that cause pain or discomfort.
• Pecoral, a new platform to encourage pet owners to form communities. The pet business is expanding into a wide range of fields that extend from food, training, pet healthcare and fashion, to nursing care, and Panasonic is proposing unique products and services such as this oral care service for pets.
• Famileel, A new style of communication for family members and others living apart. By combining various technologies, this new device makes you feel more like you are living with them under the same roof.
• Kronosys, which is a kitchen realm optimization and training operating system that addresses the shortage of skilled workers in the restaurant and related cooking fields.
• OniRobot, an idea will help deliver the superior flavor of Japanese rice to dinner tables around the world and help promote the rice-eating culture. This project aims to create a franchise business with a robot that automatically makes the ultimate “onigiri” (rice balls) with a very small, but efficient sales team.
• Ferment 2.0, At SXSW 2017, the Ferment was well received by visitors. It is back this year with a new partner. Focusing on miso paste, a type of fermented food and soup base, and working with Marukome, Panasonic will focus on a “make it yourself miso kit” that will help consumers enjoy a smart, healthy lifestyle by enabling them to make their own handmade miso paste without any additives.
• Aromation, which aims to use emotional tech to provide “intangible experiences.” Depending on the mood or the music you happen to be listening to, the service provides the optimal “aroma” in real-time.
• Blockchain X Appliances, which will try to answer how can block chain technology be used for home electronics business? Game Changer Catapult members will have workshops with various block chain experts and introduce with movie an example of an idea that was eventually achieved.

 New Projects on Display

• Future Life Factory: Panasonic’s design studio, which is a space for co-creation where Panasonic and non-Panasonic partners can gather to develop a vision for a “rich lifestyle” and seeds for new businesses that stay ahead of trends. At SXSW 2018, the studio will be showcasing two ideas: +WINDOW, a virtual “window,” that recreates sunlight, wind, and sounds that you can affix to a windowless room and WEAR SPACE, a wearable device is comprised of noise cancelling headphones and a partition that enables the user to adjust the viewing angle, allowing you to create personal psychological space even in open-plan workspaces.
• 100BANCH: A Tokyo-based experimental group has been organized to accelerate innovative and creative projects.
• Fukidashi: Using cartoon “balloons”, this project will provide a “catalyst” that enables users to overcome language barriers and speak to people from different countries.
• RGB_Light: A unique lighting fixture that creates a mysterious and engaging experience by individually projecting the “3 primary colors of light,” red, green, and blue. Areas where the 3 colors overlap appear white, while other areas produce an infinite gradation of colors.
• Fundoshi Hack Project: This project positions Japanese traditional underwear, “fundoshi,” as a “fashion statement” item
• Kisaburo Kimono Project: Kimonos embody centuries of cutting and sewing SD traditional wear’s envelope, and pass on the kimono culture to future generations.
• Scratch Home: Under the concept, “a home that fuels your creativity,” Panasonic has applied “Scratch” programming language, which enables even very inexperienced users to unlock their creativity within home environments

The Panasonic House @ SXSW, located at 301 East 6th Street, will be open to all SXSW official attendees from March 10-12, 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and March 13, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.