Transcript

Hello and welcome to today’s news from TotemoTech on December 14th, 2023. In today’s news, Kyōō Dentetsu, a railway company in Japan, has announced that it will introduce credit card touch payment for train rides. The service will be tested and implemented at all stations by the end of 2024. This new payment option aims to provide a convenient and contactless experience for passengers.

Moving on to our next story, the expert panel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan has invited top executives from NTT and other major telecommunications companies to discuss the revision of the NTT Law. The panel is considering abolishing the NTT Law by 2025. However, NTT President Akira Shimada clarified that their company did not make the proposal to abolish the law and emphasized the importance of open discussions without being bound by specific deadlines.

Now, let’s talk about the upcoming celestial event. The Geminid meteor shower, one of the three major meteor showers, will reach its peak from the 13th to the 15th of December. The 13th, being a new moon, will provide optimal viewing conditions without interference from moonlight. The 14th is expected to have a high number of meteors during the peak hours, offering an excellent opportunity for observation.

In the world of robotics, Tesla has unveiled its latest humanoid robot called ‘Optimus Gen 2.’ The new two-legged robot features smooth finger movements and fluid motions. Tesla shared a demonstration video of the robot on its official social media account, showcasing its capabilities.

Shifting gears, let’s talk about the preparations for the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025. German company Volocopter, which plans to operate flying cars during the expo, recently organized a test flight tour for local government officials and children at a heliport in Osaka Bay. The event aimed to demonstrate the actual flight of the flying cars and gain public acceptance by showcasing their safety measures.

In automotive news, Honda has announced the discontinuation of its mass-produced electric vehicle, the Honda e. After three years since its launch, the compact EV will be phased out from the market.

Lastly, a company called User Local has started offering a free AI-powered tool called ‘PowerPoint Generation AI.’ This tool automatically generates presentation materials (.pptx) based on keywords. It aims to assist users in creating slideshows quickly and efficiently.

That’s all for today’s news. Thank you for listening to TotemoTech. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest tech developments. Visit JapanDailyNews.com for the news, yen exchange rates, and a daily Japanese proverb.

Keywords - japan, tech, news