The Japanese firm behind a dog-bark translation machine and cellphone ring tones meant to attract members of the opposite sex has a new spring-time offering — a mobile phone application to cure hay fever.
The Japan Ringing Tone Laboratory has now decided to ring the changes with its latest invention, just in time for the cherry blossom season, when white and pink petals shower the country and pollen allergies and sinus problems cause misery for millions.
The Tokyo-based high-tech gadget maker promises its newest cellphone ringtone can bring relief when users hold the handsets under their noses.
According to the developer, Dr Matsumi Suzuki, who says on his Web site that he studies acoustics and analyses voiceprints, the ring tone unleashes waves that will shake out pollen stuck in the user’s nose.
Index Corporation, which markets the ring tone, warned that the effectiveness may vary among users.
“There is no guarantee that this has real health benefits,” warned a company spokeswoman. She added that the number of downloads has been three times that of their other ringtones, without disclosing sales figures.
The company has also come up with ringtones it says help users attract members of the opposite sex, lose weight, quit smoking, digest food and relieve shoulder aches.
It also developed the ‘Bowlingual’ gadget that can “translate” dog barks into human language, sold by toymaker Takara Tomy since 2002.
The gadget has a handset and a microphone attached to a dog collar that is billed as analysing six emotions including joy, sadness and frustration, and utters phrases such as “Play with me!” A version also exists for cats.(AFP)
曾研發狗語翻譯機及吸引異性手機鈴聲等產品的日本公司，推出春季新發明─能治療花粉症的手機鈴聲。
「日本來電答鈴研究所」決定趕搭櫻花季來點不一樣的新發明。日本落下白色、粉紅色交織的花瓣雨時，數百萬民眾也飽受花粉過敏和鼻竇炎之苦。
這家總部位於東京的高科技裝置製造商保證，他們最新的手機鈴聲可以舒緩症狀，使用者只要將話筒置於鼻下即可。
研發者鈴木松美博士在自己的網站上表示，他研究聲學和分析聲紋後所開發的這款鈴聲會釋放週波，震落附著在使用者鼻腔的花粉。
負責銷售這款鈴聲的易德克斯公司警告，效果可能依使用者而異。
該公司一名女發言人說：「無法保證這鈴聲真的有益健康。」她還說這鈴聲的下載率是他們公司其他鈴聲的三倍，不過她並未公佈具體銷售數據。
這家公司也曾發明能吸引異性、減重、可幫助戒菸、消化，以及減輕肩膀酸痛的鈴聲。
它也曾研發能將狗叫聲「翻譯」成人類語言的「狗語翻譯機」，玩具製造商Takara Tomy二００二年起開始販售該產品。
這款裝置是由一支話筒和一個建有麥克風的狗狗項圈組成，號稱可以辨識包括高興、難過、沮喪等六種情緒，以及諸如「陪我玩！」之類的片語。該翻譯機也有「貓語」版本。
（法新社╱翻譯：林倩如）
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