Free Calls to Japan

Responding to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint are providing free phone calls to the country.

"We have seen an increase in the number of calls made by our customers to family, friends and colleagues in Japan who have been touched by the events that occurred earlier today," Time Warner Chairman and CEO Glenn Britt said in a statement Friday.

"They are all in our thoughts, and we hope that this program removes a small measure of worry from our customers."

Each phone company is presenting the offer for a limited time, with various stipulations.

AT&T (U-Verse), Verizon and Time Warner also are offering free access to TV Japan, a 24/7 Japanese-language channel broadcasting in Canada and the United States.

Specifics of each company's policy are below. Click on company links for full statements pertaining to the offer.

AT&T
Wireless postpaid* customers can call and text Japan for free through March 31, including all calls and texts made since March 11. Residential wireline customers receive 60 minutes to Japan free through March 31, including all calls to Japan made since March 11. U-Verse customers will receive TV Japan free on Channel 3680 through March 17.

Comcast
Xfinity Voice and Business Class Voice customers can call Japan for free through April 1, including all calls made since March 11.

Sprint
Wireless customers can call and text Japan for free through April 10, including calls and texts made since March 11.




T-Mobile
Postpaid* wireless and Wi-Fi customers can call and text Japan for free through March 31, including calls made since March 11.

Time Warner
All digital and home and business class phone customers can call Japan free through April 15, including all calls made since March 11. Cable customers living in areas of the country that carry TV Japan have free access to the channel through the end of the month.

Verizon
Most residential and wireless customers can call Japan for free through April 10. All Verizon Prepaid Phone Card charges for long-distance calls to Japan will be waived for the same period. FIOS TV customers not already subscribing to TV Japan will receive that channel (1770) free through March 25.

Control this Japanese accessory with your mind

A Japanese company called Neurowear has introduced a high-tech headband that wearers control with their brains.

The company’s Necomimi headband has robot cat ears attached to sensors that read the wearer’s emotions and react accordingly. The name translates, rather unoriginally, as “cat ears.”

The ears perk up when the user is concentrating, lay flat when he or she is relaxed and circle when someone is relaxed and concentrating.

The company hasn’t decided on the colors for the headband or a release date.

Check out the Necomimi in action below:

Reuters reported that scientists are using this kind of technology for wheelchair users or as way to operate a car.

The Necomimi developer said the technology could be used as a way to help shy people communicate, the report said, but Neurowear is concentrating on using the tech for fashion purposes for now.

If you could use this tech for anything, what would choose?