Discover the Hobonichi Globe: Bringing the World to Life with Interactive Augmented Reality

I The Hobonichi Globelaunched in August 2024 US again In the UK markets, brings an exciting blend of education and technology to enthusiasts of all ages. This 5.9-inch (15 cm) improved AR sphere combines physical and digital experiences, providing dynamic, real-time views of the Earth when paired with it a free companion app, available for iOS and Android devices.

Since its debut in Japan in 2017, the The Hobonichi Globe received an honorable mentionincluding Grand Prize in the Active Category at the 2021 ISOT Tokyo Stationery & Office Products Fair and 2023 Kids Design Award. Here’s a closer look at what makes this new product unique and educational.

What is the Hobonichi Globe?

I The Hobonichi Globe stands out for its compact design and portability. Unlike traditional globes, it has no fixed base or supporting axis, making it easy for young children to handle and explore. Its borderless, label-free environment shows the world as seen from space.

Designed for children ages six and up, and for adults, the Hobonichi Globe comes with a long-lasting polycarbonate stand that keeps it stable during use. This is especially useful when engaging with its Augmented Reality (AR) features.

How It Works

The free The Hobonichi Globe App allows users can explore detailed AR content in English or Japanese.

Just point a smartphone or tablet around the world to access real-time Earth data, including cloud cover, precipitation, wind patterns, temperature updates, and other educational content. The app brings the world to life through augmented reality (AR), turning static geography into an interactive experience.

Our Working Experience

We tested the Hobonichi Globe over a few days on our iPad Mini and found it entertaining and informative. For more information, we recommend using a tablet rather than a smartphone. Lighting is important—the app works great in well-lit situations but struggles in overly bright or dark environments.

Below, we have listed all the tested features and how they work. We’ve added a few screenshots of our creations :

Key features include:

On the left: The World Now. I Clouds option displays a 24-hour animation of cloud movement over the past day. Other options include The rain again Temperature. – Institution: The World This week. I Temperature option presents a video of the temperature change over the past 7 days. Other options include Clouds again The rain. – Right: The World at Night. It shows the night view. – All views are displayed with country information in (icon ON below)

The World Now:

• View live updates of Earth’s weather patterns, such as cloud distribution, precipitation, and temperature changes, updated every hour.
• Change specific data layers (eg, clouds or temperature) to get custom views.
• Watch time-lapse videos showing how the world has changed in the last 24 hours.

The World This Week:

• Download and watch a weekly video summary of weather patterns, including the development of typhoons and global temperature changes.
• Use the timeline slider to play a frame by frame of notable weather events.

The World at Night:

• Experience what the planet looks like at night, with illuminated cities and fishing boats lighting up the sea.
• Switch between day and night view to see how city centers and borders appear against the dark.

Interactive Learning Features

In addition to real-time world views, Hobonichi Globe offers a variety of engaging teaching tools:

Countries

Convert the sphere into a digital atlas. Tap a country’s flag to learn about its culture, geography, and important facts. Information is presented in clear images, making it accessible and enjoyable for users of all ages.

On the left: Countries. Clicking on a flag in this view displays information about the corresponding country. – Institution: A photo atlas -Right: An information screen is displayed after selecting an image from A photo atlas look. All views have country information turned off by default (convert using i icon below).

A photo atlas

Explore photos of iconic landmarks, historical sites, wildlife, and vehicles. Each image is paired with educational information, helping users learn more about the wonders of our planet.

Poplardia Dinosaurs

On the left: Poplardia Dinosaurs, The Cretaceous option. Three other options: Everything, jurassic, again The Triassic. – Institution: Poplardia Dinosaurs. All dinosaurs from all eras are displayed—Right: An information screen is displayed after selecting a dinosaur Poplardia Dinosaurs look. All views have country information turned off by default (toggle using the i icon below).

This feature brought the world’s past history. Users can view 50 dinosaurs from “Poplardia Wonda Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs” by Poplar Publishing, organized by era: Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. By looking at where these animals once roamed, students gain insight into their evolution and extinction.

The Classic Globe

For those who prefer the traditional method, the app offers a color map showing country boundaries, elevations, and standard latitude and longitude lines.

On the left: Ancient, Topographic option. Two other options Politics again A satellite. – Institution: Pop-up Peaks with A Closer Look open – Right: Clicking the orange rectangle on Pop-up Peaks view opens an information screen.

Pop-up Peaks

Focus on the topography of the Earth with an exaggerated elevation model. Magnified 100 times, this feature highlights important geological formations like the The Himalayas again Antarctica’s ice sheets.

Playful and Creative Tools

On the left: Again. 1/ Type the location you want. – Institution: Again. 2/ The elephant will appear in the place you wanted. – Right: The Photosphere. Select a photo and see it surrounded by the Hobonichi Globe

The Hobonichi Globe doesn’t stop at education, it adds a playful twist to geography:

• Again: Having trouble finding a place? This virtual elephant assistant can help, although its accuracy may vary.
• Main Message: Write personal messages and launch them into a virtual orbit around your EarthBall.
• Photosphere: Add your photos to the app and see them wrapped around a virtual globe on the screen.

Whose?

The Hobonichi Globe is perfect for curious minds ages six and up. Its combination of tactile and digital interactivity makes it appealing to a wide audience, from children studying geography to adults interested in Earth science. Teachers can find it especially useful as a classroom tool, while families can enjoy it as a fun way to learn together.

Technical Details

Size: 5.9 inches in diameter.
Stand Material: Hard polycarbonate.
App compatibility: iOS and Android.
AR data sources:
– Cloud and temperature data: Custom Weather.
– Rain image: GSMaP by JAXA.
– Dinosaur Content: Poplar Publishing.
Research site: Hidenori Watanave Laboratory of Tokyo Metropolitan University.
Product Page: The Hobomichi Globe
Price at launch: $45.99 (US) and £44.95 (UK)
Shop it on Amazon US or Amazon UK
Hobonichi also offers a 7.9-inch globe at a premium price (see product page below). We tried the 5.9-inch version, and the free app is the same for both.