Yahoo Japan plans to install billboards equipped with cameras and facial analysis technology that identifies each person's characteristics, such as age and sex. In addition to specially-targeted ads, they're programmed to display content like news and weather. I wonder if in the future these things can detect other product preferences from our outward appearances. I just hope they don't reveal anything embarrassing, like a need for incontinence pads. [Nikkei via Crunch Gear]

If you've got it, flaunt it. That's one mantra that hasn't eluded the Japanese when it comes to technology. And because the country has the cheapest high-speed Internet in the world, as well as one of the best broadband markets, it's nice to see everyone working together to bring people streaming TV on their Internet connections. Softbank and Yahoo Japan are the two companies in charge of this new streaming video service and plan to form a company that will operate it. Called "Yahoo!Doga," it is aiming to be a portal site for about 100,000 different programs. Best of all, the companies plan to work with all the different broadcasters, rather than just a few. A trial is in the works as we speak and the service should be available by March 2006.

Softbank, Yahoo Japan start Internet TV service [Reuters]