2020.05.19

Just How Accurately Can This Japanese AI App Identify the Flowers During Our Social Distancing Walks?

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Stop, smell, and identify the flowers! This cool Japanese app claims to be an excellent companion for solo walks. But how good is it?

We live in the future. At least, that's what it seemed like when Twitter user @tkmc announced the release of his new free app for the iPhone, called Hananona (ハナノナ). Outside of the Twitter world, @tkmc goes by Teruhisa Kamachi, a part of the STAIR Lab (Software Technology and Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory) at the Chiba Institute of Technology. His new app uses a combination of AI and AR (augmented reality) technology to accurately label and display the names of real flowers viewed through the screen of your phone.

ハナノナというアプリをリリースしました。iPhoneをかざすと花の名前がわかります。AIで判定してARで表示します。外出自粛ということであまり宣伝してませんが、せっかくなのでお知らせします。運動のための散歩時などにお楽しみください。無料です。 #ハナノナ #AI #人工知能 https://t.co/Gl8NUsBybJ

— 蒲地輝尚 (@tkmc) May 5, 2020

With so many people avoiding crowds and instead finding solace in solo walks near home, it's no huge surprise that the Twitter announcement earned more than 60,000 likes and 35,000 responses. According to the developers, the goal of the app was to educate children about the things growing around them, perfect for all the kids of Japan who have been home from school for months now.

Days after its release, the Hananona app even made its way to #2 on the app store's free app ranking, just behind Zoom and ahead of the My Number app connected to Japan's coronavirus relief payments. So I had to try it out! The iPhone app is available here, in English or Japanese. If you want to try it out with any other device, there's this page on the official STAIR Lab website that identifies flowers, without the AR features. They say it can identify 770 different kinds of flowers, but how good is it?

Testing The App’s 2 Modes

① Search Mode
In search mode, the app will actively identify any flowers on the screen in real-time, as you move. Since the app isn't always 100% accurate, you can push the accuracy slider to the left or right to filter for more guesses, or fewer sure identifications.

You can see that the flower names appear on screen, labeling the plants seen through the viewfinder, and an accuracy percentage shows up underneath.

Unfortunately, if you're at all familiar with flowers, you'll see that… well, the app isn't always as correct as it says. Despite the "100% accurate identification" of that "Joe-Pye weed," the flowers pictured are quite clearly pansies.

But not all is lost! Despite the app insisting that the pansies aren't pansies, its "96% accurate" guess of leucanthemum paludosum (AKA creeping daisies) is quite correct!

② Shooting Mode
To share your findings with friends, you can switch to shooting mode, and capture some nice snapshots that are already captioned for your appreciation.

Just… don't try to use it on pansies.

So far the accuracy seems to be about 50/50, but perhaps pansies are the app's weak point!? Whether it works perfectly or not, it's certainly a fun app to play around with outside, as you take a walk around the block! Take a photo share with friends, or bring it with you on your next trip to Japan, whenever that might be. And don't forget to share your snapshots with the Japankuru team, too, on our twitter, instagram, and facebook!

Original Author: Pin
English Edition: Sophia Appelbaum

I've lived in Tokyo for a few years now, and I love wandering Japan looking for good food, lovely new places, and the best tourist attractions throughout the country.

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- KYUSHU
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  Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
- FUKUOKA
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  Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
- KAGOSHIMA
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  Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
- OKINAWA
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  The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.