*This is a machine-translated text of the original article.

ANA Holdings Inc and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd announced that art connoisseurs would be able to watch art on their proprietary “newme” communication avatar developed by ANA for a limited period of time.

Newme avatar uses state-of-the-art technologies such as VRs, robotics, sensors, and haptics to connect to remote avatar robots installed at different locations and to physically move and touch things like you are in the spot.

The service will be available through avatar-in, a platform for providing ANA’s avatar services. The service will enable users to access newme from their homes and view the “X Department Store 2020” exhibition by Katsuhiko Hibino, which is currently being held at the Mitsukoshi Contemporary Gallery, a modern art specialty gallery. It will be the second example of “avatar-in museum” services.

ANA and Isetan Mitsukoshi intend to utilize this technology at Isetan Mitsukoshi stores as well, with a view to launching new services from spring 2020 onward using avatar-in platforms provided by ANA.

The service period is from 14:00 to 17:00 from March 23 to March 29.

Original Text: https://ampmedia.jp/2020/03/20/ana-vr/