Geisha approves Panasonic's portable GPS travel navigation gadget

Think GPS, think a device in your car to help you find your way. Not anymore, hopes Panasonic who are launching their new Tabi-navi device with a little help from a trainee geisha.

The maiko showed off the CN-SG500 Series gadget at a press launch in Tokyo yesterday, where it was revealed that the 250g slighty-bulky hand-held thingamajig is designed to allow you not only to find your way around as you go walkabouts, but to provide multiple data to the user.

Capable of holding hundreds of guide books, local service guides and databases, you'll be able to find the details of what's around you from restaurants to historical sites -- presumable why the maiko attended. The 5" screen isn't about to win awards fo sleekness but it's real catch is its interactiveness, which allows you to take a picture of your own point of interest, and upload, letting the user become a tour guide.

The 'Tabi-navi' doohickey will be available in Japan from October, though whether geisha are being brought in to do the sales wasn't clear.

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