“Koroyawa,” a mat designed to reduce the risk of fractures from falls, has raised 1.28 billion yen. But is it really possible for a mat to “become soft only when someone falls”?

The sources highlight two innovative health and safety initiatives: the development of Koroyawa shock-absorbing flooring and a public safety partnership involving Pokémon GO. Magic Shields has secured significant funding for their specialized mats that utilize mechanical metamaterials to stay firm during walking but turn soft to prevent fractures during a fall. This technology aims to reduce the massive social and medical costs associated with elderly bone injuries in Japan's aging society. Simultaneously, the sources describe a collaboration between Niantic and the Japan AED Foundation that integrates real-world AED locations into the mobile game as "PokéStops." By utilizing gamification, the project encourages players to subconsciously memorize the positions of life-saving equipment while they explore their cities. Together, these updates represent a trend of using cutting-edge engineering and augmented reality to address critical public health challenges.