November 2011 Vol. 9 No. 11

View from the Top

• Kouichi Takahatake, Executive Vice President, NTT WEST

  

  Abstract
  Just as NTT WEST had begun to formulate a new network vision for the future, the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 struck the Tohoku region of Japan. What light has this unprecedented disaster shed on the mission of NTT WEST? We sat down with Kouichi Takahatake, Executive Vice President of NTT WEST, to hear how personnel development and a new perspective on network facilities are essential to building a network robust to disasters.

Feature Articles: Communication Science Reaches Its 20th Anniversary

• Building a Theory of Communication

  

  Abstract
  At NTT Communication Science Laboratories, we are conducting basic research in communication science with the aim of making telecommunication as accurate and satisfying as face-to-face communication between people. The Feature Articles in this issue describe our research efforts aimed at building a theory of communication as a foundation for communication science and introduce our latest achievements.

• Statistical Dialogue Processing for Ambient Intelligence

  

  Abstract
  In this article, we introduce statistical dialogue control methods that are essential for the implementation of ambient intelligence and present the results of experiments performed to assess the validity of statistical dialogue control.

• Communication Support Based on Interaction Analysis

  

  Abstract
  This article describes the difficulties of human-computer interaction (HCI) research and the approach taken at NTT Communication Science Laboratories to alleviate them and establish findings for this research field. The main difficulty is that HCI research results are difficult to assess objectively owing to a lack of common yardsticks with other research fields.

• Research on Social Network Mining and Its Future Development

  

  Abstract
  In this article, we explore some core research problems in social network mining and discuss our latest research results. With the world becoming increasingly connected in this age of globalization, communications is no longer bounded by geographical location or languages; in particular, online social networking has become an important area of research.

• Mathematical Duality between Anonymity and Privacy and Its Application to Law

  

  Abstract
  My colleagues and I have developed a formal verification method for the anonymity and privacy of information systems based on the idea that anonymity is hiding information about who performed a certain action and that privacy is hiding information about what action a certain person performed. In this article, I investigate the use of a formal representation of privacy in a legal context. As an example, I compare such a formal concept of privacy with a legal one. On the basis of a comparison with the after the banquet case, whose decision is widely used as a precedent, I point out a difference between the two concepts related to identifiability and investigate its meaning. To clarify the meaning of the difference, I use ambient intelligence as a technical context.

• Communication Research Focused on Tactile Quality and Reality

  

  Abstract
  Although tactile sensation is increasingly being used in modern electronic devices and games, humans use tactile sensation not only to recognize information but also to richly perceive quality and confirm the reality of objects. This article describes current research on communication based on the unique features of tactile sensation.

Global Standardization Activities

• Current Progress of ITU-T Speech Coding Standardization

  

  Abstract
  Since speech coding is a key technology required for telecommunication, several recommendations for it have been approved in ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector), and new standardization work, e.g., G.711.1 and G.729.1, which further enhance the speech bandwidth and have interoperability with the conventional telephony standard, is currently progressing for the new products and services demanded by the market.

NTT around the World

• NTT Singapore

  

  Abstract
  NTT Singapore was established in 1997. It started out as a system integrator providing information technology (IT) services mainly to Japanese companies in Singapore. Over the years, it has evolved to provide a whole suite of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions to enterprises worldwide.

Information

• ICC2011 was Held in Kyoto−With Wishes for Recovery from the Earthquake

  

  Abstract
  Despite the Great East Japan Earthquake (also known as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami), the International Conference on Communications 2011 (ICC2011) was held on June 5−9, 2011, at Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto) in Kyoto with wishes for recovery from the earthquake. The NTT Group had a booth and showed the latest R&D products in the co-located ICC Kyoto Exhibition. This article reports on ICC2011 and ICC Kyoto Exhibition.

• Report on NTT Communications Science Laboratories Open House 2011

  

  Abstract
  We report on Open House 2011 held at NTT Communications Science Laboratories in Keihanna Science City, Kyoto, which welcomed over 1100 people on June 9 and 10. Visitors attended excellent lectures and colorful demonstrations based on the latest research results.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings