April 2015 Vol. 13 No. 4

Feature Articles: Keynote Speeches at NTT R&D Forum 2015

• Hiroo Unoura, Representative Director and President, Chief Executive Officer, NTT

  

  Overview
  This article introduces NTT Group initiatives towards 2020 centered on global cloud business and network services. The content of this article is based on the keynote lecture presented by NTT Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer Hiroo Unoura at NTT R&D Forum 2015 held February 19−20, 2015.

• Hiromichi Shinohara, Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Research and Development Planning, NTT

  

  Overview
  This article introduces NTT’s research and development (R&D) activities undertaken in collaboration with its partners to apply information and communication technology to deal with issues arising from changes in Japan’s social environment. It is based on the keynote speech delivered by Hiromichi Shinohara, Representative Director and Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President of Research and Development Planning of NTT, at the NTT R&D Forum 2015 held on February 19 and 20.

Feature Articles: Media System Technology for Creating an Appealing User Experience

• Creating an Appealing User Experience by Applying Media System Technology

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces NTT efforts aimed at creating appealing user experiences by applying the wide variety of media system technology under development at NTT, including technologies related to speech, language, audio, still images, and video. The work described here focuses on two areas: a personal agent that is intimately close to the user and provides personalized services that stimulate human knowledge and behavior, and high-sense-of-presence media services that enable the user to enjoy extremely natural viewing experiences.

• Media Processing Technology for Achieving Hospitality while on the Go

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces a service concept of hospitality on the go, in which users are guided while they move around a local area, as well as statistical machine translation technology and robust media search technology for supporting such services.

• Media Processing Technology for Achieving Hospitality in Information Search

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces services for achieving hospitality in information search activities. These services are designed to assist individual users in their surroundings during day-to-day activities. We also introduce subject identification technology based on images, natural language processing technology for understanding people and responding naturally, and speech synthesis technology capable of generating synthesized speech with a wide variety of speakers and speaking styles, all of which support these services.

• Media Processing Technology for Business Task Support

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces two aspects of work toward implementation of services to support business tasks, specifically the use of speech recognition in very noisy environments such as factories and construction sites, and technology for recording minutes of meetings. The most recent audio and speech processing technology that is applied in these services is also described.

• Audio-visual Technology for Enhancing Sense of Presence in Watching Sports Events

  

  Abstract
  The number of people who experience sporting events remotely by viewing via television or the Internet far outnumber those who see the event in person. In recent years, there has been a diversification in individual preferences and viewing styles, and viewers want to enjoy the event in the way they prefer. This article introduces NTT’s efforts concerning video and audio technology that enables high-sense-of-presence viewing. This work involves achieving both a high-presence remote viewing experience, which closely reproduces the actual on-site experience, and an ultrahigh sense of presence, which provides an experience that exceeds the on-site experience.

Global Standardization Activities

• R!SE Initiative Activities of the United Nations

  

  Abstract
  Natural disasters result in serious human and economic damage and are a serious threat to continuing global growth. To accelerate disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction and to make knowledge dissemination more widespread, the United Nations has initiated cooperative projects between the public and private sectors. NTT is also involved with this initiative. The ongoing activities of the initiative are described here.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Inspection Method for Near-ground Corrosion in Steel Poles for More Efficient Facility Management

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces a method of inspecting corrosion that occurs near the ground in steel poles to achieve more efficient facility management. This is the twenty-eighth of a bimonthly series on the theme of practical field information on telecommunication technologies. This month’s contribution is from the Materials Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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