May 2021 Vol. 19 No. 5

View from the Top

• Koji Korekawa, President, NTT Life Science and Prime Research Institute for Medical RWD

  

  Overview
  In Japan, the average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy differ by 9 to 12 years. Since this gap is not only a social issue but also affects individual well-being, it is necessary to raise awareness of public health and promote the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. To address these social issues through the use of health and medical big data, the NTT Group has launched two healthcare companies; NTT Life Science and Prime Research Institute for Medical RWD. We interviewed Koji Korekawa, president of both companies about the services provided by these companies and his mindset as a top executive.

Front-line Researchers

• Shin’ya Nishida, Senior Distinguished Scientist, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Overview
  Many mechanisms by which the human brain recognizes the various complex properties of objects in the real world remain unknown. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for scientific understanding of human-sensory-information processing and advancements in information-engineering technology. Researchers at NTT Communication Science Laboratories are leading research on the human perception of specific properties of objects called Shitsukan (Japanese word for the sense of quality) from interdisciplinary perspectives, such as information science, neuroscience, and psychophysics, in conjunction with researchers from inside and outside the laboratories. We asked Shin’ya Nishida, a senior distinguished scientist at NTT Communication Science Laboratories, about his pioneering research on Shitsukan and attitude as a researcher.

Feature Articles: Toward New-principle Computers

• Activities toward New-principle Computers

  

  Abstract
  Non-von Neumann-type computers, such as quantum computers and Ising machines that operate on principles different from those of present-day computers, are attracting attention. They are particularly powerful when applied to specific types of problems such as combinatorial optimization problems, quantum chemical calculations, and prime factorization, and since solutions to problems such as these can have a significant impact on society, research of new-principle computers is moving forward at a vigorous pace. The following Feature Articles in this issue introduce theoretical and experimental activities regarding new-principle computers at NTT laboratories while describing recent advances in this field.

• Performance Comparison between Coherent Ising Machines and Quantum Annealer

  

  Abstract
  NTT has been developing a coherent Ising machine (CIM), which efficiently finds solutions to ground-state-search problems of the Ising model using a network of optical parametric oscillators. We introduce our recent experiment that compared the computational performance of CIMs (the one developed by NTT and another developed by Stanford University) with a quantum annealer, which solves the Ising-model problems using superconducting devices.

• A Long-lived Tunable Qubit for Bosonic Quantum Computing

  

  Abstract
  This article reviews a recent experiment that demonstrated a new hybrid type of tunable superconducting qubit consisting of a two-dimensional (2D) superconducting capacitively shunted flux qubit coupled to a 3D microwave cavity. Such a 3D hybrid flux qubit has extremely long relaxation times, which are comparable to or exceed the best values reported for 2D flux qubits. This new design of frequency-tunable qubits is uniquely suited for applications in bosonic quantum computing, which exploits multiphoton states of 3D microwave cavities.

• Designing Quantum Computers

  

  Abstract
  We have reached the stage in our development of quantum technologies at which we are now able to construct the building blocks necessary to create small-scale quantum processors and networks. The challenge is how we scale up to fully fault-tolerant quantum computers involving extremely large numbers of interacting quantum bits.

• Theoretical Approach to Overcome Difficulties in Implementing Quantum Computers

  

  Abstract
  To develop large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers, implementation technologies are required to meet extremely strict conditions. Basic research targeting such technologies is currently being conducted worldwide, and theoretical research can also make a relevant contribution. In this article, we introduce several theoretical research studies for deriving the maximum power of quantum computers with limited resources and/or restricted functions due to difficulties in physical implementation.

• Fault-tolerant Technology for Quantum Information Processing and Its Implementation Methods

  

  Abstract
  To use quantum information processing in a wide range of applications, fault-tolerant processing is essential to cope with noise. Fault-tolerant quantum computing using quantum error-correcting codes is scalable, but the overhead of number of qubits or processes is large, so improving efficiency is an important research theme. Quantum error mitigation incurs computational cost, but it does not require the overhead of number of qubits, so it is expected to be used for near-future applications. In this article, we introduce our research activities on these topics as well as our studies toward the implementation of quantum information processing.

Feature Articles: ICT Solutions Offered by NTT Group Companies

• Opening of the Art Exhibition “Digital × Hokusai [Middle Chapter]” for Providing New Ways to Experience Art during the Coronavirus Pandemic

  

  Abstract
  NTT EAST has been holding an interactive art exhibition called “Digital × Hokusai [Middle Chapter]” since December 1, 2020 as a showcase for a “dispersed digital museum” that enables visitors to enjoy local culture and art beyond time and place, even during the coronavirus pandemic, by using the information and communication technology and assets owned by NTT EAST. The details of the company’s initiatives concerning this exhibition are introduced in this article.

• REALIVE360: Multi-angle Virtual-reality Video-streaming Service that Gives the Viewer a Realistic Feeling of Being in a Theater

  

  Abstract
  While various events have been canceled or postponed due to the novel-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a new style of event called “online streaming of spectatorless events” is emerging. The NTT WEST Group has developed a multi-angle virtual-reality video-streaming service called REALIVE360 and began providing it as a service to enable people in remote rural areas to experience concerts and other events held in urban areas in a highly realistic manner. How to use REALIVE360, its main features, and its future development are introduced in this article.

• Private 5G: A Key Solution for Driving Digital Transformation and Creating a Smart World

  

  Abstract
  The wireless technology called private fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G) is currently attracting attention from various customers, including the manufacturing industry. Unlike Wi-Fi, which has been widely used as a wireless-communication technology to build private networks, private 5G (called “local 5G” in Japan), which uses licensed bands, requires special expertise for design, construction, and operation. NTT Communications has accumulated knowledge of private 5G through conducting demonstration experiments even before private 5G was institutionalized in Japan. This article introduces examples of joint demonstration experiments with customers using private 5G networks as well as technologies under development such as multi-access edge computing and network slicing.

• Speeding Up the Machine-learning Process with MLOps and Creating a Mechanism to Continuously Provide Service Value

  

  Abstract
  Machine-learning operations (MLOps) is the machine-learning version of DevOps (development and operations) and represents the concept of how the people in charge of developing machine learning for a system and the people in charge of operating the system can collaborate to ensure smooth progress from implementation to operation of a commercial system. Recently, MLOps has been gaining in popularity; however, each vendor has a different definition of MLOps and there is no unified view. With that issue in mind, this article explains the background and basic concepts of MLOps as well as latest investigations and concrete means of implementing MLOps.

• Business Application of BERT, a General-purpose Natural-language-processing Model

  

  Abstract
  BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) is gaining attention as an artificial intelligence (AI) technology that supports natural-language processing. To make BERT practical for business, NTT DATA is developing applications of BERT that can recognize the unique words and phrases used in various industries, making it possible to build an optimized AI model that meets the needs of individual customers. In this article, a financial version of BERT (Financial BERT) and domain-specific BERT framework that NTT DATA developed and is developing, respectively, are introduced as example applications.

Regular Articles

• Ultra-high-speed 300-GHz InP IC Technology for Beyond 5G

  

  Abstract
  A 300-GHz-band 120 Gbit/s wireless transceiver (TRX) is presented using our in-house indium phosphide (InP) high-electron-mobility transistor (InP-HEMT) technology. A 300-GHz power amplifier (PA), which is the key component in the TRX, was developed using the backside DC line (BDCL) technique to increase its gain and output power. The measured maximum gain and saturated output power are respectively 20.5 dB and 12 dBm. The 300-GHz-band TRX was fabricated using this PA. The TRX achieves high data rates of 124 and 120 Gbit/s under back-to-back and 9.8-m-link-distance wireless data transmission conditions. To the best of our knowledge, these are the highest data rates among reported 300-GHz-band TRXs.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization Trends on Cryptographic Algorithms and Protocols in ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 27 WG 2

  

  Abstract
  International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Joint Technical Committee 1 Subcommittee 27 has developed and standardized methods, technologies, and guidelines for information security and privacy. Working Group 2 (WG 2) is responsible for the development and standardization of cryptographic and other security mechanisms. We introduce the latest standardization trends of cryptographic algorithms and protocols in WG 2.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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