Background and outline of
investigation
There are expectations that the realization of a ubiquitous
network society in which it will be possible to connect
to networks “anytime, anywhere, by anything,
and anyone” will overcome social issues such
as a lower birthrate and aging population, strengthen
international competitiveness, and develop new values.
MIC is currently actively promoting its u-Japan Policy
in expectation of the realization of such a ubiquitous
network society.
The word that has been used for the existing type
of communications is “telecommunications”
and it made possible the transmission and sharing
of information over distances. It is expected that
the anticipated arrival of a ubiquitous network society
will build mutual understanding and collaboration
between people through networks, and bring about an
environment in which greater value will evolve.
In order to investigate new types of communications
through a ubiquitous network society, MIC set up the
“Study Group on Universal Communications Technologies”
on April 27, 2005, and the group has since been continuing
its investigations. The Group has been investigating
domestic and overseas trends in universal communications
technologies, usage images, R&D themes and policy
measures for the realization of universal communications.
The Group recently produced its final report, which
is presented below.
Concept of universal communications
In order to bring about a new type of communications,
which will build mutual understanding and collaboration
between people and evolve higher value through networks,
there are certain communications barriers that have
to be overcome. These include (i) overcoming barriers
of languages, culture and physical availabilities,
(ii) natural expressions and transmission of visual
information and sound, and (iii) creation of safety,
reliability, sympathy and deep emotions that come
with sharing an emotional aim or atmosphere.
The type of communications which will overcome these
barriers is defined as “universal communications”.
Universal communications will allow people who have
different languages, cultures, values, knowledge,
experiences and physical abilities to recognize such
differences not as barriers but as a strong uniqueness
of each individual – without being aware of
the existence of and burdens put upon the use of information
communications devices – and to transmit and
share information smoothly, resolve problems, and
evolve new value in intelligence through mutual understanding
and collaboration.
Technologies to realize universal
communications
In pursuit of realizing universal communications,
the R&D, standardization, and commercial use of
technologies in the following four fields are required.
Universal contents creation/distribution
technologies
Technologies that realize an environment that allows
anyone to easily treat any content – i.e., any
intellectual information distributed throughout the
world in various forms, such as images, music, and
dictionaries – in any way and utilize it in
a sophisticated manner.
Common reality communications
technologies
Technologies that provide ultrarealistic sensations
using, for example, 3-D images that create an ultrarealistic
feeling; 3-D communications; and broadcasting seamless
between virtual reality and reality.
Super-communications technologies
Technologies that significantly enhance human communication
capabilities, allowing anyone to communicate properly
by overcoming the barriers of language, knowledge,
and culture; technologies that ensure the construction
and automatic construction/conversion of a semantic
system regardless of verbal and nonverbal; and technologies
that express ideas based on conventional wisdom.
Context awareness environments
technologies
Technologies that collect peripheral information through
interconnections; and technologies that provide timely
services as required in users’ situation.
R&D in these fields of technology is being undertaken
in other countries also as an important part of national
policy, as part of a clear vision.
Future models of universal communications
technologies
The study group investigated how these four fields
of technologies will each develop in the future, and
having divided the next 10 years into a period of
initial stage (to 2010) and a period of development
stage (to 2015), organized the development image at
the end of each time period and the technologies and
functions necessary for their realization.
Also, with regard to the extent to which our lives
will become richer thanks to the universal communications
technologies that are fingered for realization during
the period of development, the study group has selected
12 representative usage scenes and has tested examples
of the main technologies necessary for their realization.
For example, they aimed at the realization of 3-D
television that would give the realistic sensation
of being at the soccer world cup final while being
in one’s home.
Economic ripple effect of universal
communications
The study group also carried out quantitative
estimates on the social effects and economic ripple
effect brought about by the realization of universal
communications technologies. As a result, it estimated
that the market size of products and services incorporating
universal communications technologies would reach
a maximum of 50 trillion yen in 2020.
Topics for R&D and standardization
and the establishment of a research system
Looking ahead to the realization of universal
communications, there is a need for industries, universities
and research organizations to set up research systems
and promote R&D and standardization in the four
technology fields mentioned above. Against this background,
the government shall fill a role to create a basic
policy and ensure accountability to society with the
establishment of a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle
in an effort to build social consensus as well as
proceed with the following key R&D and standardization
to promote “Value Evolution in Intelligence”
through a collaboration among industries, academia,
and the public sector.
Measures to be taken from now
on
The final report presents five policy measures on
which Japanese industries, academia, consumers and
the government should cooperate for the realization
of universal communications.
Incentive promotion of basic
R&D toward the realization of universal communications
It is necessary to promote R&D through a collaboration
of all concerned, including industries, universities,
consumers and the government, centered on the National
Institute of Information and Communications Technology
(NICT).
Strengthening of basic R&D,
including the scientific elucidation of human sensation
and cognizance
It is vital for the development of new technologies
to accumulate basic research concerning the human
sensation and cognizance mechanisms which we still
understand very little. Since this type of basic research
is not directly linked to commercialization, the government
shall take the initiative in implementing this, including
providing subsidies as competitive funds to invite
public proposals.
Promoting a well-balanced sequential
research process, from basic/applied research to verification
experiments
In order to overcome so-called the Valley of Death
and Darwinian Sea, and bring the results of research
to practical and commercial use, it is necessary to
be promoted on an harmonized basis through a collaboration
among industries, academia, and the government in
the following areas: research at the basic and germination
stages at universities, etc. subsidized by competitive
funds; from basic research to applied technologies
at the NICT; research at industries, from basic research
with commercial use within sight to commercial use;
verification experiments (to enhance social acceptance)
and standardization activities.
Concentration of excellent
researchers full of talent on a global basis and fostering
researchers to shoulder next-generation R&D
There is a shortage of researchers in terms of quality
and quantity, and it is necessary for mid-level and
young researchers to be strongly fostered through
exchanges in the Universal Communications Forum for
Industries, Academia, and the Government (tentative
name), and is important to promote joint research
as well as collaboration with foreign research institutes
and researchers.
Establishment of a comprehensive
promotion system where research outcome increases
cumulatively
It is necessary to promptly establish the Universal
Communications Forum for Industries, Academia, and
the Government (tentative name) with a variety of
participants, including researchers, telecommunications
carriers, broadcasters, consumers, and government
officials from Japan and overseas, and strongly promote
(i) exchanges of information among people concerned
and exchanges among different fields, (ii) efforts
to enhance social acceptance, (iii) the implementation
of joint verification experiments, and (iv) the spread
of outcome to the international community.
Conclusion
MIC is promoting R&D in both a targeted and strategic
way with a view to the realization of a ubiquitous
network society, based on its UNS Strategic Programs.
Within this, MIC has pinpointed universal communications
technologies as a priority area for the UNS Strategic
Programs, along with new generation networks technologies
and ICT security and safety technologies, and will
continue to actively encourage R&D and standardization,
in close collaboration with other priority areas.
