Tokyo, May 9, 2006 --- NEC Corporation announced the development
of technology for installing computer graphics (CG) agents into
various electronic devices, facilitating interaction between robots
and CG agents*. The successful development of this software has
been achieved through expansion of the range of objects that can be
controlled with NEC’s robot control software, RoboStudio*, to
include on-screen CG characters on PCs and PDAs.
This research result was achieved through the following:
(1) Control of on-screen CG characters with NEC’s robot software
platform RoboStudio
(2) Operation of RoboStudio programs (scenarios) describing the
robot’s movements on PCs/PDAs
(3) Exchange of acquired information in different devices via a
wireless network or server
The new technology enables robots to interact with various
electronic devices. For example, a user could talk to its robot at
home and then hand the robot’s memory over to a corresponding CG
character in a car navigation system, on the office laptop computer
or a PDA when the user leaves home. In the future, when various
devices can simultaneously interact between users and agents among
different devices, users will be able to empower agents, which
understand each user’s preferences and interests, to operate their
devices. Users will no longer have to be skilled in the operation
of numerous and varied electronic devices.
This research development will enable NEC to deploy its own
robot user interface technology in various electronic devices other
than robots. Furthermore, it facilitates a diverse range of natural
dialogue and communication with humans, achieved through many years
of accumulated research and development on NEC’s Partner Personal
Robot, PaPeRo*.
Recently, electronic devices have become increasingly
sophisticated and multifunctional, resulting in difficulty of and
confusion regarding use. Moreover, it is anticipated that
electronic devices will become even more sophisticated and
multifunctional in the future. However, as difficulty of use
hinders the number and range of prospective users, a user-friendly
and intuitive interface has been long sought after to allow
everyone in society, from the elderly to the very young, to avail
of and enjoy new devices and technology.
Through this new research, NEC has deployed a fun, user-friendly
interface, which it has cultivated through years of research and
development on PaPeRo, in various electronic devices. By linking
these, NEC strives to create a seamless user interface that
accommodates the user's own preferences, interests, and level of
proficiency, no matter which device is being used, in order to
provide a unified response.
In the future, by applying this research development and
integrating user information acquired by various electronic
devices, NEC will undertake further research and development aimed
at creating more intelligent interfaces. It plans to apply this
technology to a wider range of devices such as car navigation
systems, cell phones, and intelligent home appliances. Furthermore,
NEC plans to install this technology in the RoboStudio robot
software platform offered by NEC System Technologies (RoboStudio
robot software platform is only sold in Japan) when requested by
customers.
For further details about PaPeRo and NEC System Technologies,
please refer to the following websites:
PaPeRo:
http://www.incx.nec.co.jp/robot/english/robotcenter_e.html
NEC System Technologies:
http://www.necst.co.jp/english/index.html
NOTES
* RoboStudio and PaPeRo are trademarks of NEC.
*Agent: An entity that mediates exchange between a user and an
electronic device. Users can convey requests to electronic device
agents, enabling the agent to operate the electronic device and
gather information on behalf of the user, without the user having
to directly operate a complex device.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) is one of the world's leading
providers of
Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions
dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and
global base of customers. NEC delivers tailored solutions in the
key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by
integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by
providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics
Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people
worldwide and had net sales of 4,855 billion yen (approx. $45.4
billion) in the fiscal year ended March 2005.
For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at:
http://www.nec.com
* Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/