R&D Spirits
Toward “Triangle Services” Drawing onGroup Synergy
Dr. Takao Kakizaki
R&D Chief Executive Producer
Department III, NTT

NTT’s Comprehensive Commercialization Functions provide planning and coordination support for commercializing the results of NTT R&D programs. Within this system, the Service
Platform Team works to achieve network-wide services in the broadband/ubiquitous era. We
asked Dr. Takao Kakizaki, R&D Chief Executive Producer and head of this team, to tell us about
the kinds of businesses that are now taking form and those slated for the near future.

Laying the groundwork for six categories ofservice platforms—Could you give us some specifics on these commercialization themes?

—Dr. Kakizaki, what are the main themes of your current work?

In content aggregations, we are developing content
businesses based on a totally new framework startingwith music-search services. In the second category ofsenior-citizen services, we are developing care-prevention services based on video communications.
This work originates in the knowledge that society is
aging rapidly and in NTT’s desire to contribute insome way to solving the resulting problems. It is also
being pursued with the aim of uncovering next-generation latent needs. As for RFID, we are developing
platforms using wireless IC tags for solution businesses directed mainly at the distribution and manufacturing industries. Next, in the fourth category ofbroadcasting/communications convergence, we aim
to create links between broadcast stations and content
holders to develop content-distribution services overNTT’s optical broadband networks. I’d like toemphasize that our work here is not to create content
but to provide a metadata distribution platform to efficiently drive the distribution of content. Then, in
broadband-mobile services, or “fixed/mobile convergence,” we would like to provide services that connect the broadband and mobile worlds at the platform
level. This will enable a user to shop via broadbandbased services and settle the transaction instantly all
by cell phone. Finally, our desire through home net-Well, to begin with, we are commercializing service platforms making extensive use of NTT R&D
results (Fig. 1). We know that a wide variety of services will emerge in the optical broadband and ubiquitous society of the future. Yet these services will
only be effective if a secure and easy-to-use service
environment can be provided for both end users andservice providers. Our aim is to provide such an environment. Here, instead of simply commercializing
individual R&D results, we plan to exploit the synergy of the entire NTT group in up-and-coming business domains to develop service platforms in six categories. These are content aggregations, senior-citizen services, radio frequency identification (RFID),
broadcasting/communications convergence, broadband-mobile services, and home network services.
These are what I would call our main themes at present. In addition, I have personally taken on a projectin the manufacturing industry with a colleague ofmine to develop network support services for small
and medium enterprises such as the small-scale factories in Tokyo’s Ota ward.

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Senior-citizen services (care prevention)

Content aggregation

RFID

Mobile music search services are now
being developed at NTT Resonant Inc.

Toward ubiquitous distribution services
based on metadata technology

goo
OCN

Care-prevention service trials merging
community centers and the network arescheduled for autumn 2005.

HealthMusic
care
Broadcastindustryindustry Education
stations
TravelLocal
industry
Content
industry
governproviders
ments
Finance
Manufacturingindustry
anddistribution

plala

Collaborative partners

Towardbusiness
deployment

Towardnew companies
and tie-ups

Service platform

Broadcasting/communications convergence

Broadband-mobile services

Platform commercialization for serverbased broadcasts and IPTV services
using metadata-based content-linking
technology

Platform commercialization forentertainment and e-commerce
services for the coming era of
fixed-mobile convergence

Media-related
enterprises
Community-related
enterprises
E-commerce
enterprises

Home network services
Platform commercialization foradvanced control and enhanced use ofhome appliances via a home gateway

goo: portal service (http://www.goo.ne.jp/)
OCN: open computer network (http://www.ocn.ne.jp/english/)plala: contents delivery service (http://www.plala.or.jp/)

Fig. 1. Commercialization of the service platform.

work services is to usher in a new lifestyle for allusers by enabling them to control various appliancesin their home via broadband and mobile networks.
Here, it is essential that users feel comfortable andsecure with such home services, and we intend tocommercialize services that attach importance to theproper use of home gateways or hubs that collectinformation.
—Are any services already in use?
Yes. Let me give you some examples. In December
2004, the “Ate!?Melo” service was launched on theJapanese search engine “goo” [1]. This service
enables cell phone users to learn the title and artist ofa song or musical piece that is currently playing at
home or somewhere outside by simply holding thephone next to the sound source for about 15 seconds.
Based on that audio data, a server then searches amusic database and returns information about thesong to the user’s cell phone via e-mail. Of technicalsignificance here is that the service stores and searches not for the music itself but for the “fingerprint*” ofthat music (Fig. 2). From a business point of view, therights associated with such “fingerprints” in providing this service are also a matter of deep interest sepVol. 3 No. 9 Sep. 2005

arate from any copyright issues associated with thesongs themselves. In this sense, we do not regard thisservice as simply a way of finding the name and artistof a particular song. We also envision it as being a
gateway to various types of e-commerce. For example, if a user of this service likes the song in question,
why not enable him or her user to download it on the
spot or view related concert information and ordertickets? But here, we must deal with issues that cannot be solved solely by technology, such as musicalcopyrights not directly related to the search service.
We would therefore like to construct a scheme forcooperating with song-writer and composer organizations, for example.
Next, in senior-citizen services, a video-based content-delivery service designed to prevent the need for* fingerprint: Audio fingerprint technology can be used to performmusic matching, a kind of music fingerprinting. When you call inwith a song to be matched, the system creates a ‘fingerprint’ of thesound coming in from your mobile phone and then searches throughthe fingerprint database for a match. The music fingerprinting systemenables users to automatically identify music by comparing uniquefingerprints extracted from the music with fingerprints in a speciallycompiled database. The system runs on a central server and comprises advanced fingerprint extraction and search algorithms plus a database containing audio fingerprints and metadata (identification data).

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R&D Spirits(1) Requests a search forthe detected soundsource(2) Extracts feature
information fromthe sound source

Computer/telephony
integration user
management functions(3) Cross-checks feature
information withmusic database
Search for song attributes
and report to user

Media search engine

Search results
Songs
Search-results
database
Customer-information
databaseMusic
database(4) Returns search results by e-mailand links to Web sites that provide
related services

Mail server

Web server

Metadata
database(5) Provides song-related
data and services via
a Web server

Geared to a mass market of several hundred thousand consumers, this system uses a mobile-telephone
connection to detect the sound source of a song being played close to the user and searches a hugemusic database for that song, returning results and links to Web-related services by e-mail. NTT media
search technology enables high-speed comparison of music “fingerprints.”

Fig. 2. Mobile music search system.

nursing care of the elderly is scheduled to begin thisfall. This service is still in the trial stage, however,and the plan is to limit its rollout to specific regions
such as Tokyo, Shizuoka, and Nagoya for the time
being. Needless to say, providing nursing care for theelderly has become a major problem in Japan. To help
alleviate this need, a plan has been established torevise Japan’s Long-Term Care Insurance from 2006
with the idea of emphasizing care prevention andreducing as much as possible the number of nursingcare recipients. At present, however, the number ofcare-prevention counselors is small. Our proposedservice originated from the idea that broadband communications might provide a solution here. Specifically, it will introduce a network and video-communication system in local government facilities andhomes of the elderly to periodically provide care-prevention programs such as physical exercises. The service will be able to provide a variety of programs, andsince it will be bidirectional, elderly users will also beable to have health consultations with care-giving
experts (Fig. 3). Though the mechanism behind thissystem is relatively simple, the plan is for NTT East,
NTT West, and NTT Communications to provide
system support and for NTT TelWel East and TelWel
West, which are already in the care-giving business,8

to handle actual base operations and management. In
short, we expect group synergy to play a big role in
the provision of these senior-citizen services. There isconsiderable community interest in our proposed
video-based service for the elderly and we are receiving many inquiries in response to our press releases.
—Could you tell us something about your work in
network support services for small and medium companies?
Yes. First, let me mention that I’ve been involved
with this work since the 1980s when I was researchingand developing intelligent robot systems. Although
Japan is a high-tech country, it is surprising how small
and medium companies, which provide much support
for Japanese industry, have been left behind in the IT
boom. Tokyo’s Ota ward, for example, is the home ofsmall and medium manufacturers that include leading
enterprises that deliver products to NASA and othermajor procurers. However, many of the small-scale
factories employing less than a dozen people are stillusing faxes and floppy disks to exchange drawings.
This adherence to past technology makes it difficult
for a company to be active at the forefront regardlessof its level of know-how. The NTT Group thought thatNTT Technical Review

R&D Spirits

Community center
Home ofelderly person
(2)

(3)

Photograph of a meal menu

Health condition
Exercise class(1)
Opticalbroadband
network(1) Remote exercise class: Enables
elderly persons to participate in an
exercise class from their homes
Healthcounselor(2) Remote consultation: Enables ahealth counselor to determine thecondition of an elderly person andgive appropriate guidance(3) Meal menu screen: Enables anelderly person to develop goodeating habits by viewing recipes
and other diet tips

Remote exercise class

Fig. 3. Concept of a care prevention system.

there must be a way to rectify this situation. After
working with industry people and passing through atrial-and-error period, we developed a service thatprovides a production management system combinedwith equipment leasing in the form of an application
service provider (ASP) that is easy for small andmedium companies to deploy. There has also been
serious talk about using a videoconferencing system
to facilitate information sharing between remote factories. Though I have been pursuing this work independently, it has taken on a form similar to our commercialization work, and I expect the development ofsuch systems to eventually become a formal project.
Small and medium businesses in Japan constitute a
treasure house of technology, and this theme of stimulating their communication infrastructure, thoughperhaps not as grand as other national projects, is anextremely important issue for Japan.

Forming alliances with non-technicalexperts: The key to success—What are some key issues in projects that are now
underway?
The examples that I have presented to you may
Vol. 3 No. 9 Sep. 2005

appear to be services having no direct relationship toeach other. But they have two key elements in common. One is that they all use broadband networks.
The other, which I feel is very significant, is that they
all have a non-technical aspect. In the music-searchservice, for example, we are working together withsong writers and composers to commercialize ourtechnology; in the senior-citizen services, we areworking with organizations for doctors and professionals that conduct research on care prevention. I
believe that establishing connections with the management of related enterprises and groups will be an
important factor in the success of our service platforms. Since user reaction to our new services is
unknown at this time, we are still in the process ofdetermining what direction to take while developing
these services. Our work therefore presents us withall kinds of challenges. Whether or not we succeed in
the end will depend on actual results, but we think itbest to get a number of projects moving.
—How do you see the work of your commercialization team developing in the future?
At present, we are developing several categories ofservice platforms as I explained earlier, but in the9

R&D Spirits

future, all of the services I have been talking about
should be integrated on a single platform. For example, the video-communication system that we plan toprovide for senior-citizen services could be installed
in ordinary households and be connected to home
network services. In particular, it should be possible
to provide remote monitoring of household conditions in the case of elderly persons living by themselves. Although “Mimamori” services (remote monitoring services for elderly persons) are available inJapan to provide unilateral monitoring of the activities of elderly persons, by automatically reportingwhen they use a tea-server for example, we believe it
is important to respect the privacy and lifestyle of theelderly people. Remote-control functions for gas andelectricity may also be necessary, and they could beachieved through broadband-mobile services. Of
course, a lot more testing and evaluation is needed tomake such intricate services practical, and to this end,
it is essential that we form partnerships with enterprises outside the NTT Group. While we are not yetat that stage, I think that the proper direction for us totake in this regard will reveal itself in time.
—Dr. Kakizaki, what research theme interests you themost?
Right now, I would say information distribution centered about video communications. At present, thevideo carried by broadband networks consists mostlyof television programs and movies. But I think thetime is not far off when companies and local governments will be exchanging information by broadband
means as a matter of course. This is why I am interested in ways of making use of video communications
for business purposes. In fact, there is already a securities firm that has set up a studio on company premises to disseminate information by daily live broadcasts,
and there is an airline company that is providing morethan 500 items of content by broadband video. This
information may flow over dedicated channels, via theInternet, or even by satellite broadcasts, and there is no
reason to believe that it will not flow via cell phones in
the future. In a similar way, we ourselves are setting up
an environment with our own video channels for sharing content. I believe this trend will only accelerate in
the years to come and even expand to the individuallevel. But for that to happen, we will need to constructa service platform that is secure and easy to use fromboth the corporate and individual viewpoints. I am
personally interested in creating such a system.

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Focusing on areas ignored by others anddeveloping “sleeping” assets—What research themes have you personally worked
on up to now?
During my university days, I researched fluid-control devices. Then, after entering NTT, I was first
involved in the development of a head-positioning
mechanism for large-capacity magnetic disks. In
1987, I had the opportunity to spend one year at MIT
as a guest researcher working on the modeling ofrobot dynamics. On returning to Japan, I was
assigned to the research and development of genuine
intelligent robots. It was here that I worked on thedevelopment of a high-speed, path-tracking robot
system with optical sensors for automobile production lines that eventually evolved into a robotic welding system.
In 1990, I entered NTT Human Interface Laboratories and undertook the development of a wearable
computer system for on-site use in the productionindustry as part of NTT’s multimedia research program. At that time, there was much research on multimedia for entertainment purposes especially in theform of music and video. It occurred to me that multimedia might prove extremely useful on the production floor as well, so based on the concept of “field
multimedia,” I began work on the development of ahands-free wearable computer system that could be
used in the installation of communication facilities.
Unfortunately, this system was ahead of its time andnever reached a practical stage.
Next, in 1999, I became manager of the business
innovation project at NTT Cyber Solutions Laboratories. The role I played here was quite similar to mypresent work as a chief executive producer. In particular, I promoted R&D results in totally new ways
such as by establishing an “open room” for introducing our technology to companies and issuing the laboratories’ first R&D e-mail newsletter. I was also
instrumental in launching a corporate broadband
broadcasting system for a major airline as a new trialof optical network services. Finally, after obtainingsome business experience at NTT IT, I took on mypresent position in August of last year.
—What have your experiences in research prompted
you to pursue?
I like to use broadband technology in a new field that
others have ignored. Or to put it another way, I have a
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R&D Spirits

single-minded desire to develop “sleeping” assets thatno one has thought of in a field that I can excel in. But
with that as a starting point, many challenges havecome my way, and it has become clear to me that thiskind of pursuit is never going to be simple. Nevertheless, I don’t like to quit something once I have started,and in a somewhat masochistic way, I continued with
my R&D efforts here. At long last, high-speed connection services like ADSL and B-FLET’S have provided me with a favorable wind and I feel that some of
my work is beginning to materialize.
—Have you been involved in any overseas activities?
What kind of response has your research received?
Well, I’ve been away from actual research for awhile, but my last presentation at an international
conference was on wearable computing, and I mustsay it was well received. But unfortunately, I cannot
say that NTT Laboratories was well known to theaudience. Of course, everyone knew NTT as Japan’s
flagship carrier, but no one seemed to know that NTT
Laboratories was involved in a wide range of
research. When I presented our far-reaching R&D
results on wearable computing and peripheral multimedia and communication systems, many people
expressed surprise saying things like “NTT is doing
things like this?” This response generated mixed feelings in me. On the one hand, it reminded me of NTT’s
comprehensive power, and on the other hand, it mademe realize that NTT Laboratories was not well known
despite its great research prowess. I became keenly
aware that NTT must strive to make itself better
known to the world at large.
—Has there been any collaboration with overseas
research institutions or companies?
No, not really, because most of the development
themes that we have been working on so far havebeen of a domestic nature. However, I think this isabout to change. For example, there is talk of expanding our content-aggregation music-search service inAsia. And since there is already a global market forhome appliances, it is imperative that we began cooperating with international standardization organizations and overseas carriers on the development ofhome network services. At any rate, expanding into
international markets means that both collaborationand competition are bound to increase, and we cansee many challenges arising.

Vol. 3 No. 9 Sep. 2005

Using broadband to make “hidden”
knowledge a shared asset—Dr. Kakizaki, could you tell us something about
your future aspirations?
First, in terms of content aggregations, I would liketo give birth to services covering the entire NTT
Group as soon as possible. I would also like to start
expanding overseas in this area in the near future.
Next, with regard to senior-citizen services, I hopethat we can take our proposed service from a trial
stage to a genuine service sometime in this fiscal year.
And as for broadband-mobile services, I would like tolaunch, as soon as possible, a service that draws upon
the synergy generated by the optical services of NTT
East, NTT West, and NTT Communications and themobile services of NTT DoCoMo. For the medium
term, our goal in this area is to set up “triangle services” between optical broadband, mobile communication, and a service portal. The idea here is to provide seamless services combining optics, mobile
communication, and a portal that accommodate differences in the way that information flows and provide a common platform for all kinds of work. Of
course, the companies involved will have to makesome adjustments for this to work, and this project is
not something that I can accomplish by myself. But I
think that all of us together should be able to come up
with a robust framework for triangle services.
—What is your ultimate desire as an engineer or
researcher/developer?
That would be to create a mechanism that can open
up the knowledge possessed by various kinds of people to everyone by broadband means. There are many
people throughout the world that possess valuableknowledge, but there are few people that can convey
their knowledge through television, writing, or otherpopular media. Most people simply do not have aforum for presenting their knowledge. I therefore
think that broadband technologies, if used in the rightway, should make it possible for anyone to disseminate their knowledge to the world, and that the use of
feedback should make the process even more efficient. I would like to help create such a mechanism.
Although I am still at the conceptual stage and have
yet to formulate a specific methodology, I know thatthe most logical approach will come to me if I develop a clear image of this service. I can already sensethat this will involve many problems and difficulties,
11R&D Spirits

but I am ready to take up this challenge with the helpof a great network of colleagues that I have access toin my daily work.
—What is it like working at NTT Laboratories in yourpersonal opinion?
First, NTT Laboratories taught me how to devote
myself to my work. I wasn’t a very serious student at
school, but in the first few years after entering NTT
Laboratories, I studied several times as much as I had
ever studied during my school days. In fact, whenever I could not concentrate at work for whatever reason, I would take a day off and simply work in myroom at the dormitory. Just immersing myself in thisway helped me to realize what a joy learning can be.
Second, NTT Laboratories is a place where many
people serve as role models for other researchers. It isa place where a surprisingly large number of brilliant
people are gathered. I myself learned much fromobserving these people. Whenever I have people
working under me, I tell them “Find a good mentor
fast and emulate whatever they do!” Emulating evensmall things like the mind-set of that person, or theway that he or she takes notes or makes presentations,should improve your own self-confidence and help
you to develop your own style in time. This, I believe,
is one of the great traditions at NTT Laboratories.

—Dr. Kakizaki, could you leave us with a message foryoung researchers?
I would be happy to. Though this may sound a bittrite, I want you to make time to devote yourself toonly one thing, to think only about that subject.
Whether that be for only one hour or ten days at atime, you will one day feel the joy of having a sudden
flash of understanding. And once you feel that, youwill make a habit of immersing yourself in something. Even if it concerns only a trivial matter, yourself-confidence will grow. In short, it’s very important that you try devoting yourself completely to one
thing, whether it’s something that you like or detest.
In addition, I would like you to go abroad as muchas possible. Performing research overseas is a kind of
do-or-die situation. You must take up the challenge oflearning new things in an unfamiliar environment,
and you will find that you have no choice but to go for
it. Simply put, an unfamiliar environment brings withit many new stimuli that can actually act as a breathof fresh air in your life. You should therefore takeadvantage of any chance you might have of working
overseas, and if no opportunity is provided, you
should take it upon yourself to create that possibility
in some way. You will always benefit from overseas
experience!
Reference[1]12

http://mobile.goo.ne.jp/melody/ (in Japanese).

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Interviewee profile■ Career highlights
Takao Kakizaki received the D.Eng. degree from the
Graduate School of Engineering of Tohoku University in 1979 and entered Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation the same year. He has performed research at NTT Musashino Electrical Communication Laboratory and NTT Human Interface
Laboratories and has held various key positions
including head of the planning department at NTT
Cyber Solutions Laboratories and company director
and manager of the video communications division at
NTT IT Corporation.
During his time at these laboratories, he worked in
the development of large-capacity, high-speed magnetic disk storage systems, research on mechanism
modeling methods incorporating elasticity, development of a high-speed path-tracking robot system with
optical sensors for automobile production lines, R&D
of “field multimedia” and remote maintenance for
manufacturing areas applicable to wearable computers, development of new businesses using the broadband Internet, and promotion of the JALTV project,which can be called Japan’s first corporate broadband
broadcasting system.
He is currently heading the commercialization ofservices and creation of new businesses based on
R&D results in info-communication technology. His
aim is to create added value in a wide range of fields
from the corporate to the consumer with an emphasison broadband and ubiquitous functions. He is specifically engaged in the development and commercialization of broadband-mobile services, life-support ser-Vol. 3 No. 9 Sep. 2005

vices employing video communications, content distribution using metadata, and personalized e-commerce services. He is also working on an extensive
next-generation vision that includes remote manufacturing and the means of realizing that vision.
■ Major academic society functions• Specialist Investigator, Science and Technology
Specialist Network, National Institute of Scienceand Technology Policy, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology• Trustee, Manufacturing Science and Technology
Center• Chairman, FA Open Systems Promotion Forum(FAOP)• Adjunct instructor, Tokyo University of Agriculture
and Technology; adjunct instructor, Akita University• Director, Robotics Society of Japan; member of various academic societies• Fellow, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers• Guest researcher in the Mechanical Engineering
Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), 1987-1988• Participant, Strategic Marketing Course, Graduate
School of Business, University of Chicago (Chicago
GSB), 1997
■ Publications (as coauthor)“Design Technology of Ultra-precise Systems,”“Integrated CAD/CAM Systems,” “Wearable Information Devices,” and “21st Century Mobile andWearable Devices” (all in Japanese) plus various magazine articles, technical papers, and domestic andinternational patents.

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