systems using cell phones and technologies for preventing the harmful effects of visual images on humans.

## (8) Promoting R&D of Natural Vision

R&D of Natural Vision, which is nearly able to reproduce the real colors, texture, 3D appearance, and shine of actual objects based on multiple primary colors exceeding the conventional RGB, has been carried out in the TAO since fiscal 1999 as development of an unprecedented, novel image technology. Since Natural Vision is not only a pioneering technology that will bring science and technology to a higher level, but it is also widely applicable in fields of new service needs, such as remote medical care, e-commerce, and digital archiving, the achievements of this R&D are awaited with high expectations. The elemental technologies for Natural Vision for still images have mostly been established, and prototype systems for textile e-commerce and pathologic diagnosis systems have been created using the technology. The TAO is presently in the phase of conducting experiments for evaluation toward practical application.

## (9) R&D of stratospheric platforms

Stratospheric platforms enable the usage of ultra high-speed Internet and multimedia mobile communications anywhere in Japan with the help of automatically operated airships equipped with communications devices suspended in the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 km from the ground in relatively favorable weather. As a consequence, such platforms have garnered much attention as a new form of information and communications infrastructure. Since they can also be used for ground observation by mounting an observation sensor and are open to many other purposes, their wide application is anticipated. Thus, the MPHPT and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) have jointly conducted R&D since fiscal 1998 in cooperation with industry and universities, with the goal of realizing such stratospheric platforms at an early stage. To be more specific, the MPHPT has been responsible for R&D of the communications and broadcasting mission and the tracking control system technology, and conducts the R&D under the direct authority of the TAO.

## (10) Advances in space communications

Space communications have many favorable features such as the capability of providing consistent communications throughout the nation, the simultaneous broadcasting capability, and being disaster-proof in nature, and as a result, they have been widely used in areas such as communications, broadcasting, and positioning technology. Considering the role the space communications should play in the information and communications infrastructure, which will be rapidly developed and advanced in the future, the MPHPT promotes development of various demonstrative satellites and satellite experiments as follows for realizing the space communications that will be required in the future: [1] R&D of the Engineering Test Satellite VIII; [2] R&D of ultra high-speed Internet satellites; [3] R&D of the quasi-zenithal satellite; and [4] R&D of the global precipitation measurement (GPM) initiative.

## (11) R&D of information and communications technologies for practical application of the next-generation geographic information system (GIS)

A 3D GIS is able to precisely reproduce the landscape of densely built buildings in an urban area on a monitor screen by achieving 3D analysis of geographic information and additionally using urban landscape information. This system is expected to allow people to conduct landscape simulation for city planning and build a disaster information system more effectively. The MPHPT conducted “R&D on information and communications technology for establishment of GIS” toward realizing the 3D GIS from fiscal 1999 to fiscal 2002, and formulated the “Technical Guidelines for 3D GIS” and the “Data Guidelines for 3D GIS.”