Advanced interaction technologies within networked intelligent information environment

 Artificial intelligence and technology for big data analysis have been widely been used, and the Internet of things (IoT) has pervaded all areas of life, allowing for the information space and real society to merge. Given this situation, a "super smart society" is expected to emerge, in which every person takes for granted the receiving of optimum, high-quality services, shows his/her abilities, and enjoys a comfortable life.

 This research area aims to use various approaches, including information science and technology, to create new methods for augmenting human ability that will contribute to promoting interactions in various situations, such as those between a person and a person, a person and a machine, a person and the information environment, and a person and the real global environment. It furthermore aims to create technologies that will enable high-level harmony between a person and the environment, as well as to deepen our understanding of interaction. More specifically, this research area covers all aspects of information science and technology, including human-computer interaction, virtual/augmented reality, human augmentation, cooperation/merger between humans and AI, telepresence, wearable computing, communications technology, the smart environment, high-level sensing, and digital fabrication. The research collaborates with such related academic fields as cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience, which have a focus on these technologies, to promote future-oriented research and development for supporting, understanding, and utilizing interaction.

 Interaction technology can be used to deepen mutual understanding between people, support individuals’ natural behaviors in accordance with their various lifestyles and abilities, and contribute to building a society that allows everyone to enjoy the full extent of the benefits of rapidly progressing artificial intelligence, IoT, and so on.

 This research forms a part of the artificial intelligence/big data/IoT/cyber security integration (AIP) project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.