cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Jacobson) (03/14/91)
JAPAN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ASSOCIATION (JTTAS) JTTAS was founded in 1966 as a non-profit organization authorized by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry's Agency of Industrial Science and technology. It's basic goal is to support and promote international cooperation in the fields of education, science, and technology through a variety of international programs. JTTAS is operated on the basic belief that as the 21st century approaches, world peace and solidarity should be founded on intellectual and economic cooperation of all nations; hence the need for educational, scientific and technical knowledge to be shared and jointly developed for the benefit of all. Japan, as a world economic power, has a responsibility to play an active role in the transfer and exchange of technology. JTTAS plans to help fulfil this national task by successfully pursuing three major tasks as outlined below, based on the concept of industry-government-academic collaboration. MAJOR PROGRAMS Technical Committees To date there are 80 technical committees performing research and development, technology transfer, and related activities in a variety of industrial fields. Committee membership includes many leading figures from Japanese industry, government and academic institutions. Technology Transfer Specialist (TTS) Programs JTTAS serves as a center for the movement of specialists and experts to other countries in order to transfer technological and management expertise as required. We operate a training center for the TTS programs, maintain a TTS database information center, and provide information on job opportunities for engineers through "techno face" cards. International Research and Exchange Programs JTTAS organizes international technical forums and study missions on scientific and high technology subjects. OTHER PROGRAMS International Exchange of Young Scientists and Engineers Scholarships are offered to students and newly-employed for study overseas in science and technology. International forums are also held to promote an exchange of ideas among young scientists and engineers from different nations and industries. Research & Surveys We conduct research and surveys consigned by government agencies and public/private bodies in Japan and abroad. Instruction service is also available. Symposiums, Forums, and Seminars on High Technology Symposiums, forums and seminars are organized in Japan and other countries to introduce our research achievements and to exchange information on high technology. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON ARTIFICIAL REALITY AND TELE-EXISTENCE Objective We have recently witnessed the birth of the concept of artificial reality and tele-existence and the rush to put them into practical use. It has become possible to input human actions into the computer, and to create the sense that one is actually part of the computer graphic. Such technology is nearing fruition, and it will allow you to experience the real time sensation of actually being at a remote site controlling robots, making them do anything you want them to do. The application of artificial reality is expected to open up new worlds that, at present, are difficult to imagine; a world in which you can touch with your own hands products that have yet to be manufactured, a world in which you can walk through a house that is still in the design stage, and a world in which you can put together molecules by hand. Through the employment of tele- existence, dangerous and physically demanding operations which formerly could not be done without the direct physical involvement of human beings will now be performed by robots. A person can experience a variety of situations by freely existing in any environment he so chooses, without leaving the place where he is. Until this technology is fully realized, research into artificial reality and tele-existence will be carried out by first combining and then freely using robotics, computer sciences, three dimensional image processing, neuro-computing, human physiological engineering, psychological engineering, psychological physics, and cognition sciences, based on such technologies as measurement control technology, electronics, communication, information processing and mechantronics. Therefore, this technology is not only advanced, but also requires a high degree of interdisciplinary functionalism and pioneering capabilities. It is vital to grasp precise technological trends in the fields involved in Japan, and at the same time keep them at the highest world standards. With such trends in sight, this committee should quickly and accurately understand the present situation, both in Japan and overseas, concerning research and development in high technology to the rapidly advancing fields of artificial reality and tele-existence. At the same time, the committee must clarify the design method by extracting basic technology and the systemizing that technology. The committee also proposes a practical concept of artificial reality, by lining up the problems that are involved in the application and employment of the technology for each field of application. And the committee will point out important developing issues and study them; in accordance with benefits for humans and society, the committee will closely indicate directions in which artificial reality and tele-existence should proceed in the future. And these systems' methods of utilization, site of utilization, development of environment, and method of popularization will all be studied through the exchange of opinions between industrial and academic sectors. Furthermore, through discussions among public, private and academic sectors on how to proceed with research in the field and plans to create new industrial fields with artificial reality and tele-existence, the committee will aim at contributing to the promotion of technology in these fields in Japan. Study Points (1) Artificial Reality/Virtual Reality (2) Implementation of Virtual Space (3) Real-Time Computer Simulation (4) Tele-Existence/Telepresence (5) Communication with Realistic Sensation (6) Intelligent CAD and IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing System) (7) 3D Visual and Auditory Display (8) Anthropomorphic Intelligent Robots (9) Tactile and Force Displays (10) Others Activities (1) Symposiums, forums, seminars, and industrial visits (2) Research and surveys assigned by this committee (3) Proposition to government agencies (4) Collection and analysis of domestic and international and technical data (5) Domestic and international study/exchange activities (6) Joint research activities with other research institutions (7) Others (activities, programs)