February 2020 Vol. 18 No. 2

View from the Top

• Tsuyoshi Kitani, Executive Vice President and Director, Head of Technology and Innovation General Headquarters, NTT DATA

  

  Overview
  NTT DATA ranked ninth in “Brand Finance IT Services 15 2019” published by Brand Finance in 2019, showing its brand value to the world. The company is striving to expand its business globally across 53 countries. We asked Tsuyoshi Kitani, NTT DATA executive vice president and director, about the medium-term management plan announced in May 2019 and his attitude toward work.

Front-line Researchers

• Junji Watanabe, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Communication Science Laboratories; NTT Service Evolution Laboratories (Concurrent)

  

  Overview
  The rapid advancement in digital technology, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, is changing the way society works, including the way we work. In Japan, a “super-aging” society, it is said that the population will decline to about 110 million in 2040, and the population over the age of 65 will reach about 30% of the total; in other words, an unprecedented population structure is expected. In such a situation, how will technology affect our lives? We asked Junji Watanabe, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Communication Science Laboratories, who conducts research on tactile information technology and nonverbal communication, about our well-being and his initiatives to improve it.

Feature Articles: Keynote Lectures at NTT R&D Forum 2019

• Jun Sawada, President and Chief Executive Officer, NTT

  

  Overview
  This article presents a lecture given by Jun Sawada, NTT President and Chief Executive Officer, at NTT R&D Forum 2019 held on November 14th and 15th, 2019. The lecture introduced the concept of the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), which was announced by the NTT Group in 2019.

• Katsuhiko Kawazoe, Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Development Planning Department, NTT

  

  Overview
  This article presents a lecture presented by Katsuhiko Kawazoe, NTT Senior Vice President, Head of Research and Development Planning Department, at NTT R&D Forum 2019 held on November 14th and 15th, 2019. The lecture introduced NTT’s latest research and development activities, focusing on Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN).

IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network)

• Initiatives to Achieve the IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) Concept

  

  Abstract
  NTT proposed the IOWN ( Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) concept, which is a future communication infrastructure that uses leading-edge optical and information processing technologies to create a smart world. Beyond the limits of existing infrastructure, it will also enable the creation of an affluent and diverse society. Together with Intel and Sony, NTT established the IOWN Global Forum to promote IOWN jointly with partners from various industries who have extensive knowledge and insight.

Regular Articles

• Self-folded Three-dimensional Graphene for Biointerfaces

  

  Abstract
  Three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based electrodes have been gaining much interest regarding applications in flexible electronics and biointerfaces. We propose a simple method of transforming two-dimensional (2D) monolayer graphene into 3D structures that interface with biological samples. We found that the transferred monolayer graphene tightly adheres to the polymer surface via π-π stacking forces, resulting in the spontaneous folding of graphene/polymer bilayers (self-folding). Owing to the high biocompatibility of the materials and self-folding procedures, the self-folded bilayer films provide a hollow and non-toxic environment to encapsulate and culture cells. The cells embedded in the rolled-up architectures spontaneously form cellular 3D constructs with the intrinsic morphologies and functions of living tissues. For instance, we demonstrate that neuronal constructs with 3D geometry contribute to the construction of brain-like functional tissues such as functional integration with surrounding neuronal networks via their extended axons. Our method can be used to potentially provide 3D biointerfaces necessary for the reconstruction and assembly of functional tissues and implantable tissue grafts.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report Fourth ITU-T Telecomonmunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) Meeting

  

  Abstract
  The fourth meeting of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) of the International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) was held on September 22–26, 2019 at the ITU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It was attended by approximately 140 delegates from 38 countries. This article introduces the proceedings of the meeting.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• A New Method for Repairing Steel Lifting Conduits

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces a simple and low-cost repair method applied to damaged lifting conduits and presents the results of its technical verification. This is the fifty-sixth article in a series on telecommunication technologies.

Information

• Report on NTT R&D Forum 2019

  

  Abstract
  NTT R&D Forum 2019 was held at the NTT Musashino Research and Development Center on November 11–15, 2019 (November 11 and 12 were set aside solely for the press and NTT Group employees). This article provides an overall of the forum.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings