November 2020 Vol. 18 No. 11

View from the Top

• Yoshihiro Kuroda, President, NTT InfraNet

  

  Overview
  In 2019, NTT InfraNet celebrated its 20th anniversary. Based on its original mission of providing total management solutions for infrastructure facility operations, the company is reshaping its business to accord with the current times and undertaking initiatives such as responding to natural disasters, reforming work style by improving productivity and efficiency, and solving social issues. We asked Yoshihiro Kuroda, President of NTT InfraNet, about his leadership style and smart infrastructure management solutions that use the technological capabilities required of telecommunication infrastructure professionals.

Front-line Researchers

• Takahiro Kawabe, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Overview
  Many people would be surprised if they looked at a poster or signboard that they thought was a still image but was in fact moving. NTT Communication Science Laboratories is conducting research to acquire a scientific understanding of human sensory-information processing. Research on visual illusions has made it possible to develop an information-presentation technique that provides a unique and eye-catching experience that had not existed before. We asked Takahiro Kawabe, a senior distinguished researcher at NTT Communication Science Laboratories, who is engaged in this research, about the current progress of his research and his attitude as a researcher.

Feature Articles: Approaching and Exceeding Human Abilities with Artificial Intelligence and Brain Science

• I Want to Learn More about You: Getting Closer to Humans with AI and Brain Science

  

  Abstract
  NTT Communication Science Laboratories aims to achieve communication that reaches the heart by pursuing innovative technologies that approach and exceed human abilities such as media processing, data analysis, and machine learning as well as studying cognitive neuroscience and brain science for obtaining a deeper understanding of people. It also aims to deliver concrete results to society through collaboration with its business partners. This article introduces the efforts to achieve these aims.

• Towards Understanding Human Skin Sensations

  

  Abstract
  Human fingertips are amazingly sensitive. They can easily detect a single strand of hair that has fallen onto a desktop and distinguish between metal surfaces that have been polished to different degrees. Our group uses perceptual psychology methods to study tactile sensory mechanisms. This article introduces tactile illusions that illustrate how the tactile sensory system processes information and provides stable perception. This line of research is expected to yield efficient information-presentation techniques.

• Brain-information Processing for Quick and Stable Human Movements—Stretch-reflex Regulation Based on Visually Updated Body Representation

  

  Abstract
  From the extraordinary performances of athletes to our most common everyday actions, human body movements are heavily governed by unconscious and automatic information processing of sensory-motor flow, some of which is known as a reflex. Our resent research has demonstrated that the brain flexibly regulates stretch reflexes, using body information shaped by integrating multiple sensory cues, including vision. This finding suggests that there is sophisticated brain processing underlying reflex control, in contrast to the classical view of reflexes as simple and primitive.

• Communication with Desired Voice

  

  Abstract
  We convey/understand our intentions/feelings through speech. We also change the impression we want others to have of us by controlling our voice, including intonation, speaking characteristics, and rhythm. Unfortunately, the types of voice and voice controllability an individual can generate are limited. In this article, we introduce the challenges with conventional voice-conversion techniques and introduce improved voice conversion techniques with the following question in mind, “What can be done when the voice is combined with deep learning, which has been advancing in recent years?” Finally, we look at the future of deep learning and speech generation and conversion.

• Quantum Information Processing via Indirect Quantum Control

  

  Abstract
  Quantum information processing will enable us to solve problems that conventional computers cannot or provide informationally secure cryptography. However, there are still difficulties in achieving quantum information processing. This article introduces indirect quantum control as one method to overcome these difficulties and shows that indirect quantum control has excellent properties for achieving quantum information processing.

• Measuring Textual Difficulty—Estimating Text Readability and a Person’s Vocabulary Size

  

  Abstract
  Whether it feels difficult or easy to read text depends on both the readability of that text and the amount of knowledge possessed by the reader. If text readability and the amount of knowledge of the reader (vocabulary size) can be easily and accurately estimated to automatically estimate the difficulty of text, it should be possible to recommend text having a suitable level of difficulty, thereby support the learning process. This article introduces methods we, NTT Communication Science Laboratories, devised for estimating text readability and vocabulary size.

Regular Articles

• Prediction of Hydrogen Embrittlement of Reinforcing Steel Bars in Concrete Poles

  

  Abstract
  Concrete poles are key components of the infrastructure facilities that support telecommunication services. Although the reinforcing steel bars in concrete poles rarely deteriorate under normal operating conditions, the combination of various adverse conditions may lead to hydrogen embrittlement. To enable safer and more economical maintenance of concrete poles, we have been investigating how to predict hydrogen embrittlement of reinforcing steel bars in concrete poles by means of accelerated tests to determine how tensile stress, hydrogen content on the surface of the reinforcing steel bars, and temperature affect the fracture probability and time to fracture. This article presents an overview of the technology for predicting hydrogen embrittlement, including the evaluation results of fracture probability, time to fracture, and their prediction accuracies.

• Technology for Understanding Service Impact Using Network Resource Management Technology that Is Independent of Network Type

  

  Abstract
  In large-scale and diverse networks of telecommunications carriers, it is difficult to quickly understand the effects on communication services due to damaged communications buildings and cables. NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories is researching and developing network resource management technology that enables unified management of various networks. In this article, we introduce technology for understanding service impact during a large-scale disaster using this network resource management technology.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization Trends in 3GPP Related to IP Interconnect Specifications

  

  Abstract
  NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories has been working over a decade on the standardization of the specifications of migrating from public switched telephone networks to Internet protocol (IP) networks and inter-operator IP interconnection of telephone services due to the expanding use of voice over IP. Thanks to this effort, IP interconnection in Japan will start in 2021. In this article, we describe the trends and NTT’s activities in international and domestic standardization of IP interconnection.

Information

• Event Report: NTT Communication Science Laboratories Open House 2020

  

  Abstract
  NTT Communication Science Laboratories Open House 2020 was held online, the content of which was published on the Open House 2020 web page at noon on June 4^th, 2020. Within the first two days, around 2000 visitors enjoyed 5 talks and 31 exhibits, which included our latest research efforts in information and human sciences.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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