Oki 2009 Annual Report Download - page 18

16 Annual Report 2009
Research and Development
Aiming to Contribute to Society through the Development of Advanced Technology
Ubiquitous Services—“to enable users to obtain information, products and services wherever, whenever and with whatever in
their desired format at their fingertips”—continue to expand as the e-Society*1evolves. OKI supports the development of this
e-Society by pushing the boundaries of R&D in five specific areas to provide leading Ubiquitous Services.
Green IT Awards 2008
Commendation Ceremony
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OKI Receives the Jury’s Special Award of the Green IT Awards 2008
OKI’s energy-saving system for store outlets received the Jury’s Special Award in the “IT-Based Energy
Saving in Society category” of the Green IT Awards 2008 sponsored by the Green IT Promotion Council. This
system consolidates data collected by wireless sensor networks both inside and outside of store outlets and
integrates system control functions by means of context awareness technology to efficiently achieve energy
savings. This award-winning technology has gained recognition owing to OKI’s energy conservation
measures at each store outlet in the actual store network as well as easier data collection and management
at the store headquarters with regard to environment and energy usage at all store outlets. In addition,
wider application of the system to facilities other than store outlets helped OKI earn high evaluations.
Five Areas of Technological Development in Provision of Ubiquitous Services
Ubiquitous Networks
Technology that provides individuals with freedom of activity,
anytime and anywhere. Centering on the development of
technologies for next-generation networks (NGNs), OKI also
engages in the development of wireless multihop communication
technology using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology
that can be applied to sensor networks, as well as inter-vehicle
communications technologies that can be applied in the
intelligent transport system (ITS).
Service Platforms
OKI is developing technologies in such areas as context
awareness*2and mobile security in addition to technologies
relating to SaaS*3/ cloud computing, based on servers and
mobile terminals to contribute to the establishment of a service
platform technology that facilitates the effective and efficient
provision of Ubiquitous Services.
Human Media
OKI engages in the development of technologies encompassing
highly-realistic communications system that utilize data collected
by sensors in addition to audio and visual data; sound source
separation technology to pick up specific speakers’ voices; and
face detection technology to provide user-friendly interfaces.
Ubiquitous Module
OKI is bolstering the development of e-Functional module
technologies, which include component-embedded substrates and
high-density mounting. At the same time, OKI is leveraging these
technologies to develop energy harvesting technology*4and low
power consumption wireless communications technology.
Mechatronics
OKI continues to upgrade its printing technology and ATM-related
technologies for overseas markets, while enhancing technologies
related to eco-friendly, energy-saving, security and universal
design features / products that bring higher customer value. In
addition, OKI is aiming to create new values applying robotic
technologies.
OKI maximizes efficiency in its R&D efforts by delegating basic research
functions to its Corporate Research and Development Center and
entrusting product development to the development departments of
each business division. Also, by promoting technological exchange
between business divisions, OKI is accelerating the creation of new
technologies and businesses. Research at the level of elemental
technology development is promoted through business-academia
collaborations.
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*1 e-Society: A wide range of information is being exchanged beyond time and space over global networks. This breaks down the boundaries among countries,
regions and cultures, enabling individuals to engage in various social activities in an impartial, secure way.
*2 Context awareness technology: Technology by which computers actively gather and process information relating to user situations and perform situation-
specific operations.
*3 SaaS: Software as a Service
*4 Energy harvesting technology: A technology for driving electrical components without primary batteries or external power sources, instead converting energy,
such as heat, light and vibration, found in surrounding environments into electricity.