JVC 2013 Annual Report Download - page 25

In recent years, the number of children with developmental disorder characteristics has
been increasing, and they are said to amount to as many as 10% of all children. Autism
and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are developmental disorders that emerge by the
time a child is three years old, and are characterized by difficulties in social interaction
and communication, as well as limited interest and behavior. If the detection of these
symptoms is delayed, it is highly likely that the childʼs social life will be seriously be
impeded. However, it is known that the early detection of these disorders as well as
care and education will improve the social prognosis of such children.
Making good use of the imaging technologies JVCKENWOOD has cultivated to
date, the Company has been engaging in the development of a system to support
developmental disorder diagnosis, called “GazeFinder,” which employs a method of
detecting visual fixation points, jointly with the United Graduate School of Child
Development, Graduate School of Osaka University, Osaka University; Kanazawa
University; Hamamatsu University School of Medicine; Chiba University; the University of
Fukui; and Child Developmental Science Research, a general incorporated association.
This joint development has been adopted in the Implementation-Support Program of the
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), an independent administrative institution.
“GazeFinder,” a system to aid diagnosis, is composed of a stereo camera, a
monitor and specially designed image content, and can quickly analyze the possibility
of an examinee having a developmental disorder by detecting where the examineeʼs
visual fixation points are located when they are watching provided images. It can not
only quickly detect the possibility of an examinee having a developmental disorder by
having the examinee look at specially designed images, but also identify an examineeʼs development characteristics from the
infant period by using objective indicators, making it possible to find any disorder at an early stage.
“GazeFinder,” a System to Support Developmental Disorder Diagnosis that Uses a Method to Detect Visual Fixation Points
“PKT-03” UHF FM Transceiver, a Community-based Radio System for India
To enhance its initiatives in emerging markets that continue to demonstrate tremendous
growth, JVCKENWOOD is accelerating business expansion in emerging markets which
have ample room for growth, by pushing forward with the market launch of special
products that match the needs of each region, and reinforcing sales systems employing
innovative new manufacturing from the perspectives of emerging countries.
With regard to land mobile radio equipment, one of its mainstay products,
JVCKENWOOD conducted a thorough field study on lifestyles and the environment in
which radio equipment is used in India, in a bid to tap the Indian market. Focusing on
the growing popularization of cellular phones and the daily occurrence of power failures
resulting from power shortages, we developed the “PKT-03” UHF FM transceiver
equipped with a USB terminal to enable users to charge the transceiver using cellular
phone chargers as well as a flashlight function using a high-intensity white LED to allow
users to confirm their surroundings in case of a sudden power failure.
Since employees of large commercial facilities and restaurants, the main target
customers of the transceiver, either do not have their shirts tucked in, or wear national costumes, including saris, which have
no belt loops, JVCKENWOOD relentlessly reduced the weight and size of the transceiver so that they can be easily placed in
pockets or hung from the neck using a strap.
With its success in India, a great nation in South Asia with a population of over 1.2 billion, JVCKENWOOD will continue
to focus on development in emerging countries by equipping its products with functions that match the characteristics of
the regions in which they are sold.
This system employs the sight-line detection
technique invented by Yoshinobu Ebisawa,
Professor at the Faculty of Engineering in
Shizuoka University.
Determining fixation points
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JVC KENWOOD Corporation
Research and Development Activities