News

  Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6770; President & CEO: Toshihiro Kuriyama) has conducted demonstration testing of “HITO Connection Technology” a new form of communication system currently under development that aims to provide a sense of immersion and inspire feelings of togetherness during live online streaming of sports, entertainment and other events. Alps Alpine jointly carried out the testing with Tokyo University of Science (TUS). On September 21, HITO Connection Technology was deployed for a live performance by professional singer Mayumi Gojo¹ during the Tokyo University of Science Festival. Interaction with a remote audience was examined to verify the system’s usability and to identify outstanding issues and other potential needs before accelerating the commercialization process with a view to a launch sometime in 2022.

  Today, a growing number of sports, entertainment and other events are being held in empty stadiums or venues to prevent transmission of novel coronavirus COVID-19. Some are streamed over the Internet in real time. The spread of 5G technology, too, will enable fast, high-capacity communication and mass connectivity, giving rise to new types of value for online participation in live events, such as multi-angle viewing and other new experiences, like the use of extended reality (XR)² devices. The needs are expected to keep expanding.

  At the same time, holding events online dilutes the immersive aspect of the experience that actually being there delivers through lighting, sound and other tools available only at venues, as well as the sense of togetherness that comes from occupying the same space as artists, sportspeople and all others present. It is therefore not possible to fully experience the exhilaration and emotion you might otherwise gain from gathering at a venue. Many artists and sportspeople have themselves claimed their performance has been somewhat affected by the lack of a cheering and reacting audience. For people to enjoy sports and entertainment in the new normal, along with the accompanying excitement, systems need to be put in place to enable interactive communication between participants and performers, players and others taking part even when the events are held online.

  Alps Alpine started developing the HITO Connection Technology to resolve these issues. Our aim, through deployment of the system, is to foster among those participating in online live events a sense of immersion, as if they were actually there, and a sense of togetherness. Samples currently under development consist of a cylindrical device incorporating input technology – an accelerometer and a switch – and output technology – Alps Alpine HAPTIC™ a vibrational feedback device and a LED light. As participants view a live performance, they press the switches on the device or wave it around according to instructions from the artist or other performers. Data on those actions is stored on a server system and can be used to make changes to the performance view as it is streamed over a special PC application. Changes are experienced not only visually through the screen, but also via vibrations and light emitted from the device. Performers can also check participant excitement levels using an original application.

  To verify the system’s usability and to identify outstanding issues and other potential needs as part of the commercialization process, Alps Alpine carried out demonstration testing during the Tokyo University of Science Festival on September 21. The testing, jointly conducted with TUS, involved the online participation of TUS students in a live performance given by professional singer Mayumi Gojo at a venue without an audience. The students took part from home or a classroom. A number of songs were performed in repetition while varying the makeup of the presentation. Video footage of the performance was then examined. Results of the demonstration testing will be used to refine the system to a heightened degree of completion and speed up the commercialization process.

  Alps Alpine is developing the system with an aim to introduce it to the market during 2022, envisaging sale to firms involved in event organization and merchandise production. In commercializing the system, we plan to not only reflect the results of the demonstration testing, but also to make arrangements for a smartphone app. We also have other ideas for the future, such as monitoring of the status of users with physiological sensors built into the device, or creation of new businesses making use of data accumulated while using Fan Connector. With online live sports and entertainment events expected to become increasingly commonplace, Alps Alpine is moving to provide performers, players and participants alike new types of value and excitement while also contributing to the development of those industries.