NEC Corporation (Note 1, hereinafter NEC), TOPPAN PRINTING CO.， LTD. (Note 2, hereinafter Toppan Printing), Macnica (Note 3, hereinafter Macnica), and Kotoba Design Inc. (Note 4, hereinafter Kotoba Design) will be conducting a demonstration experiment from February 26th to March 1st at Heijo Palace Historical Park in Nara Prefecture to create a new tourist experience using local 5G and MR (mixed reality) (Note 5).

Expectations are rising for a new tourism experience through the fusion of outdoor tourism resources and ICT as tourism in the "new normal" that aims to improve the ability to attract customers while preventing the spread of COVID-19.

For this reason, in this demonstration, local 5G will be used to provide a new history and culture experience by MR and a new movement experience in the park by AI natural conversation (hereinafter, AI conductor).

This demonstration is part of the FY2020 "Development Demonstration for the Realization of Local 5G, etc. to Solve Regional Issues" entrusted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. (Note 6).

[Roles of each organization in this demonstration]
NEC: Overall management, local 5G technology provision
Toppan Printing: Mixed reality technology, video distribution control system development, content production
Macnica: Provides eight-seater low-speed EV carts and autonomous driving systems
Kotoba Design: AI Conductor Development

[Outline of demonstration experiment]
1. A new historical and cultural experience (a new type of entertainment using local 5G and MR technology)
The performance of the dancers will be superimposed on the CG effects displayed on the MR glasses to create a stage-style historical experience. By utilizing low-latency local 5G for collecting information from the MR glasses of multiple participants and distributing video content, it is possible to display video according to the position and movement of participants, and to match gestures such as hand movements. You can enjoy sharing the production video with all the participants. As a result, we will create a new historical sightseeing experience where you can enter the historical space with your friends, which you cannot enjoy in a normal historical site tour.

An MR experience that superimposes CG effects on a realistically restored Japanese envoy ship and performers

Shared experiences with gestures

Image changes according to the position and movement of participants

2. New mobility experience (local 5G andAISafe and secure hospitality experience using the conductor)
An AI conductor will be installed inside a autonomous driving low-speed EV cart that circles the Heijo Palace Historic Park transportation terminal in about five minutes. If you put your hand out of the vehicle or remove the mask before boarding, the AI conductor will make a warning announcement based on the video inside the vehicle. In addition, we will interact with the participants and provide explanations and guidance that match the interests of the participants. In-vehicle video and audio are transmitted over local 5G with low latency, enabling natural announcements and conversations. As a result, we will realize a safe and secure mobility experience that evokes new interest.

8-seater autonomous driving low-speed EV cart

Dialogue with the AI Conductor

that's all

(Note 1) NEC Corporation, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Board Director Executive Officer and CEO: Takashi Niino
(Note 2) TOPPAN PRINTING CO.， LTD., Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Hideharu Maro
(Note 3) Macnica Location: Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara
(Note 4) Kotoba Design Inc. Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Toshiaki Furuya
(Note 5) MR: Abbreviation for Mixed Reality. A video expression technology that fuses virtual and reality, allowing users to experience virtual (digital) information overlaid on real (real) space. In this project, a glasses-type MR device was used, and the real world seen through the glasses was overlaid with the digital image projected onto the glass.
(Note 6) Decision on the content of the demonstration for the FY2020 "Development and Demonstration for the Realization of Local 5G for the Resolution of Regional Issues"
https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01ryutsu06_02000280.html

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＜本件に関する報道関係からのお問い合わせ先＞
NEC　コーポレートコミュニケーション本部　広報室　河野
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凸版印刷株式会社　広報部
電話：03-3835-5636
E-Mail：kouhou@toppan.co.jp

株式会社マクニカ　経営企画部　広報企画課　宮原
電話：045-470-9851
E-Mail：macpr@macnica.co.jp

株式会社コトバデザイン　マーケティングコミュニケーション部　堤
電話：03-6805-1752
E-Mail：tsutsumi@cotobadesign.com