Detecting trends and launching new projects
"No-disparity realistic image" reduces eye strain while enhancing the impression of reality.
You mentioned that your laboratory's internal work is the research of 3D movies. Since when have you had an interest in this field?
Shortly before I retired from the Executive Officer position, I saw a 3D monitor at an exhibition. I was quite impressed by it, and it made me think about what might come next in 3D technology. I began to wonder if I could develop a new core technology by exploring the world of 3D.
Please explain the technology you are developing.
We prepare two 2D images of the same picture and shift each image sideways to match the separate vision of the viewer's right and left eyes. Then we process both sides to fit the frame. When viewers wearing polarized 3D glasses or active shutter 3D glasses watch this picture displayed on a 3D TV, disparity appears around both sides of the frame. This causes the image to appear with more depth. We call an image processed by this method, a "no-disparity realistic image (NDR image)." I presented this technology at the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) and at the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE). When I gave the demonstration at SPIE, the viewers were surprised at how realistic the images were that this technology created.
What are the advantages of this method?
The images are very realistic and impose less stress on viewers' eyes. I evaluated how easy NDR images are to look at, compared to conventional 3D images, in collaboration with Tokyo Polytechnic University. The results showed that eye fatigue and any dizziness the viewers experienced were at the same level as when they watched conventional 2D images. As the images are developed from 2D images, which do not require a specialized camera to produce, contents that already exist can be transformed into NDR images, which is another advantage.
The qualification for researchers is curiosity.
When do you feel rewarded?
I feel most rewarded when my ideas and proposals are transformed into reality. All researchers probably feel the same. Good ideas may suddenly enter my mind when I am relaxing, but only when I have been thinking very hard to come up with them before relaxing.
What do you think are the skills or mindset that researchers need?
I would say curiosity. If you develop interests in diverse subjects and explore them, new ideas emerge one after another. I personally gained great experience at my first assignment at Research Section II, studying and having discussions with excellent colleagues, who are experts in different fields such as mechanics and electronics. I also cherish my time in business departments, which gave me an opportunity to learn alternative perspectives. Young researchers today may not have as much liberty as I did when I was young, but I still hope they pursue and study a broad spectrum of interests.
What advice do you have for students and young researchers who aspire to enter research and development jobs?
I suggest they thoroughly study fundamental theories and technologies. Without such foundations, they won't be able to succeed at anything. Therefore, those studies are essential. After learning these solid basics, they will then be able to develop interests in many other things, I would say.
Playing golf does not always go as planned.
What is your favorite pastime?
When I joined the board, I was put in the position of having to learn to play golf at the age of nearly 60 for socializing and networking. However, I found it quite interesting once I began playing. It is difficult, despite my initial impression that it would be simple because all it takes is hitting a stationary ball. I also like it, as my age and athletic capability are not particularly relevant in golf.
Visiting a golf course twice a month serves as time to refresh his mind
We might imagine that you hit the ball after making physics calculations, such as trajectory and acceleration.
I think about them, but it does not always go as I wish. I consider various principles, such as the law of conservation of energy, during golf. I have been playing nearly eight years but I don't feel I've progressed much.
How often do you play?
I visit driving ranges every Saturday. I used to hit 300 balls each time, when I started. I would drive the ball using my muscle power only, which gave me blisters all over my hands. I also sweated a lot and lost seven kilograms (15.5 lbs) over six months. My friends were worried that I might have caught some horrible disease (laughs). Now I do not get blisters because I've learned to release unnecessary muscle power. Instead, I have been gaining weight back. I visit a golf course once or twice a month and my score is about 110.
We often hear that it's fun enough just to walk around a golf course.
Well, I am little lazy so I drive a golf cart. But it's OK. I have to run around anyway while I play, because I am not particularly good at the game (laughs).