Japanese Site

Kyocera’s Human Augmentation

MAI

At Kyocera's Future Design Research Laboratory in Yokohama, Japan, we are advancing R&D for human augmentation technologies toward our vision of seamless integration of "humans" and "technology."

Kyocera's Human Augmentation Concept "Mai"

Seamless Integration of "humans" and "technology."

"Mai" is Kyocera's human augmentation concept and relates to how a story develops dynamically from a small action in traditional Japanese Noh theatre.
"Mai" enriches people's daily lives through more enjoyable, pleasant, and exciting experiences with technology that subtly and comfortably supports people.
Mai Life – Aspiring for a happy, exciting, and fulfilled life.

*Human augmentation is an interdisciplinary field covering the methods, technologies, and applications to integrate the unique capabilities of both people and machines.

human and technology

Physical
Presence
Perception / Cognition

Physical Human Augmentation

Walk Sensing and Coaching System
Promotes a Better Walking Form

Walk posture improvement through 3D animation feedback.

Wearable sensors use independently developed sensing technology to visualize the user’s walk and give easy-to-understand AI-based analysis feedback and 3D animations. By knowing their own walking style, users are invited to walk correctly, beautifully, and confidently.

Features

■ Wearable sensors using independently developed sensing technology

• The highly precise measurement of walking and estimation of body posture are made possible using wearable sensors worn at three points and a smartphone (with no need for mirrors or cameras)

■ Visualization and coaching using walk analysis AI

• Walk analysis AI is used to estimate the posture of the whole body from the results measured by the wearable sensors and visualize it in a 3D animation
• The impression of walking is presented in six categories
• Audio coaching is provided in real-time

■ The technology can also be used for motion sensing other than walking

• Development of a software library for the use of wearable sensors
• The technology can also be used in the development of systems for movements and applications other than walking

Map of walking impression judgment and 3D animation
*The app is currently only available in Japanese

App checking left-right difference during walking
*The app is currently only available in Japanese

Specifications / Applications

■ “Foot concierge” (Walking Posture Check)

A service that allows you to understand your current walking posture and learn the key points to get closer to your desired walk.
For more information about Wacoal's Foot concierge, click here (Japanese site)

■ Walking classes, sports gyms and rehabilitation, frailty prevention

Maintenance and improvement of health, support for recovery

■ Expanding mental and physical resilience, entertainment
User wear three sensors on the head, wrist, and ankle

Presence Human Augmentation

Physical Avatar to Solve Issues of Isolation During Remote Work

Enabling seamless, office-like communication for employees and teams in different locations.

The modern "hybrid" office merges people from "remote" and "local," or "in-office," environments. While giving employees greater freedom, this working style, unfortunately, may lead to stress, such as forgetting that remote participants are present and speaking only among local participants, not fully understanding the situation of remote participants, and difficulty making casual conversations or small talk between environments. All these can be improved with Kyocera's Physical Avatar for low-stress hybrid office communication.

Features

■ Augments remote employees' presence and onsite experience by seating the Physical Avatar in the local environment

■ Physical Avatar's behavior lets remote employees bond more naturally with the people in the office

■ UI optimized for each PC, tablet, and smartphone lets you log in to the Physical Avatar from anywhere.

Specifications / Applications

■ 360-degree camera gives remote workers a clear visual understanding of the onsite environment

■ Voice visualization lets remote workers know the volume and direction of voices in the office

■ Automatic nodding and speaker tracking facilitate smooth conversations and easier remote operation

By placing the Physical Avatar in various locations, low-stress office-like communication can is available from any working environment.

Perception/Cognition Human Augmentation

Bring Back the Sound! Auditory Augmentation Device

Listen and playback conversations you missed the first time.

While concentrating on work at an airport, for example, have you ever missed an important announcement?
From the many sounds we hear daily, we select those that seem important to us and shift our focus to understanding the meaning of those sounds. Kyocera's new hearable device notifies you about important sounds you have missed and helps put you at ease, knowing you can listen to them again.

Features

Bone conduction earphones and binaural microphones with AI analyze ambient sounds around you.

1. "Ring buffer" saves and stores sounds over a certain period.
2. "Event detection" automatically detects important sounds you do not want to miss.
3. "Replay control" lets you listen to sounds you missed earlier.