Cover Story
TVs that Are More Fun
TV Can Be Made More Interesting
Part 1: Suggestion
Toward Developing Fun TV that Satisfies the Needs of Demanding Users
TV will become the “door to anywhere” in people's living rooms.Internet TVs, talked about since the late 1990s, are moving toward becoming a reality.These TVs will offer straightforward operation and ease of use to all family members, and will be linked to broadcasting stations, enabling services that will make programs more interesting. An increase in the percentage of households connected to the Internet, together with hardware performance improvements, such as SoC, will bring the TV of the future one step closer to the ideal.
Part 2: Required Actions
Clearly Assessing User Characteristics to Make TVs Much More Fun
The development of next-generation TVs will necessitate a reassessment of user viewing behaviors, which change drastically depending on the viewing situation.
The current initiatives for realizing TVs of the future can be roughly classified into the following three: utilization of remote controls, which represent a user interface that can be easily used by anybody; displaying web content overlaid on broadcast images; and utilization of metadata, such as broadcasting logs, viewer feedback and comments.
Special Feature
Secrets Behind HTC’s Rapid Growth
Three Advantages Keep HTC at the Forefront of Cellphone Market
High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC) is a handset manufacturer that is growing rapidly in the smart-phone market. In particular, the company holds a large share of the market of smart phones equipped with Microsoft's Windows Mobile. Additionally, in 2008, HTC made a name for itself by developing and manufacturing its “T-Mobile G1,” the world's first mobile phone that features Google’s Android. How has HTC, once a mere original design manufacturer of PDAs, managed to grow this big?
Displays Moving into Applications Besides Text and Image Display
From FDP International 2008
From October 29 through 31, 2008, FPD International 2008, a comprehensive exhibit of display technologies, was held at Pacifico Yokohama, Japan. What we saw there was an indication that displays are moving into applications besides text and image display, a change that will offer engineers at device manufacturers a new opportunity to “imagine” and actually “create” innovative devices that will lead to entirely new lifestyles.
Destructive Testing to Help Design Stronger Devices; Testing Method “HALT” Takes Off
Guest Paper
Future of Car Electronics According to Toyota
“Cars of the future will be based exclusively on electronic technologies.” It has been a long time since this statement was made. With this goal in mind, companies all over the world have been competing to develop technologies to electrify cars, a trend started by Toyota Motor Corporation. Since 1997 when the company launched its Prius hybrid, Toyota has been far ahead of the pack in developing electronics technologies. We asked Mr. Miyata, who oversees the development of cutting-edge electronics technologies, to describe Toyota’s latest technologies.
Documentary
New Challenge: Development of the Internet Terminal “Chumby” (Final)
Real Need is for Artistic Intuition, Not Logical Decision-Making
Tutorial
Key Points of A-D Conversion Everyone Should Know: Session 5
If engineers do not fully understand data sheets, they cannot handle A-D converters. It is said that a surprisingly large number of problems are caused by engineers who try to use A-D converters without understanding the difference between the absolute input voltage and absolute maximum rating, or the meaning of the capacity of an internal capacitor. Therefore, this next installment continues the explanation of the basics involved in reading data sheets.
EMC Support Becoming Complicated(Part 2)
Viewing Electrical Power Quality from the Perspective of Noise: Measures to Counter Harmonic Disturbance are Essential
Devices commonly being utilized in homes and offices use a large number of switching power supplies and inverters. While these components improve efficiency, they can also become sources of harmonic disturbance. For this installment of our series of articles on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), we asked an engineer at a power supply equipment manufacturer to explain the causes of harmonic disturbance, as well as the use of power factor correlation (PFC) as a countermeasure.
Academy
Session 12: How to Control the Task Execution Sequence
Keyword
JavaScript
Language “Rediscovered” After 10 Years
Key Person
Green Plug Inc.’s Frank P. Paniagua Jr.: “We Want to Make Battery Charging Easier”
NE Interview
Rohm Co., Ltd.’s Research and Development HeadquartersDirectorAkira Kamisawa: “Biotechnology Is an Exciting Field Because It Is Brand New and There Is No Roadmap”
Many electronics manufacturers are beginning to pay close attention to the biotechnology, medical, and healthcare markets as promising next-generation fields. While most companies are still searching for what steps to take, Rohm has declared its intention to enter the biotechnology market full scale. As its first step, on October 30, 2008, the company introduced a blood testing system, jointly developed with Ushio Inc. and Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho. Rohm is stepping into the new field utilizing technologies it nurtured as a semiconductor manufacturer. We asked Akira Kamisawa, who is directing the company's R&D efforts in the biotechnology field, about Rohm's objectives in entering the new market.
World Seport
From China: Report on Generic Cellphones’ Growing Popularity: Disassembling Counterfeit iPhone 3G
News
- Honda Prototypes Walking Assist Device that Supports Bodyweight
- Omron Develops Compact Vibration-Powered Generator with Price Target of Less than 1,000 Yen
- NEC Adopts SRS Labs’ Technology for 5.1-Channel Surround Sound in Cellphones
- Sharp Prototypes Optical Wiring System for Cellphones
- FCC Releases White Space Without Licensing Requirements; What Impact Will It Have on Japan?
