InterBEE REVIEW2016

67/71

101With Mr. Akira Yoshizawa, Secretary General at the Next Genera-tion Contents Distribution Forum as a facilitator, a session about the activities of Next Generation Contents Distribution Forum was held as the stage welcomed Mr. Ichiya Nakamura, the Director from the same forum and also the Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, and Mr. Shuji Nakamura, Deputy Director of the Corporate/ Management Dept. at Mitsubishi Research Institute.■The decisive factor of 8K is B2BAt the outset, Mr. Yoshizawa asked Mr. Nakamura about the future of 4K8K large-screen viewing and Mr. Nakamura answered as follows:“I had been working to spread HD terrestrial digital broadcasting, and then the idea of 4K8K was suggested right after that. I was at loss for a while, but lately I have been thinking that it can work out. I myself have been using a digital signage consortium, and 4K signage has now become the norm. At the same time, I have tried public viewing of 8K many times recently and I’m confident that it will work out if people get to experience it. Although 4K is shifting and coming along smoothly, I think the decisive factor of 8K is B2B.”“While there are the movements of public viewing and mobile first, public viewing will progress as the Tokyo Olympics approaches, and 8K will be used more for medical care, schools and security. I expect that it will be used in a wider world than the one we are seeing here right now.”■Making systems for content provision is importantMr. Shuji Nakamura answered the same question as follows:“8K has made a partial entry into the business system of large-screen viewing and digital signage. The cost has become reasonable for image control and it has now started appearing on the market. The rest is the switching timing from already existing equipment. Screens that are more than 50 inches for family use are mostly 4K-compatible. Also, for families in local areas with large properties, screens have been enlarged considerably and now include 4K-compatible devices. One of the issues is that the range of contents is very limited. The other issue is Internet capability. Unfor-tunately, even signage screens on the market controlled by the Inter-net are limited. Although 4K is suitable for use via broadband, there is no system to support this at present.”■Public viewings at 100 locations during the year 2020According to Mr. Yoshizawa, “the Next Generation Contents Distri-bution Forum was founded to solve these two issues”. He continued:“4K8K will become the mainstream form of in 2018, two years from now. The contents produced will increase. I would like to make a system to utilize, monetize and enrich the contents.” Potential future uses that were mentioned included interior decoration images, security, medical care, education, digital signage, home theaters and public viewing. Mr. Yoshizawa also pointed out that stereophonic sound is an important factor in feeling high-resolution movies as real: “I would like to set the public viewing of 4K8K at 100 locations during 2020. This will usher in the era in which 100,000 or 500,000 people can enjoy the same performance at one time. Effec-tive use after the Olympics is another mission.” He then went on to explain that it is important to make a system to include valuable contents in the platform and deliver it through the Internet to achieve these aims. ■I want as many people as possible to experience itMr. Nakamura introduced the fact that the implementation of 4K8K is progressing in many of Japan’s municipalities and at the movie screening facilities in commercial spaces. However, he pointed out that it is not proceeding as smoothly as wished due to the costs associated with content production and movie screenings. The issue is how to achieve reasonable cost, including within the production environment. Mr. Yoshizawa again emphasized the importance of content and the need to establish the distribution system, stating: “More than 200,000 pieces of movie screening equipment were updated through the year in both public and commercial facilities, and everything will be renewed in about five years. I have been working diligently on 4K sales over the past couple of years. Both content and a distribution system are needed.”Mr. Nakamura showed enthusiasm and concluded: “The essential thing for the arrival of this new era is motivation. The persons concerned all have greater motivation than I could have imagined. I want to do my best also. I want as many people as possible to experience it.”“The Near Future of 4K8K Large-Screen Viewing”3:00 PM -4:00 PM, Thursday, November 17th