NTT Communications develops and deploys services that meet social needs. We generate new value through new business model and lifestyle contributions for an inclusive society.
Building an Inclusive Society
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.com Master: A Valuable Certification System for Training ICT Personnel
Tools that objectively benchmark ICT skills are increasingly important in business today.
NTT Communications launched the .com Master ICT skill certification system in 2001. There are three levels for certifying ICT skills, ranging from Single Star to the advanced Triple Star.
As of the thirteenth “.com Master” tests held in July 2007, the cumulative number of test-sitters reached 240,000, of whom 80,000 had passed. This system is being adopted as a useful corporate qualification tool, and is also used as an indicator of skill levels in finding employment and doing business.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://biz.ocn.ne.jp/master/
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CAVA: Our Home Call Center System
Senior staffer providing call-center services from home
NTT Com CHEO contributes to society by unlocking the talents of older people, women, and other home-based workers through its virtual call-center business. One of its services is the CAVA system, which stands for .com Advisor & Valuable Agent. CAVA teleworkers provide technical support for Internet services over the phone and through visits to customer homes. Individuals can choose when and where to work and vary workloads and their incomes so they can raise children, look after retired relatives, or perform other tasks. About 1,600 people nationwide work under the CAVA system, which should provide valuable employment opportunities to some of the numerous baby-boomers set to retire in Japan.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://www.nttcheo.com/cava/
Comments from CAVA Staffer
Keiko Karahashi
I was looking for work I could do at home because one of my kids often gets fevers. I heard about CAVA and applied for a job through that system because I wanted to balance my career against child-raising and house tasks. I can work when I want. It means I can quickly handle child emergencies. I’m thrilled to play a part in society through this work.
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Developing a Subtitling System for Hearing-Impaired Television Viewers
Television subtitling system for the hearing-impaired
The number of hearing-impaired people is growing as society ages. An estimated 6 million people, or 5% of the population, need subtitles to enjoy television.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications aims to make subtitling mandatory for all except live broadcasts by 2007.
We have accordingly built a subtitling system that automatically recognizes and converts speech to text and makes manual corrections easy.
We hope that broad-casters adopt this system to improve the quality of life of the hearing-impaired.
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Oshiete! goo Consumer Website
NTT Resonant Inc. operates Oshiete! goo, a consumer lifestyle website. People can seek answers from other members to even the most minor questions, such as ways to prevent clothes from shrinking in dryers. The site compiles a member knowledge base. The site had provided answers to 99.3% of around 2.9 million questions as of August 31, 2007.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/
Building New Value for Society
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Serving Society and the Environment through Ubiquitous Network
More companies today want employees to access their intranets through cellphones, notebook PCs, personal digital assistants, and other mobile devices to streamline operations and decision-making. But high costs and security issues with conventional systems have made it hard to achieve these goals.
NTT Communications’ Mobile Connect remote access service is a complete solution. It makes it easy to link internal business systems with mobile devices.
In January 2006, the government announced a strategy to revolutionize information technology. Many large companies now offer employment programs in keeping with this initiative’s objective of having teleworkers represent 20% of people in employment by 2010. Mobile Connect complies with telework security guidelines that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issued in December 2004. Our service for teleworkers offers communications encryption, authentication systems, and other features that minimize the security vulnerability of notebook PCs and cellphones.
Mobile Connect is an excellent advance toward linking workers and intranets in a truly ubiquitous society.
■Telework Solutions Overview
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Providing Video on Demand Services
On Demand TV service screen
“On Demand TV" offers Video-On-Demand (VOD) and Multi-Channel Broadcasting services over the broadband infrastructure. This convenient and user-friendly service is one step forward in our goal to create a ubiquitous society. Simply connect the set-top box to your television and be exposed to over 8,000 videos and 47 channels, both of which are to be expanded in the years to come.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://www.ondemandtv.co.jp/
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Showcasing Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability
NTT Resonant’s Kankyou-goo portal devotes a site to an emerging segment of consumers who prioritize responsibility in apparel, food, and housing in keeping with their commitment to lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS). The portal introduces companies that follow LOHAS practices and presents information on the LOHAS Academy. It also overviews the activities of key opinion leaders and companies in the LOHAS arena and presents interviews with them.
See the following Japanese-language website for details:http://eco.goo.ne.jp/life/lohas/
