NICT and Fujitsu Introducing Indoor Guidance System for the Blind using a Smartphone and UWB

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

NICT and Fujitsu as presented by DigInfoTV are working together to develop a real-time indoor guidance system for the blind. As GPS cannot be used to get positional data indoors, the system uses a smartphone and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) transmission technology to get accurate real-time position information.

Impulse radio UWB technology uses extremely short nanosecond long pulses to get positioning information. Base stations are used to track the position of the user and their target point, with positioning accuracy within 30cm.

This positioning data is then sent to the smartphone and displayed using a mapping application, with real-time audio instructions describing the direction and distance to the target.

"Here, we're using six base stations, and this system has a positioning range of about 10 m. The user handset measures distance while communicating with each of the six base stations. The distance data obtained is collected by the control device, which calculates the position. The result of the calculation is sent to the user handset over UWB."

"This system has a variety of applications. In particular, one is inventory management. In big warehouses, there's a great need to find out where things are and where to take them. We've had inquiries from various businesses, so we're also considering applications like that."

*by andreascy*

MWC 2012 : Fujitsu Quad Core Smartphones

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

We've finally managed to get some time with Fujitsu's incoming quad-core handset and it's pretty close to completion. The quad-core phone's approaching its very final model, with just a bit of finishing and tightening of what we're seeing here at Mobile World Conference 2012. It's still water-friendly, wielding a Tegra 3 chip and brandishing a 13.1-megapixel camera. 

The hardware is very light -- almost uneasily so. The 4.6-inch display that dominates the phone is bright and crisp and Fujitsu has finally cemented more of the specifications; we've been told it's a full HD (1080p) display, although the spokesperson was unable to confirm the screen technology, we suspect it's a high resolution LCD display. Fujitsu's NX UI is a very lightly skinned version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich, with some addition features courtesy of the "human-centric engine."

In a bid to differentiate itself from legions of other smartphone manufacturers, it adds Fujitsu's own type of voice canceling processing, alongside dual mics, while a "slow voice" mode adds spacing in the gaps between speech. Unfortunately, we weren't able to try this functionality out -- the phone wasn't connected to networks here in Barcelona. Another feature that looks to be aimed squarely at the hearts of the older smartphone shopper is frequency adaptation. 

This adjusts the output of the speaker so that it's easier to hear when audible hearing frequencies start to thin out. There's also some Sense-like functionality also included here; the phone should turn off its screen when it realizes it's not in your hand. The fingerprint sensor found on the device has been given some extra skills too, and can be used to "lock down" corporate apps and other compatible stock apps.

Fujitsu's own Milbeaut image processor adds some (post-processing) extras to the 13.1-megapixel camera, including fish-eye lens, infinity burst mode and even glare removal when the camera senses a whiteboard (which should eliminate those issues with your corporate smartphone-based espionage). The camera UI generally retains that ICS stock sensibility, meaning that it's simple and uncluttered. 

There's still some things that Fujitsu is attempting to ready for its new flagship, including a possible Fujitsu-powered cloud storage provision and a fast-charging dock, a real possibility given the contacts for charging on the waterproof device. It's still no completely finalized on the software end, we found the keyboard was particularly sticky and caused a lot of problems when we attempted to type anything out.

The phone is still being pitched to phone carriers across China, Europe and the US, and hardware changes could occur depending on carrier interest. At the moment, the demo model included an 8GB microSD card, but we were told that details like this could certainly change before it arrives this summer in Japan. The phone's being readied for a Q4 release in its other target markets - hopefully with a name in tow. 

*by andreascy*

Fujitsu Roadmap Reveals a Q4 2012 Windows 8 Release Date

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Fujitsu’s 2012 lineup of tablets and laptops includes two Ultrabooks with Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processor, a slate tablet with a detachable dock and a Windows 8 tablet.

Fujitsu will also introduce a Windows 8 tablet in the fourth quarter, according to Notebook Italia.

Based on the roadmap above, Microsoft is telling partners that Windows 8 is will be launching this year, but a firm release date has not been set.

Not really news but interesting to see it somewhat confirmed. 😊

*by andreascy*