Including the development of human-type entertainment system robot "MI · RAI-RT (Future Earl tea)", attention species as robot venture. Kasuga's Representative Director, one of the reasons that offices in Shibuya is talk that it be "born the idea from Shibuya of town to walk." History and the development of MI · RAI-RT, we heard a thought for the Shibuya Kasuga's.

- Please tell us about the concept of "MI · RAI-RT".

MI · RAI-RT think easy to understand and consider a personal computer equipped with a limb. Incorporates a CPU and the OS, download exclusive content through the wireless LAN, or to sing, or to run, can or excited about. In other words, not only look at the movement, such as walking or running, I enjoy as one of the media. It content is expected to increase more and more, because the program can also be self-made, are not limited to enjoy. For now have a large echo from companies and universities along with the sale to the consumer, the But there are many cases that try to research about the theme of something by using a robot, I made in mind that the enjoyment originally at home It was. Now to do so we are working on an important issue of "whether to do the robot."

- Specifically, what kind of challenges that the would do?

PC also the days of MS-DOS is, after all, would not have become popular because I did not know what to do with it. It is more and more progress in the development of applications, has spread to the general are presented a variety of fun ways. In fact, the robot industry is the state that is stopped to clear the bipedal walking was once a challenge. It was of the good is able to walk, so, I'm wondering whether the heck, I should ask what is. So the MI · RAI-RT, has proposed a new vision to use the robot as the media. In point of "human-type", for example, also to read aloud an e-mail of the text, rather than flowing from the box type of personal computer, will those who robot story and there is a power of expression. Since the hard is finished, it is not entered in a new phase to enrich more the software in the future.

- The course of events for established species in 2001?

Originally I had been the development of the AIBO Sony. It is settled down, I left the company more and the feeling that you want thorough investigation the robot, I think that "soon wonder if if independent" is overlapped at 45 years of age at that time. On the other hand, it is there is also the feeling that yearn to craftsman, but temporarily was thinking seriously is also possible to go to training in Italy to become a shoemaker (laughs), after all, a robot that capitalize cultivated IT technology to Sony era it was to be developed. The history of the robot development is still in the early days, in Japan it does not have in place the development environment. For example, if you try to create a one robot, you must make everything from hardware to software on your own. So, I think also, there was from the outset that you want to create a development environment that can be shared the technology to more open.

MI · RAI-RT

- Please tell us why you have offices in Shibuya.

Born and raised there is also the fact that Kichijoji, but at the time of establishment I was offices in Kichijoji, there was moved to Shibuya in 2002 outgrown. The first was the town Udagawa, but came come in 2005 to the current Sakuragaoka. We chose the Shibuya, and that the location is convenient, because it was originally favorite town. I have liked the place, which is also a folksy as the urban. Ginza is not it have to go decked out but cool. Shinjuku I hope even without Kikazara, there is a place where would a little stance. In that respect, Shibuya and Kichijoji, it just fits in the skin.

- Have you ever receive a stimulus from Shibuya environment.

But the process of thinking stuffed with roots to produce the idea is indispensable, it is coming to mind in the table, I think when suddenly the gas escape. Shibuya in that sense is a city that is suitable to speculate while taking a walk for me. For around Shibuya is interesting is is surrounded by a residential area, as the distance from the station, will change into a calm landscape place. You do you say that there is a flow in the landscape. Shibuya I many people that restless and too many young people, I I do not mind. Rather, I like to standing and alone more Mini and noisy place. Quiet too location, direction of thinking will be facing only their own, but rather restless. I think we can objectively thinking while receiving stimulus from around precisely because the bustling location.

- That the IT companies are integrated in Shibuya does it influence.

Yeah, the development of the server You have to ask in the immediate vicinity of the company, the design was also asked to industrial designer before the outer garden. MI · RAI-RT might say that "Made in Shibuya". I I do not want to is referred to as a "robot" originally our robot. Because would have been seems to special companies that are making a very difficult product. In fact, in its development, including the server and application, because the IT technology is essential, I want you to put the tying and say from Dochi of "PC". That way, it because will also be smooth more development. I Shibuya IT companies gather will not match the company is also in that sense. In addition, such as music and dance, that there are many content to be expressed in the robot is also a welcome environment for our company. I want to collaboration by all means with such a content.

- Future, in Shibuya, we want to become in any town or.

Personally I do not want you to make it a very beautiful city. Because there is a yakitori shop next to SHIBUYA MARKCITY and I feel chaotic that suddenly a dubious side street appears. In Shibuya, there are things that various elements crossover. Even if you are going to organize the landscape, I would like you to leave an environment where symbols can be co - occurred.

- Finally, please tell us about your vision of the species.

First of all, the biggest challenge is to expand the possibilities of as a media of the robot. Is I'm there a lot idea. We recently have been or approached whether not get used to the new song of the promotion of the artist, because can be programmed to pause on their own, eventually interesting to open the dance contest. Of course, received a variety of ideas from a lot of people, I am happy and Ikeru to think together. As personal computers became popular in the explosion of home, I believe that changes significantly in the environment 5, after 10 years surrounding the robot, we have developed while having fun.

■ profile
Tomoaki Kasuga
1956 Born in Tokyo. Through the Toshiba to Sony Corporation. Since then walk the PC field. Through the design section chief in the VAIO desktop business, transfer to the Department of AIBO. Experienced technology management Office. There in the experience, get the belief to say that the robot is a limb of moldy computer. He retired in December 2001 Sony. Established the current species Corporation. Start the sale of the research for the robot SPC001. Launched household humanoid robot MI · RAI-RT from November 2006.