Overview of Information Technology

In the field of information technology, AIST focuses on the following four high-priority themes to help build a information society in which information technologies pervade our lives. From the viewpoint of maintaining and strengthening the international competitiveness of the IT industry, high priority is placed on achieving higher added value by intelligent functions and energy saving features in familiar devices such as information appliances. With more and more homes and offices now enjoying broadband access, the necessity of creating high-speed, high-capacity information infrastructure and constructing safe, high-reliability systems is also increasing. Taking advantage of its total capabilities, AIST is helping strengthen Japanese industry with IT as a core technology.

1) High-speed, high-capacity information lifeline
AIST conducts research on technologies for high-capacity data storage and high-speed processing and telecommunication as part of the IT infrastructure which supports society. In the area of storage, research focuses on high-capacity memories using high-density optical disks and technologies for secure storage of data distributed on networks. Processing-related research centers on grid technology for a next-generation internet which provides instantaneous access to necessary information and information processing capacity, while telecommunications research includes all-optical telecommunications and other subjects.

2) Security and dependability
Research includes technologies for secure telecommunications and authentication to prevent illegal access via the internet, and verification technologies to guarantee that software is coded according to specifications.

3) Intelligence boosters
Subjects of development include energy saving logic/memory devices and mobile device technologies integrating such devices, natural human interface and intelligence assistants to support individual intellectual activity and production activity, and ubiquitous, mobile information activity support devices.

4) Applications of advanced information processing
In this area, AIST is involved in applied research and system development for advanced use of grid computing and supercomputing, utilizing AIST's Super Cluster, as an advanced computing infrastructure.

Development of grid middleware
Based on two distributed parallel execution models for remote procedure calls and message passing, middleware Ninf-G2 and GridMPI for use on the grid were developed.(Grid Technology Research Center)

Development of ultrafast optical switching technology using intersubband transition

AIST researchers succeeded in shortening the wavelength of the intersubband optical transition formed in the semiconductor quantum well to the telecommunications wavelength band, and developed the basic technology for an ultrafast optical switching which operates at the highest speed in the world, at the 150 femtosecond level.(Photonics Research Institute)

2) Security and dependability
Practical application of model checking method to embedded software verification Verification work for the design document for an embedded software program at a private company was performed by model checking, demonstrating the effectiveness of the model checking method by early detection of bugs before discovered by conventional methods such as actual machine tests.(Research Center for Verification and Semantics)
Success in fastest optical fiber quantum crypto transmission in the world The fastest photon detector at the 1550nm wavelength in the world was developed considering a new photon detection method. Using this technology, a key generating rate of 45 Kbit/sec was achieved, setting a new world record, in a key distribution experiment with a quantum crypto transmission over a 10.5km optical fiber.(Photonics Research Institute)

3) Intelligence Boosters
Development of porous silica low permittivity (low-k) insulator film To increase signal transmission speed and reduce power consumption in the internal wiring of semiconductors, a porous silica insulator film for wiring was developed based on a novel material design concept. (Advanced Semiconductor Research Center)

Operation plan for humanoids with arm/leg coordination and development of plan formulation method

An operation plan formulation method for accomplishing coordinated movements/work using both arms and legs based on visual and other information in complex environments was developed using a humanoid robot. The robot was able to perform various operations, such as passing through restricted spaces by crawling and reaching for a distant object while using a desk for support.(Intelligent Systems Research Institute)