Six Companies Join the "Human Augmentation Consortium" Aiming to Solve Societal Issues through Human Augmentation Technology That Enhances Human Senses of Feeling and Movements via Networks

H2L, inc., NTT DOCOMO, Inc., TOPPAN Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation Frontier Research Center, Mizuno Corporation, and Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. joined the "Human Augmentation Consortium^*1*2" on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, to utilize human augmentation technology that enhances human senses and movements through networks in various fields, aiming to solve societal issues.

The consortium was established to promote the formation and expansion of an ecosystem for human augmentation. This will be achieved through verifying the elements of systems that realize human augmentation (devices, platforms, and applications), promoting international standardization of technologies necessary for human augmentation, and disseminating information related to human augmentation through symposiums and white papers.

Human augmentation is attracting attention in various industries such as tourism, education, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare as a means to solve societal issues like educational disparities, declining labor population, and the decline of traditional culture. Through participation in this consortium, the companies involved (hereinafter, referred to as "participating companies") are expected to accelerate the verification of interconnection of devices related to human augmentation and matching with business partners, further developing efforts related to human augmentation and accelerating initiatives to solve societal issues.

In the future, the participating companies will work across industries to solve societal issues through human augmentation and contribute to the formation and expansion of the human augmentation ecosystem through activities in this consortium.

Comments from Participating Companies

H2L, inc.

We are engaged in research and development of technology that enables sharing experiences through the transmission of proprioception. We will contribute to the realization and expansion of human augmentation through device and application development, international standardization of technology, and information dissemination.

NTT DOCOMO, Inc.

We are working on "FEEL TECH" that utilizes the "Human Augmentation Platform" to share human motions and senses as information personalized for the receiver. Through participation in this consortium, we will collaborate with diverse partners to also provide solutions for societal issues, contributing to building a "Wellbeing Society" where everyone can shine and pursue all possibilities, reaching out and connecting with each other.

About FEEL TECH

TOPPAN Inc.

We have been promoting research and development related to human augmentation and working on the development and societal implementation of remote experience services. Through this activity, we will combine XR/metaverse/digital twin with human augmentation technology for sensory sharing to address societal issues and implement solutions in areas such as skill transfer, education, and tourism.

Toyota Motor Corporation Frontier Research Center

We have been researching partner robots that coexist with humans since around 2000. Through participation in this consortium, we aim to accelerate research and development of human augmentation technology and next-generation communication technology to realize "virtual mobility" that provides an immersive experience as if you were actually there, even from a remote location.

Mizuno Corporation

In 2019, we established a new "Human Augmentation R&D Division" within our Research and Development Department to start researching and developing products and services that remove physical limitations in response to major societal changes such as accelerating declining birthrates, super-aging society, and diversification of lifestyles. We expect that participation in this consortium will further accelerate research and development in human augmentation.

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

Beyond 5G and brain-machine interfaces are just some of the technologies related to human augmentation that we have been monitoring developments in. The insights we have gained through these surveys will fuel our work in the consortium, particularly the standardization of technology and, thus, the solution of societal issues through human augmentation.

Contact Information

H2L, inc.

Public Relations and Sales Department

E-mailinfo@h2l.jp

NTT DOCOMO, Inc.

Mobile Innovation Tech Department, Use Case Co-Creation Division

E-mailfeeltech-ml@ml.nttdocomo.com

TOPPAN Inc.

TOPPAN Holdings, Public Relations Division

E-mailkouhou@toppan.co.jp

Toyota Motor Corporation Frontier Research Center

E-mailfrc_pr@mail.toyota.co.jp

Mizuno Corporation

Corporate Communication Office

E-mailkouhou@mizuno.co.jp

Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

Group Public Relations Department

E-mailmedia@mri.co.jp

Human Augmentation Consortium

Consortium Secretariat

E-mailcontact@human-aug.com