NRI Announces IT Road Map Forecasting Progress in User Interface Technology through 2014
- Driving the Creation of New “Customer Experience Value” -
- Driving the Creation of New “Customer Experience Value” -
November 20, 2009
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI: Tokyo; Akihisa Fujinuma, Chairman and President, CEO & COO) announces its latest IT Road Map*1 forecasting progress in user interface technology*2 and its impact through 2014.
With contact points with customers increasingly shifting from face-to-face communications to IT devices such as PCs and mobile phones, any progress in user interface technology will significantly influence the “customer experience value*3” that customers perceive in the processes of purchasing and using products and services.
Currently, two major changes have been occurring in user interface technology. First, the functions and performance of applications on the Web are being improved toward the same level as that of application software that is used by being directly installed in operating systems. Second, natural, user-friendly interfaces are being developed.
In the future, user interfaces will become much more natural to humans and easy to use. Specific technologies that are expected to come to the fore include those enabling machines to recognize human actions such as voice recognition and motion sensors and those virtually replicating the five senses as perceived in the real world such as a haptic interface and an olfactory interface. These technologies will enable the use of IT by means of the same speech and motions as those used in the real world (e.g., pointing a finger or making a sign with one’s eyes). In the processes of such communication, users will be able to feel similar senses as those in the real world such as feeling the texture of clothes and smelling the aroma of coffee.
These user interface technologies are likely to revolutionize the experiences that can be obtained from current websites and in the real world. For companies, these technologies will serve as the driving force of creating greater customer experience value than that expected by their customers.
Road Map of User Interface Technologies Enhancing Customer Experience Value
2009 – 2011: Beginning Phase
Next-generation web browsers will lead to improved web application functionality and performance
In 2010, HTML5 will receive formal recommendation from W3C*4. This will lead to a gradual increase in the number of web browsers supporting HTML5 and related technologies. Because of these changes, companies will easily be able to provide applications that had to be installed separately in the past (business application software, advanced trading systems, video/3DCG editors, etc.) to customers through their web browsers. Companies will provide web applications that offer high functionality and high processing speeds even in an offline environment. Because of such a high level of convenience, customer needs will also gradually expand.
Natural user interface technologies
In addition to the user interface technologies that link people to machines such as mice and keyboards, more natural user interfaces will become commonplace. Ahead of such user interfaces, technologies that recognize a person’s actions and location, such as voice recognition, multi-touch and motion capture, will gain in popularity. Technologies that monitor our bodies such as heart rate and brainwaves will start to be applied for uses other than those for medical institutions such as gaming and market research, although on a limited basis. As the IT market grows and more diverse applications appear, a wide variety of uses of these technologies will be proposed by companies, universities and consumers.
In and after 2012: Diffusion Phase
Next-generation web browsers will lead to improved web application functionality and performance
Web browsers that support HTML5 will become commonplace. Accordingly, companies do not need to be concerned about the penetration of HTML5-compatible web browsers, and can instead concentrate on upgrading their own websites and web applications to support HTML5 and related technologies. Those companies that chose not to do so due to the previous low penetration of such browsers will gradually have to play catch-up, leading to an even greater penetration of these browsers.
Natural user interface technologies
Technologies such as voice recognition, multi-touch, motion capture and location information will be widely used in general-purpose IT devices, with companies freely selecting and combining user interfaces that are appropriate for their applications. Technologies replicating the five senses will advance toward multimodal*5 interfaces that combine sight, hearing, touch and smell. With respect to sight interfaces, much content is expected to shift to 3D CG with progress in the development of ultra-high definition screens and the spread of 3D display devices. Moreover, touch interfaces will benefit from ongoing miniaturization, and will have some consumer applications. The commercial use of smell interfaces will expand such as in digital signage*6.
NRI will be offering its “IT Road Map 2010 Edition – Where Information and Communications Technologies Will be Progressing in the Next Five Years” (in Japanese), which focuses on progress in information technologies in addition to experience technology*7 including user interfaces. This book will be published by Toyo Keizai Inc. in mid-December.
*1. IT road map: This report is designed to provide NRI’s forecasts of trends in information technology over the next five years with the purpose of supporting companies in making decisions on IT strategies. NRI’s Information Technology Research Department publishes this report semiannually.
*2. User interface technology: The point at which information is exchanged between a computer and a person; mice, monitors, etc.
*3. Customer experience value: A marketing concept that focuses on the experience (emotional value) acquired in the processes of purchasing and using products and services, rather than the functionality and performance (physical value) of products and services
*4. W3C: Abbreviation for the World Wide Web Consortium; a nonprofit organization that deals with standardization related to the Web
*5. Multimodal: Interaction with IT in several different ways such as through voice, motion, sight or touch
*6. Digital signage: Electronic signs using IT technology
*7. Experience technology: A phrase coined by NRI; generic term for any technology that enhances customer experience value (experience creation technology)
With contact points with customers increasingly shifting from face-to-face communications to IT devices such as PCs and mobile phones, any progress in user interface technology will significantly influence the “customer experience value*3” that customers perceive in the processes of purchasing and using products and services.
Currently, two major changes have been occurring in user interface technology. First, the functions and performance of applications on the Web are being improved toward the same level as that of application software that is used by being directly installed in operating systems. Second, natural, user-friendly interfaces are being developed.
In the future, user interfaces will become much more natural to humans and easy to use. Specific technologies that are expected to come to the fore include those enabling machines to recognize human actions such as voice recognition and motion sensors and those virtually replicating the five senses as perceived in the real world such as a haptic interface and an olfactory interface. These technologies will enable the use of IT by means of the same speech and motions as those used in the real world (e.g., pointing a finger or making a sign with one’s eyes). In the processes of such communication, users will be able to feel similar senses as those in the real world such as feeling the texture of clothes and smelling the aroma of coffee.
These user interface technologies are likely to revolutionize the experiences that can be obtained from current websites and in the real world. For companies, these technologies will serve as the driving force of creating greater customer experience value than that expected by their customers.
Road Map of User Interface Technologies Enhancing Customer Experience Value
2009 – 2011: Beginning Phase
Next-generation web browsers will lead to improved web application functionality and performance
In 2010, HTML5 will receive formal recommendation from W3C*4. This will lead to a gradual increase in the number of web browsers supporting HTML5 and related technologies. Because of these changes, companies will easily be able to provide applications that had to be installed separately in the past (business application software, advanced trading systems, video/3DCG editors, etc.) to customers through their web browsers. Companies will provide web applications that offer high functionality and high processing speeds even in an offline environment. Because of such a high level of convenience, customer needs will also gradually expand.
Natural user interface technologies
In addition to the user interface technologies that link people to machines such as mice and keyboards, more natural user interfaces will become commonplace. Ahead of such user interfaces, technologies that recognize a person’s actions and location, such as voice recognition, multi-touch and motion capture, will gain in popularity. Technologies that monitor our bodies such as heart rate and brainwaves will start to be applied for uses other than those for medical institutions such as gaming and market research, although on a limited basis. As the IT market grows and more diverse applications appear, a wide variety of uses of these technologies will be proposed by companies, universities and consumers.
In and after 2012: Diffusion Phase
Next-generation web browsers will lead to improved web application functionality and performance
Web browsers that support HTML5 will become commonplace. Accordingly, companies do not need to be concerned about the penetration of HTML5-compatible web browsers, and can instead concentrate on upgrading their own websites and web applications to support HTML5 and related technologies. Those companies that chose not to do so due to the previous low penetration of such browsers will gradually have to play catch-up, leading to an even greater penetration of these browsers.
Natural user interface technologies
Technologies such as voice recognition, multi-touch, motion capture and location information will be widely used in general-purpose IT devices, with companies freely selecting and combining user interfaces that are appropriate for their applications. Technologies replicating the five senses will advance toward multimodal*5 interfaces that combine sight, hearing, touch and smell. With respect to sight interfaces, much content is expected to shift to 3D CG with progress in the development of ultra-high definition screens and the spread of 3D display devices. Moreover, touch interfaces will benefit from ongoing miniaturization, and will have some consumer applications. The commercial use of smell interfaces will expand such as in digital signage*6.
NRI will be offering its “IT Road Map 2010 Edition – Where Information and Communications Technologies Will be Progressing in the Next Five Years” (in Japanese), which focuses on progress in information technologies in addition to experience technology*7 including user interfaces. This book will be published by Toyo Keizai Inc. in mid-December.
*1. IT road map: This report is designed to provide NRI’s forecasts of trends in information technology over the next five years with the purpose of supporting companies in making decisions on IT strategies. NRI’s Information Technology Research Department publishes this report semiannually.
*2. User interface technology: The point at which information is exchanged between a computer and a person; mice, monitors, etc.
*3. Customer experience value: A marketing concept that focuses on the experience (emotional value) acquired in the processes of purchasing and using products and services, rather than the functionality and performance (physical value) of products and services
*4. W3C: Abbreviation for the World Wide Web Consortium; a nonprofit organization that deals with standardization related to the Web
*5. Multimodal: Interaction with IT in several different ways such as through voice, motion, sight or touch
*6. Digital signage: Electronic signs using IT technology
*7. Experience technology: A phrase coined by NRI; generic term for any technology that enhances customer experience value (experience creation technology)
[For inquiries, please contact:]
Hiroaki Sumiya/ Hiroshi Ueno
Corporate Communication Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Tel:+81-3-6270-8100
E-mail:
To List of Press Releases
Hiroaki Sumiya/ Hiroshi Ueno
Corporate Communication Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Tel:+81-3-6270-8100
E-mail:
To List of Press Releases
Copyright(c) 2009 Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or republication without written permission.
No reproduction or republication without written permission.