Shuji Hirakawa

Overview of Digital Television Development Worldwide

This special issue of the proceedings of the IEEE presents a systematical and complete tutorial on digital television (DTV), produced by a team of DTV experts worldwide. This introductory paper puts the current DTV systems into perspective and explains the historical background and different evolution paths that each system took. The main focus is on terrestrial DTV systems, but satellite and cable DTV are also covered,as well as several other emerging services.

Broadcasting Satellite Services for Mobile Reception

This paper intends to introduce widely the broadcasting satellite services using Digital System E of Recommendation ITU-R BO.1130. The system is designed to provide high-quality audio and multimedia and data broadcasting services to mobile receivers, handheld and vehicular. The geostationary satellite specially designed for this system was launched successfully in March 2004, followed by the inauguration of regular broadcasting services on 20 October 2004. Due to the nature of satellite broadcasting, it covers the Japanese area widely. The system also adopts complementary terrestrial on-channel repeaters for shadowed areas from the direct satellite broadcasting signal. It should be noted that the system is the world first broadcasting satellite services for handheld and vehicular receivers with high-quality audio and multimedia and data receiving capability.

Personal and Home Electronics and Our Changing Lifestyles

In this paper, we review the dramatic impact that technology has had on society and past predictions about future technology, and predict the impact of future technology. The methods with which technology affects society can be categorized into what we will call lifestyle “waves” of change. We will describe three specific types of waves and how they affect specific types of personal and home electronics. The lifestyle waves we will consider are: 1) time and place independence; 2) interactivity; and 3) integration of the physical and information worlds. We will consider how these waves influence three categories of personal and home electronics: 1) home appliances (i.e., washing machines, dishwashers, etc.); 2) audio/video products (i.e., TVs, stereos, etc.); and 3) personal electronic gadgets (i.e., mobile phones, navigational devices, etc.). These waves typically are introduced into one category of electronics and rapidly cross pollinate to all categories. We will also discuss how specific trends in technology, such as hardware, software, user interfaces, and content distribution, can generate these lifestyle waves of change. Finally, we make some predictions on how these waves and trends in technology may impact personal and home electronics in the future.

Prolog to the Section on Personal and Home Electronics

The paper in this section of the Centennial Special Issue reviews the dramatic impact technology has had on society, past predictions about future technology, and the impact of future technology. The methods with which technology affects society can be categorized into what we will call lifestyle Bwaves[ of change. The paper describes three specific types of waves and how they affect specific types of personal and home electronics. The lifestyle waves we will consider are: 1) time and place independence; 2) interactivity; and 3) integration of the physical and information worlds. We will consider how these waves influence three categories of personal and home electronics: 1) home appliances (i. e., washing machines, dishwashers, etc.); 2) audio/video products (i.e., TVs, stereos, etc.); and 3) personal electronic gadgets (i.e., mobile phones, navigational devices, etc.). These waves typically are introduced into one category of electronics and rapidly cross-pollinate to all categories. The paper makes some predictions on how the three lifestyle waves and innovations in technology trends, such as hardware, software, user interfaces, and content distribution may impact personal and home electronics in the future. These waves and trends may blur the distinction between the different categories of electronics discussed in this paper and allow one device to perform multiple functions. Electronic devices of the future may have profound implications on our daily lives. They may function in critical roles, such as healthcare, and more leisurely activities, such as providing the illusion of instantaneous travel to any time or place one chooses. Interactivity between members of society and personal electronics may also be enhanced by these waves and trends and may take on a more human presence providing a sense of intimacy that is lacking in current devices. The lines between the physical and virtual worlds will begin to disappear and may affect how we make monetary transactions, distribute power, and commute, just to name a few. Trends such as cloud storage may allow user interfaces to simplify complex tasks with the use of icons or voice recognition without degrading performance. The electronics of the future may transform the lives of the average member of society to a degree that is difficult to fathom. The paper in this section explores how specific trends and lifestyle waves may impact future devices and their affect on society and how these devices may function. Check back with us 100 years from now and check the accuracy of our predictions. h