The present situation in Yamada Village, Toyama, is as follows: 1) There are many elderly people. 2) Most are farmers. 3) The households are widely separated. 4) They do not farm efficiently, because they have a poor understanding of the environment in their village. 5) They are not sufficiently aware of the need to conserve nature. Consequently, Yamada village set us 4 requirements as follows:
- A system that allows the social services department to occasionally observe bedridden elderly people.
- A system that check poeople as they work in the fields since many accidents have happened n the past.
- A system that watching the environment of the village for elderly people
- A system that can be extended to support tele-agriculture.
To meet these requirements, we provided system that made full use of our fundamental technology. This system utilizes broadband networks and omnidirectional cameras to visualize the environment of Yamada village; it is a prototype of the future information infrastructure.
This system remotely monitors a specific field using omnidirectional cameras and environmental sensors. Also, by using a human tracking system, the system can monitor the field workers. Moreover, the data collected by environmental sensors can be used for tele-agriculture, environmental protection, etc. By visualizing the village with Town Digitizing, visitors in other countries can participate in village life.
This application started in November 2001. To refine this system, we are still conducting research and development activities. We have already installed several omnidirectional cameras in Yamada village.
Contact:
Hiroshi Ishiguro, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
ishiguro at ams.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
Satoshi Koizumi, Digital City Research Center, Japan Science and Technology Agency
satoshi at digitalcity.jst.go.jp