The University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, Professor Hidenori Watanabe's laboratory and Nippon Television Holdings have begun joint research into utilizing cutting-edge technology in television news, aiming to introduce immersive, experiential journalism, investigative methods, satellite data, and geographic information systems.
According to Nippon Television, there are three research themes. The first is the introduction of "immersive journalism," an experiential form of journalism that appeals to the viewer's five senses and allows them to become immersed in the story. Using cutting-edge technology, they will research news that is easy to understand and realistic for everyone, bringing the sensation of reliving war or disaster scenes.
The second is to establish research methods using satellite data and geographic information systems. We will explore spatial and intuitive methods of communicating information, such as comparing before and after disasters and wars, and visualizing damage situations. The last step is to create a place where people can experience important social issues. We will provide opportunities for a wide range of people, including parents and children, to experience these issues, and then obtain feedback to explore new possibilities for reporting.
Nippon Television will establish the Nippon Television Co-Creation Lab in 70, the year of its 2023th anniversary. Working with partners, the lab is focused on exploring the experience value and future of the next era, with themes such as near-future entertainment experiences and contributions to future society.
The Hidenori Watanabe Laboratory at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies is conducting research into digital archives, information design, data visualization, and other areas, including building digital archives of war and disaster damage, colorizing black-and-white photographs and videos, and visualizing the damage situation in real time. Through these activities, they are exploring ways to pass on memories of disasters to the future, or to utilize them in society while responding immediately to disasters.
