Subtitles and closed captions, which are prepared for hearing-impaired users, are now widely used by users without hearing concerns. In this paper, we focus on the adaptation of subtitles and captions for non-hearing-impaired users, particularly the adaptation of the kanji ruby. From our experiments on non-hearing-impaired adults, Welch’s t-test was used to clarify whether listening to audio with the same content affects the necessity of kanji ruby. In addition, we proposed and evaluated an adaptive model to predict whether ruby should be added to kanji captions based on the experimental results. The experimental results suggest that not only the difficulty of the kanji and the user’s kanji ability, but also the content of the audio is important for the optimization of kanji ruby.

Recently, the data management model using personal data store (PDS), which is a mechanism for users to store and manage their personal data, has been discussed in response to stricter privacy protection worldwide. In this regard, we developed a data-driven personalization method for broadcasting services. Various personal data, such as program viewing history and Internet service usage history, are stored centrally in the PDS on the user's side. This personal data can be utilized under user control when using various services allowing cross-industry service collaboration while maintaining a high level of transparency to the user. This enables users to use broadcasting service more widely and conveniently by linking it with various Internet services. In this study, we developed a prototype system that implements end-to-end components from acquisition to utilization of broadcast program viewing history. The system consists of a set of functions that acquires viewing history from broadcast and Internet streaming, stores it on PDS, and uses it in applications. The PDS implementation utilizes open-source software based on web standards to facilitate data linkage with a variety of Internet services. As an effective example for system evaluation, we designed and prototyped on-demand video viewing services in which separate applications of different service providers are linked via the PDS.

Voice news notifications pushed without a user's explicit request enable the user to consume the news while they are performing various other activities. Thus, the user can keep up with the news naturally on a daily basis. However, the notifications can be intrusive if the timing of delivery is inappropriate. To estimate the appropriate timing, we prototyped a system that detects breakpoints in users' daily routines at home based on IoT sensor data and then sends voice news notifications through a speaker centrally located in a smart home environment. The system was installed in the residence of four participants for field testing over a duration of nearly two weeks. Subsequently, the participants were interviewed regarding their subjective evaluation of the system. The results suggest that (1) voice news notifications at appropriate timings can increase the number of user opportunities in accessing news updates without unduly distracting the user, and (2) the acceptable voice news notification clip length differs depending on the activities subsequent to the breakpoints. We believe that our voice notification system can be applied to enable users to receive news updates in a low-intrusive manner without distracting them from their daily activities.

The personal viewing history of broadcast and internet content can be used to improve the quality of online services for the user; consequently, enhancing a person's experience in their daily life. This study proposes a collection method of the personal viewing history of online video streaming services in a user-centric model, where the user owns and controls their data. By obtaining event data from a video element of HTML5 in a video streaming player on a web browser, users can store their viewing history separately from the service provider's system. Because this method employs standardized web technologies, it can be applied to multiple viewing devices and player implementations. Additionally, a prototype of a video streaming player extension is developed. Implementation of the proposed method and verification tests are conducted on the prototype. The results obtained suggest that the proposed method is applicable to existing HTML5 compliant web browsers.

This paper describes an experiment that evaluated the feasibility and advantages of mobile data broadcasting services that will be launched in Japan in 2006. Network-linked services and location-aware services are distinct applications of the mobile broadcasting services. The network-linked services will enable users to obtain content data from broadcast and communication networks, while the location-aware services provide each user with location-based information. The experiment was performed with the prototype receivers receiving actual broadcast waves and data from the mobile Internet. The trial service contents and the prototype broadcast system were also developed. We discuss the appropriate distribution of broadcast and network content.

In this paper we describe a method that transforms data broadcast contents on the receiver side into various formats fitting different user interfaces. The method performs accurate transformations by utilizing the fact that most data broadcast contents have a pattern derived from the template used in the broadcaster's production process. The method can also reconfigure content independently of its original structure. We implemented this method on an experimental mobile DTV receiver that transformed actual broadcast content into a news readout service using speech synthesis.

Terrestrial digital broadcasting that uses the ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial) system is scheduled for launch in Japan in December 2003. This system also enables mobile broadcasting service, which will be offered a few years later. We are developing a Location-Aware Data Broadcasting Service as a remarkably new type of interactive mobile broadcasting service. In this paper, we describe the service application, information filtering method, and presentation techniques for this location-aware data service. We also discuss a further experiment that uses scalable vector graphics.