Announcement of the Launch of the "Audio AR Consortium" to Connect Regions and the Future with the Power of Sound

Sony Marketing Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Daisuke Kawaguchi), Shobunsha Holdings, Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Shigeo Kuroda), and NEC Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Takayuki Morita) announce the launch of the "Audio AR Consortium" (hereinafter referred to as "the Consortium"). This collaborative organization aims to revitalize regions and solve social issues in the fields of tourism DX, disaster prevention, and education, based on audio AR (Augmented Reality) technology.

The Consortium will bring together the diverse expertise of its participating companies to establish new experiences centered on hearing as next-generation social infrastructure.

1. Background and Vision for the Consortium's Establishment

Augmented reality (AR) technology, which overlays digital information onto the real world, is rapidly developing with the spread of smartphones and the evolution of wearable devices. Among these, audio AR, which allows information to be acquired through sound, is expanding its applications, primarily in the entertainment field, such as multilingual guidance at tourist sites and audio guides at attraction facilities.

The Consortium aims to establish audio AR not just for entertainment but as a social infrastructure that "connects regions and the future with the power of sound." We will promote the development and establishment of audio AR through multifaceted approaches, including deep historical experiences at tourist destinations, new information dissemination during disasters, and inquiry-based learning in educational settings.

2. Main Areas of Activity and Social Value

Revitalizing the Tourism Industry and Promoting Tourism DX

We will provide opportunities to rediscover the charm of tourist destinations through multilingual audio guides and highly entertaining content. We will also implement initiatives to support the mitigation of overtourism and regional revitalization. Audio AR is a technology that provides audio content based on location information. By utilizing anonymized location data in an appropriate format, it is possible to visualize human flow, which can be used to promote visitor circulation and consider measures to alleviate congestion.

Utilization in Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

We aim to contribute to disaster prevention and mitigation by providing experiential evacuation drill content and multilingual support.

Nurturing Next-Generation Talent in Education

We will provide curricula for "inquiry-based learning" that digitizes local history and culture into audio content, allowing students to create their own regional content. Through inquiry-based learning, we aim to improve understanding of the region and enhance digital literacy.

Other Planned Activities

・Research and Development: Advancing audio AR technology and improving the accuracy of human flow analysis. ・Social Implementation Expansion: Sharing success stories in collaboration with local governments and organizations in Japan and abroad. ・Official Events: Holding the Audio AR Summit (annual) and the Audio AR Awards.

Company Overviews

Steering Companies

Shobunsha Holdings, Inc. https://www.mapple.co.jp/company/

Sony Marketing Inc. https://www.sony.jp/CorporateCruise/SMOJ-info/Profile.html

NEC Corporation https://group.nec/global/ja/about/corporate/

Participating Companies and Organizations

Caritas Inc. https://www.career-tasu.co.jp/corporate/

Service Marketing Inc. https://s-mkg.com/#aboutUs

Touristsip Association https://touristship.jp/

International Professional University of Technology https://www.iput.ac.jp/

Mikle Inc. https://mikle.co.jp/company.html

Japan Ninja Council https://ninja-official.com/

ima Inc. https://i-ma.jp/

JTB Corporation https://www.jtbcorp.jp/jp/company/profile/

NTT West Corporation VOICENCE Company https://voicence.jp/company/

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Audio AR Consortium Secretariat

URL: https://stirring-frangipane-9c88cc.netlify.app/

* "Sony," "Sony," and product names, service names, and logos used in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Group Corporation or its group companies. Other product names, service names, company names, or logos are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective companies.

* Inquiries from the press: Sony Marketing Inc. Public Relations [email protected]

NEC Corporation, Social and Public Sector Integration Division [email protected]