Recently the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), in collaboration with several member companies, including Nordic Semiconductor, held The AuracastTM Experience event in Japan at CEATEC 2023. This event allowed attendees to experience Auracast™ broadcast audio, a new innovation in Bluetooth® audio that enables you to share your audio, unmute your world, and hear your best. Visitors who attended the event expressed admiration and anticipation for the new AuracastTM broadcast audio use cases to come.
During the event we had the opportunity to interview Mr. Mitsuo Yamazaki, the representative director of Nordic Semiconductor Corporation. Mr. Yamazaki expressed high expectations for AuracastTM broadcast audio in the Japanese market, as it opens up opportunities for new product innovations.
Q&A With Mitsuo Yamazaki From Nordic Semiconductor Corporation at The AuracastTM Experience
What was your involvement in The AuracastTM Experience?
Nordic Semiconductor, as a member of the Bluetooth SIG, has been providing SoC solutions for AuracastTM broadcast audio since its release. In recent years, we have offered solutions such as standard-compliment firmware and software, and we are already providing our customers with relevant information.
What aspects of The Auracast™ Experience did you find most impressive?
I was most impressed by how audio broadcasting, as experienced at this event, is on the precipice of being made possible in various places such as airports, movie theaters, and tourist destinations. Japan welcomes tourists from various countries, and this technology will help enable multi-lingual broadcasting. I expect that, with the use of Auracast™ broadcast audio, we can expect an increase in services to help tourists enjoy Japan even more.
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Get new forecasts about when and which audio devices will adopt Auracast™ broadcast audio, along with predictions for when public locations will deploy this new Bluetooth capability to enable new audio use cases in their venues.
What feedback have you received from the media, analysts, colleagues, and customers regarding Auracast™ broadcast audio?
While we are still in the earliest stage of introducing the features, we have already received numerous inquiries from customers asking what Auracast™ broadcast audio can do. And customers with a good grasp of the details are interested in pursuing commercial solutions.
What do you think Japanese visitors are most looking forward to from Auracast™ broadcast audio?
In public places like art galleries, it can be challenging to hear announcements and information clearly. Being able to listen through your own earphones will certainly improve the experience. For situations like multilingual broadcasts or multiple audio streams in a family setting, being able to listen listen on your own device at your preferred volume or in your preferred language is something that I believe the general public is looking forward to.
How do you think Auracast™ broadcast audio will impact the Japanese audio market?
Regarding audio, many companies in the consumer sector have shifted their focus to overseas markets. However, with the introduction of Auracast™ broadcast audio, I expect that Japanese companies will have more opportunities to create new business ventures. In Japan, there is a high level of interest in professional audio, commercial audio, and high-end audio equipment. I believe that the development of Auracast™ products in Japan will continue to increase, and I am looking forward to Japanese companies taking the lead in innovation in this field.
FEATURED INNOVATION
Auracast™ Broadcast Audio
Auracast™ broadcast audio will deliver life-changing audio experiences that will enhance the way you engage with others and the world around you.
先日、Bluetooth SIGはCEATEC2023において、ノルディック・セミコンダクター株式会社を含むメンバー企業数社をパートナーに、Bluetooth®︎の新しいイノベーション、Auracast™ ブロードキャスト オーディオが変える日常の中のオーディオシェアリングが体験できるデモイベント、AuracastTM Experienceを日本初開催しました。体験した来場者からは、オーディオ共有、ミュート解除、最高の音で聴くことを可能にするAuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオの全く新しいユースケースに対し、感嘆と期待の声が数多く寄せられています。
このAuracastTM Experience開催にあたり、ノルディック・セミコンダクター株式会社代表取締役の山崎光男氏にインタビューする機会が得られました。山﨑氏のコメントからは、日本の市場や企業が新しい製品発信を可能にする契機となる、AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオへの大きな期待感が伺われました。
AuracastTM Experience開催に際し、ノルディック・セミコンダクター株式会社代表取締役 山崎光男氏とのQ&A
御社がAuracastTM Experienceにどのように関わられたか、教えてください。
山崎氏: Nordic SemiconductorはBluetooth SIGのメンバーとして、すでに2018年ごろからAuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオ向けのSOCソリューションを提供してきました。近年では規格が決まり、それに即したファームウェアやソフトウェアといったソリューションも提供させていただいています。すでにお客様にも情報提供を開始しているところです。
Auracast™ Experienceで最も素晴らしいと感じられたのはどのような点でしょうか。
山崎氏: 最も印象的に感じたのは、例えば空港や映画館、観光地などでも本イベントで体験したようなオーディオのブロードキャストが可能になるということです。日本はさまざまな国から観光客を迎えていますが、そういった方々に対して、多言語でブロードキャストができるようになります。観光客の方々がより日本を楽しむことのできるサービスが、AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオの活用によって今後ますます展開できるだろうと期待しています。
Auracast™ Experienceについて、メディアやアナリスト、同僚や顧客の方々から、どのようなフィードバックが得られたか教えてください。
山崎氏: まだ機能が紹介されて間もない段階なので、お客様からはお問い合わせを通じて「AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオではどういったことができるのか？」とのご質問を多くいただいています。一部、すでに詳細を把握されたお客様からは、コマーシャル向けのソリューションをやりたいとの案件のお声がけをいくつかいただいています。
AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオを体験する際に、日本の来場者が最も期待を覚えるのはどのような点だと思われますか？
山崎氏: まずはやはり、美術館などの公共の施設でなかなか案内などが聞き取りにくいケースがありますが、それを自分のイヤホンで聞けるようになるというのは体験として好ましいことだと思います。また、家庭内で二カ国語放送や多重音声放送を家族で聴く場合などに、自分の好きな言語・音声で聴くことができるというのも、一般の方々にとって楽しみな点になると思います。
AuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオが日本のオーディオ市場に与える影響について、どのようにお考えですか？
山崎氏: オーディオに関しては、現在では特にコンシューマーを中心に、モノを提供する企業が海外にシフトしています。しかしこのAuracastTM ブロードキャスト オーディオの登場によって、日本企業が新しいビジネスを生み出すチャンスが増えると期待しています。日本ではプロ向けオーディオ、コマーシャル向けオーディオ、高級機種などへの高い関心があります。そういった製品の日本での開発が今後どんどん増えると考えていますし、日本企業による発信を楽しみにしています。
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