What I Expect of STRL

My research career started nearly 40 years ago; my master's degree was a study on spread spectrum technology. After completing my doctorate, I became interested in encoding theory and its application. About 20 years ago, I got into encryption and data security, and my interest in this topic has continued to the present. During these years, I've been pleased to be involved with the Science & Technical Research Laboratories (STRL) in various ways. As a researcher on coding theory, I first recognized STRL's research prowess when the difference-set cyclic code began to be implemented in teletext broadcasting Dr. Osamu Yamada, a former STRL Director-General, was at the forefront of this work, which was indeed a pioneering private-sector application of error correction encoding. I marveled at the high level of technical capability as well as the pioneer spirit of STRL's staff. Later I would help to improve the decoding performance of this encoding scheme. This research would actually have led us to low-density parity check code (LDPC coding) iterative decoding, which is an integral part of present coding theory. Unfortunately, we did not recognize this fact at that time. It can be said that the implementation of the difference-set cyclic code was ahead of its time.

I have attended several meetings of the Broadcasting Technology Research Committee, finding, without fail, that each meeting is a refreshing surprise. They have given me the opportunity to see the world's most innovative research in the broadcasting field. I believe that such consistently outstanding achievements are only possible in an atmosphere in which individual researchers can follow their own interests while maintaining an orientation with the general direction of research as a whole.

Recently, public research institutions have been expected to show tangible results in the short term. Unfortunately, the wisdom of relying on research proving its worth in the short term is questionable. For instance, Dr. Yamada said of his research: "We researched difference-set cyclic code because we found it fascinating." It was also this fascination that drove me to do research on coding and encryption. I believe that any researcher who can't enjoy his or her job won't produce consistently good research. It is my sincere hope that despite the recent trend, the atmosphere of free study will remain at STRL.

Needless to say, it is also important that STRL maintain a clear set of research guidelines. I believe that the Broadcasting Technology Research Committee, which has participants with a profound yet diverse knowledge of broadcasting technology, can contribute fresh ideas that are different from those held by the people in STRL, especially regarding the evaluation and future prospects of its studies. It is my hope that our committee will have a bearing on the future outlook of STRL.

Our society is changing drastically. There have been rapid technical advances especially in telecommunications and broadcasting, and there have been accompanying changes in users' attitudes that could not have been easily predicted. Moreover, I believe that of all institutions, only STRL has the expertise to guide the future of broadcasting and related technologies. The expectations placed on STRL will be ever-increasing.

Broadcasting Technology Research Committee
With the aim of advancing research on broadcasting technology, the Committee serves as a forum for STRL researchers to exchange opinions with outside experts on STRL's research topics and results. Committee meetings have been held semiannually, in the spring and fall, since the committee's inception in October 1956.