Microsoft Innovation Center Report 2010-2011 vol.3
Gifu Innovation Center Seminar: Developers in Gifu Act Ahead for the Next Generation Mobile Platform
Published: August 11, 2010
Japanese >>
July 1st and 2nd, 2010, Softopia Japan Center Building
Gifu Innovation Center, a Microsoft Innovation Center affiliate organization, held the Gifu Innovation Center Seminar for local IT industry as well as manufacturing other industries utilizing IT. At the seminar, Microsoft’s strategy was explained and participants discussed how to make use of this strategy for local industry. Developers attending Gifu Innovation Center claimed they would adopt the latest mobile and cloud platforms. The center would offer training and study sessions following this seminar with Microsoft lecturers.
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Gifu Innovation Center: Revisiting Previous Year Activities, Planning for the Future
 | Over the last three years, we have appreciated the great support from Microsoft to promote IT among the companies in Gifu and foster human resources. We expect their continuous support for IAMAS and the prefecture to vitalize the local industries. |  | | Hajime Furuta
(Governor, Gifu Prefecture)
| | |
Gifu Prefecture
, IAMAS (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences/International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences) , and Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan have agreed to work together to vitalize local industry by promoting IT and signed a memorandum in February, 2007.
Through Gifu Innovation Center, the three parties have worked together for human resource development and regional contribution by utilizing IT.
For human resource development, approximately 240 seminars and study sessions were held till March 2010, including Training for Engineers to help IT industry workers to acquire technical skills, Regional Alliances Seminar for increasing productivity and streamlining the operation of manufacturing industry by utilizing IT and IAMAS Open Sessions, and total of more than 4,000 local company employees and students attended to these sessions.
At Gifu Innovation Center Seminar titled IT Strategy for the Future, Microsoft's future strategy was introduced to those in the IT, manufacturing and other industries in Gifu and the neighboring areas, and a panel discussion held among the key figures in the region to discuss how local industries should utilize the latest technologies.
In addition, the representatives from Microsoft not only participated in the report meeting with IAMAS and Gifu Prefecture, but also had a meeting with the Governor of Gifu Prefecture. During these two days, participants revisited the annual activities held at Gifu Innovation Center and discussed the Center's future plans in detail.
"Over the last three years since we signed the agreement in February, 2007," recalled Hajime Furuta (Governor, Gifu Prefecture), "we have appreciated the great support from Microsoft to promote IT among the companies in Gifu and foster human resources. Microsoft has given us a lot of support, including providing the lecturers for various seminars, training software, server equipment, and the latest technological information. Thanks to their help, a seminar was held for the IT engineers in the prefecture when Windows 7 was released. We expect their continuous support for IAMAS and the prefecture to vitalize the local industries."
Gifu Prefecture Eyes the Latest Mobile and Cloud Platform
| | UX will take on a more important role than ever in the latest mobile and cloud platforms. I expect our collaboration to expand to other fields where IAMAS has expertise, like industrial design. | | | Atsuhito Sekiguchi
(President, IAMAS)
| | |
At Gifu Innovation Center, "Three Screens and a Cloud" was introduced: Microsoft's vision suggests a more easy-to-use interface for utilizing information by connecting smart phones and TVs as well as PCs over the cloud.
In this strategy, the important elements are the readiness for cloud computing and three-screen user experience (UX). Gifu Innovation Center has recently focused on the cloud and UX, planning a series of test demonstrations to use the public cloud (Windows Azure) and the private cloud (virtual environment) with a smart phone.
"As cloud computing and the Windows Phone 7 Series become widely used in the future," emphasized Atsuhito Sekiguchi (President, IAMAS), "UX will take on a more important role than ever. IAMAS has worked together with Gifu Innovation Center to establish and enhance the ICT foundation among local companies in Gifu, and I expect our collaboration to expand to other fields where IAMAS has expertise, like industrial design."
Gifu Innovation Center also focuses on the mobile terminals to provide the latest UX, and held a session about smart phones at Gifu Innovation Center Seminar, where the features of Windows Phone 7 Series and its potential as an application platform were introduced for the first time in Japan.
"As we received a lot of inquires about Windows Phone 7 Series," stated Shinji Koshikawa (Japan Business Group Lead, Mobile Communications Business Group, Microsoft Co., Ltd. Japan), "I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about it for the first time at a public event like this. Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan has a Windows Mobile development division, and feedback from Japanese customers was incorporated into Windows Mobile 6.5.3 and later. With its attractive, easy-to-use interface, Windows Phone 7 Series is really a splendid platform for business application devices. We will have the first Windows Phone 7 Series development seminar in Japan here in Gifu tomorrow. We encourage all of you to make the best use of this seminar for your business opportunities."
Windows Phone Study Group (Gifu Windows Phone Project): Getting Ready for the Next Generation Platform Release
| | I would like the participating developers to become partners when Windows Phone 7 Series is released and bring new business opportunities to the central Japan area. | | | Makoto Hasegawa
(President, Stepwise Inc.)
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Centering on IAMAS, Gifu Prefecture aggressively supports smart phone application development. Engineers engaged in smart phone application development have worked together at Softopia Japan Center, releasing world-class applications including Sekai Camera .
Although a number of study groups and community activities targeting iPhone and Android are taking place, many developers and engineers focus attention on Windows Phone 7 Series, the next generation mobile platform.
As a kick-off event for the upcoming series of Windows Phone Study Groups (Gifu Windows Phone Project), The Next Generation Windows Phone Application Development Seminar was held.
Makoto Hasegawa (President, Stepwise Inc.) took leadership of Windows Phone Study Group. Stepwise Inc. in neighboring Aichi Prefecture was a Microsoft IT Venture Support Program 2008 selected company, and joined the study group to share its goal to vitalize IT industry in the central Japan area.
"Because sufficient budget and attention are given when a new product is released," noted Hasegawa, "there will be a great deal of business opportunities for partners who are ready for the product. We operate our business as an IT venture company in the local region, and when we registered as an Azure early adoption partner, we got media coverage and were contacted by many customers from all over Japan. I would like Windows Phone Study Group (Gifu Windows Phone Project) help participating developers to become partners when Windows Phone 7 Series is released and bring new business opportunities to the central Japan area."
Shinobu Takahashi (Architecture Evangelist, UX & Client Platform Evangelism Group, Developer & Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Co. Ltd, Japan), who has written some books about Windows Mobile application development, took the role of kick-off event lecturer. As it was the very first public event to get developers ready for the next generation smart phone, approximately 40 developers attended the session, while 30 participants had been initially expected. This event received a wide range of TV and other media coverage.
Windows Phone Study Group (Gifu Windows Phone Project) will be held once in a month at Gifu Innovation Center Training Room (in Softopia Japan Center). The study sessions will be distributed through USTREAM and developers can join the session via streaming.
| GifuInnovationCenter Seminar: IT Strategy for the Future July 1st, 2010, Softopia Japan Center Bldg. 1st Floor Seminar Hall | • | Lecture: Microsoft's Vision for Future IT Trends
Shunichi Kajisa (CTO, Microsoft Co. Ltd, Japan); Shinji Koshikawa (Japan Business Group Lead, Mobile Communications Business Group, Microsoft Co., Ltd) | | • | Lecture: Information and Economic Revolution Strategy
Kensuke Tomita (Deputy Director-General, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) | | • | Panel Discussion: Business Operation in Gifu Area Focusing the Current IT Trend
Panelists: Makoto Hasegawa (President, Stepwise Inc.), Kazuhiko Miyake (President, Central Fine Tool Co,. Ltd.), Yasunori Tanaka (Executive Director, Densan System Co., Ltd.), Kensuke Tomita (Deputy Director-General, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), Shigeki Yoshida (Professor, International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences), Shinji Koshikawa (Japan Business Group Lead, Mobile Communications Business Group, Microsoft Co., Ltd. Japan)
Coordinator: Kenji Kumasaka (Chairman, Softopia Japan Foundation) | The Next Generation Windows Phone Application Development Seminar July 1st, Softopia Japan Center Bldg. 11th Floor, Mid Conference Room #3 | • | About Windows Phone ７ (Next Generation Windows Phone) | | • | Windows Mobile Application Development: Overview
Shinobu Takahashi (Architecture Evangelist, UX & Client Platform Evangelism Group, Developer & Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Co. Ltd, Japan) |   |