In industry, digital twins are simulations of real-world objects fed with data. For example, a digital twin of a wind turbine offers engineers the chance to diagnose problems without visiting the site. A ‘bio digital twin’ might offer doctors the chance to see how a patient would respond to drugs – before prescribing them. Chris Shaw, Chief Marketing Officer, NTT Research, Inc said that NTT is trying to build a model of the human body, but, ‘Tuning that generic model to create an individual digital twin will involve complex breakthroughs in data and mathematics. And, it will also take time—decades for full realization of this project’s potential. 10 tech breakthroughs predicted to change our lives this century, according to experts | Daily Mail Online

First, the science: Back in October 2022, a team of 16 experts from NTT Research Inc., the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) authored a paper titled “Delocalized Photonic Deep Learning on the Internet’s Edge” that appeared in Science. Why the technology it describes for edge applications wasn’t widely publicized until last week is a question that, put to NTT Research, went unanswered as of this writing. Anyway, the article outlined how newly designed smart optical transceivers can be deployed in sensors, smartphones, content delivery networks, and even aircraft to tackle the hefty processing and associated power consumption of deep neural networks (DNNs). Profile: Luminous Powers AI Optics at the Edge – Futuriom

A group of scientists, including researchers from NTT Research, MIT and the Physics and Informatics (PHI) Lab, recently demonstrated a new technique called Netcast. This technique uses optical technology to run deep neural networks (DNNs) efficiently, and it can enable advanced DNNs on resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices. NTT, MIT Researchers develop technique for efficient AI on IoT edge devices | Edge Industry Review (edgeir.com)

NTT Research, a part of NTT Group, tried to answer that question at its recent 2023 Upgrade Reality Summit. At the event, NTT Research unveiled and demonstrated a new product called the “private telemetry system,” a cryptographic technology for privately using aggregate data. The technology is the foundation on which NTT’s new data-privacy-as-a-service approach is built, “providing a protocol for hiding values while enabling companies to securely access previously unattainable data.” NTT Tackles Data Privacy Issues With New Cryptography Technology (itprotoday.com)

A scientific project that can create digital representations of the cardiovascular system aims to predict and diagnose diseases in virtual scenarios before applying them to real-world settings. The system can help doctors make better decisions on treatment options, as well as predict potential illnesses down the road. Iris Shelly, a research scientist with NTT Research, joins the show to discuss the project. Today in Tech: How will biological digital twins improve healthcare? | Ep. 40 on Apple Podcasts

NTT Sonority Inc., a member of the wider NTT Group, recently announced it developed an entirely new type of earphone that enhances user safety and comfort. The earphone, which uses a technology called the “Personalized Sound Zone” (PSZ), marked the entrance of NTT — the global IT giant heavily invested in fundamental research, telecommunications, and emerging technologies — into the broad world of consumer electronics. The launch was announced while NTT Research hosted the 2023 edition of its Upgrade Reality Summit in San Francisco, California — an annual NTT event that features the group’s several arms showcasing various innovations and technologies that will help to power the future. ‘Own your sound zone’: How NTT Sonority’s new earphones power immersive audio experiences – New York Tech Media (nytech.media)

Researchers at Japanese telecommunications giant NTT noted that consumer privacy remains a challenge, as many consumers do not want to be tracked and some data cannot be collected for privacy reasons. To solve this problem, companies can opt for voluntary tracking or pay customers for their data, they say. NTT Research researchers propose some solutions, such as leveraging aggregated user statistics while protecting individuals’ personal data. This, they noted at a roundtable in San Francisco last month, can be achieved through a Private Telemetry System that uses cryptographic technology to leverage aggregated data while protecting users’ privacy. How Startup Founders Can Stay Ahead of Changing User Data Regulations | Entrepreneur