Page 221 - Intelligent Communication Systems

190 INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
real time, high-speed networks and highly efficient switching systems such as ATM
switching systems have to be installed everywhere. High-speed local area networks
are also needed to provide high-speed multimedia services.
(2) Database technology: The amount of data in the database of multimedia
information will be huge. Motion pictures, 3D image data, and still pictures require
databases that are huge as compared with textual information. It is desirable to
develop a multimedia database system with the storage space for a huge amount
of information as well as high-speed processing capabilities.
(3) Image recognition and reconstruction technology: It is very important to
develop image recognition and synthesis technology. Through HyperReality, human
beings, real or virtual, will be brought together via the Internet to do cooperative
work as if they were gathered in the same place. First the shape and texture of a
person's image is measured by image recognition technology. Current image
recognition devices include 3D cyberware by which the shape of a 3D object is
measured and its color and texture determined. However, cyberware can measure
a 3D object whose height is no greater than 30 centimeters. More powerful image
recognition devices need to be developed. When a person's shape, color, and tex-
ture are determined, the information will be stored at the workstation. During the
session, the person's facial expression or body motion will be recognized by means
of image recognition technology. Using this information, the 3D image will be
adjusted by image synthesis technology and displayed in a coaction field. This is
how all objects will be measured by image recognition technology. The shape,
color, and texture will be determined. When the motion of the object is detected,
the shape will be adjusted by means of image synthesis and the texture mapped
and displayed in a coaction field.
(4) Human—machine interface technology: In HyperReality, a person will be
able to handle a virtual object by hand gesture. Wearing a data glove with sensors,
the person's hand motions and finger motions will be detected. Using the infor-
mation, the image's hands and fingers will be adjusted and displayed on screen.
HyperReality will give a more advanced human-friendly interface between human
and computer. Natural language processing, speech recognition, and handwritten-
text recognition will provide human-friendly interfaces, especially for disabled
persons. These kinds of multimodal human-machine interfaces will give more
chances for interaction between people and computers.

13.6 BRIDGING THE GAPS BETWEEN THE HAVES
AND THE HAVE-NOTS

In the information age anyone should be able to access the Internet and communi-
cate. However, there are people who lack access to the network. Especially in the
developing countries, most of these lack such access because they do not have a
computer or enough money to access the network.