September 15th, 2017

Tokyo, JP (September 15th, 2017) -- Dwango Co., Ltd. (https://info.kadokawadwango.co.jp/english/
index.html), known for their social video service Niconico, has today announced that their synchronized content delivering system called DAHLES (Dwango Advanced HoloLive Education System), which utilizes Microsoft’s MR (mixed reality) head mount display Microsoft HoloLens, has been selected for Innovative Technologies+ organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

In response, Dwango will be performing a live demonstration of DAHLES’ live MR system at Digital Content Expo 2017 which will be held at the National Museum of Emerging Science, known as Miraikan, in Tokyo during October 27-29th.

Dwango’s DAHLES live MR system demonstration to be held at DC EXPO in Tokyo, Japan

Innovative Technologies+ is a project which gives awards to new content technologies (technologies involved in the creation, distribution and consumption of contents) and business models that are expected to significantly contribute to the development of the content industry - around 20 are chosen from the submissions. This project also aims to promote practical application of these technologies and business models to a wide range of fields.

DAHLES, which has been selected for the Innovative Technologies+, is an MR (mixed-reality) system that connects and synchronizes multiple devices, such as the Microsoft HoloLens, to deliver a shared live MR experience to large audiences. The HoloLens by default has limited sharing capabilities and can only link few users in a room few square meters wide – with DAHLES, contents can be shared with over a hundred people in a room tens of square meters wide. It can also share what is shown on the HoloLens to physical audiences without HoloLens and remote audiences watching through live streaming.

DAHLES has broad applications and fosters an engaging experience. It was first implemented at Kadokawa Dwango School Corporation N High School’s entrance ceremony on April 2017 – this is an online school operated by Kadokawa Dwango. From the main campus in Okinawa, the school principal gave a speech to 75 newly enrolled students (each wearing a HoloLens) who were seated in another facility in Roppongi, Tokyo.

At Digital Content Expo, DAHLES live MR system will replicate part of the Kabuki show called Chokabuki Kuruwa Kotoba Awase Kagami which was held at an event called Niconico Chokaigi 2017 (http://www.chokaigi.jp/2017/en/) organized by Dwango. With HoloLens, visitors at the booth will be able to see the vocaloid virtual diva Hatsune Miku dressed in a Japanese courtesan kimono perform a Buyo (traditional Japanese dance) in front of their very eyes. Additionally, DAHLES system will also link up with AR technology and lighting equipment enabling visitors without HoloLens to see her dance via the display screen placed inside the booth. Through the demonstration, visitors will learn how the live MR system on DAHLES will deliver a synchronized MR experience to different audiences – those watching in the flesh with or without HoloLens and those watching through live streaming.

【Digital Content EXPO 2017 – Event Details】

●Dates：October 27th (Fri)- 29th (Sun)
●Venue：National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) 2-3-6 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
●Organizer：Digital Content Association of Japan
●Co-organizer：National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan)
●Official Website：https://www.dcexpo.jp/en/