NEC iExpo 2013 took place in Tokyo, Japan over two days. The expo showcased NEC's latest technologies across 125 booths, including infrared cameras for disaster response, sensors for improving crop yields, robots for assisted living, and 4K laser projectors. Key areas of focus included cloud computing, software defined networking, renewable energy, aerospace, and carbon nanotubes. The event highlighted NEC's vision for using technology to build a more sustainable society and accommodate a growing global population.

1. “Toward an Information Society Friendly to Humans and the
Earth. Underpinning the Future with Social Infrastructure.”
By @DaveMichels

2. NEC iExpo 2013 took place in the Tokyo
International Forum on November 14
and 15. It is a large downtown
conference venue, difficult to accurately
capture in a single photo.
@DaveMichels

3. As it is a global
event, program
guides were
available in
numerous
languages.
@DaveMichels

4. Assigned seating, by region, for the keynote. The US section was up toward the back. Some countries, like Japan
and Korea, had very large sections. The device upper right was my “babel fish” translation device. Probably the only
electronic device in the building that wasn’t made by NEC.
An awards ceremony took place before the keynote, I think – I don’t know as it was not translated.
@DaveMichels

5. The exhibit hall with about 125 booths exhibiting NEC technologies. It was a mixture of theater-like
presentations, large booths, and kiosks. Everything was in Japanese, some things were in English
@DaveMichels

6. On Display was the NEC IRV2060C infrared camera. It can be
used to find survivors after a
disaster. Typically mounted on a
long pole or Drone.
@DaveMichels

7. The greenhouse above was a miniature model. NEC is using cloud technologies and
sensors to improve crop yields and lower costs. A big part of the NEC vision is better use
of resources are necessary to accommodate an ever increasing population on Earth.
@DaveMichels

8. This is a smaller version of a robot
demonstrated at prior NEC events. This new
model is called PaPeRo Petit. It is about 9
inches tall.
Many of NEC’s technologies are getting
smaller and smarter because they are
increasingly using the cloud for back-end
processing.
NEC will be rolling out The PaPeRo Petit
Partner program in Japan in 2014. It’s a form of
assisted living, where PaPeRo assists by
monitoring and interacting with people.
PaPeRo can monitor activities like taking
medicines and sensing motion or falls. It’s can
also act as a speakerphone.
@DaveMichels

9. The first two photos are of the same newly released NEC DT770G Cradle Device sporting both a tablet and
smartphone. The mobile devices connect via Bluetooth, extending its life by avoiding specific connectors
and device form factors. The cradle is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of devices. There is a USB
connector, but only for charging. It is available for the 3C and SV platforms. The DT800 on the right is a new
IP desktop endpoint. The NEC phones for the Asian markets have shinier faces and more colorful keys than
the US models.
@DaveMichels

10. This was a sample application using NEC 3C APIs. The application used the location
awareness on the 3C mobile client to create a live/interactive Google Map showing location
information of colleagues.
@DaveMichels

11. This was my favorite application of NEC’s video
recognition software. The NEC checkout
solution can identify different types of produce.
Even different types of red apples.
Produce creates the biggest opportunity for
error for grocery cashiers. Could also simplify
self check-out solutions.
@DaveMichels

12. Large areas for SDN and Cloud Solutions. Much
larger than the pictures suggest.
@DaveMichels

13. NEC has numerous solutions for power management, storage, and distribution. NEC
also provides the technology in the Nissan Leaf battery. EV Chargers are growing in
popularity along with the growth of electric cars. This one has cloud management.
@DaveMichels

14. It is very hard to capture video resolution with a secondary camera. This is a video projection using the
NEC 4KPure Laser Projector. I don’t think this product is generally available yet. The projector itself was
the size of a small desk. It is hard to imagine anything higher resolution than this image. I am guessing
the screen was about 10’ diagonally.
@DaveMichels

15. NEC is very active in aerospace. The firm builds satellites
including the frames, temperature control systems,
communications systems, power systems, computers, and
flight control systems. NEC also builds ground control
systems. NEC claims 60% market share in the Japanese
satellite market.
@DaveMichels

16. This year, NEC began selling "carbon nanohorn," a form of carbon nanotube. Carbon nanohorns
were discovered in 1998 in a NEC lab. Carbon nanohorns are expected to be used in a variety of
ways and industries including as a carrier for drug delivery systems, as capacitors, actuators and
fuel cells.
@DaveMichels

17. The NEC Super Tower (NECスーパータワー NEC Sūpātawā). It is the headquarters of NEC
Corporation. 590 feet tall and 43 floors (+ 5 underground). It was completed in 1990.
@DaveMichels

18. Views from the 41st floor of the NEC Super Tower on a
not so clear day.
@DaveMichels

19. A model in the lobby of the NEC Super Tower. Sea to space.
What the model doesn’t capture is the degree of vertical
integration of the solutions. Take 3C for example, it can be
hosted on NEC servers, using NEC storage, over an NEC
software defined network, connecting to NEC endpoints
including phones – and in Japan NEC tablets and PCs.
Although there is a strong story of integrated solutions,
through standards and openness none of the above solution
requires that the other components are NEC.
@DaveMichels

20. This is my one shot of the NEC Executive Briefing Center in Tokyo. Photo’s were not permitted within. FYI: The
EBC is not in the Super Tower headquarters location.
@DaveMichels

21. Here is the America’s delegation with Mr. Nobuhiro Endo– President of NEC Corporation.
Dave Michels, Gordon Maccani, Nobuhiro Endo, Larry Levenberg, Don Stewart, Garry Laxdal, Shinya Anraku.
@DaveMichels