November 13, 2007 (Tokyo, Japan)-Acrodea, Inc. (CEO and President: Junya Tsutsumi), headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and Yappa Corporation (CEO and President：Masahiro Ito), headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo have agreed to a business alliance concerning the development of more dynamic UI engine extension technology and design production of UI content by using the expertise of UI solutions distributed by Acrodea and innovative spatial UI design provided by Yappa.
The evolution of high-performance mobile devices and high-speed networks in recent years has led to greater convenience and ready access to rich content. Alongside the functional versatility and diverse services available, however, the demand for ease of use and comprehensibility has been rising at the actual instances when such functions and services are to be used. The business alliance between Acrodea and Yappa at this time aims to deliver user interfaces with more enjoyable, simpler operations for functions and access to services whenever users engage with the numerous terminal functions and service content available. In other words, the companies intend to develop a UI engine that can spatially arrange data and allow intuitive, seamless operations, and to provide UI content and design services accordingly.
Based on the next-generation technologies of Acrodea's VIVID UI, Yappa will embed a stereographic spatial expression engine based on 3D technologies. The resulting, innovative UI environment will be capable of dynamic visual effects for UI, intuitive access to data and functions, and vastly improved interactions with linking to input devices such as touch pads. Plans call for the contemporaneous release of optimum UI content with the new UI engine, and for offering UI design and content creation services.
Acrodea and Yappa will apply their global channels to a maximum, and engage domestically and globally to increase penetration of the new UI environment and refined UI designs.
| Fig. 1 Screens showing visual effects of VIVID UI Next Generation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
||
| Fig. 2 Stereographic spatial UI screens based on Yappa's 3D technology | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
||
| Fig. 3 Sample screens of spectacular UI under joint development | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
||
VIVID UI is a user interface platform developed by Acrodea for mobile phones, and represents innovative middleware that can integrate various types of multimedia content, such as still pictures, 3D graphics, animation, and video. VIVID UI enables mobile phones that can be readily customized with graphically enhanced menus and standby screens, according to preferences of the user. The VIVID UI authoring tool incorporates features for creating menu transitions through a visual context, as well as for menu content emulation. By using this tool, handset manufacturers and content providers can easily create compatible content with a wealth of expression. VIVID UI is currently provided to mobile communication carriers in Japan as a master license.
VIVID Movie achieves sophisticated video processing that can play rich movie content in memory-constrained and CPU performance-limited environments, such as mobile telephones and compact handheld devices. The technology is provided as middleware for mobile devices, and, in conjunction with VIVID UI, can deliver a highly expressive user interface with the adoption of movie content for menu screens. The high video compression rate means an optimum solution can be achieved for downloaded content also. VIVID Movie is provided to mobile communication carriers in Japan as a master license.
Since its foundation, Yappa Corporation has developed sophisticated image-processing technologies to enable real-time generation and rendering of stereographic (3D) images. These technologies comprise highly sophisticated, high-speed numerical formulas, including complete computing of physics. The current deployment of these technologies has created a more intuitive, new, and easy-to-use UI. People live in three-dimensional space. By reproducing the plausible natural phenomena of this space, the UI draws smooth, predictable and familiar screens that use the pattern recognition capability in humans. The linkage to VIVID UI is certainly emphasized; therefore, Yappa UI technologies are exposed so that developers can easily designate motion with two-dimensional and three-dimensional effects. The arrangement avoids the need for complicated computing, so that developers can create attractive UI expediently.
Yappa has formed a UI design studio domestically staffed with many designers. As a further enhancement to the studio, the company has joined hands with French designer Laurent Vincenti to offer UI with even greater appeal. A nationally distinguished designer of France, Mr. Vincenti is engaged widely in image strategies, branding redevelopment, graphic design, architectural design, and product & multimedia design. Between Mr. Vincenti and its domestic design studio, Yappa will propose revolutionary and easy-to-use UI.
Acrodea, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a software technology R&D firm involved in middleware technology for mobile terminals. The company is particularly focused on interface technologies connecting between the user and terminal, and currently provides UI (user interface) technologies and email enhancement technologies to the market. We are also applying R&D energy towards the enhancement of graphics performance, which is indispensable in facilitating usage of mobile platform interfaces. Our stance and efforts are a continual commitment to superior products and improving technology, for which we have received recognition worldwide. In addition to Japan and Korea, Acrodea is engaged in business on the global market, including China, Europe, and North America. The company listed publicly on Mothers Exchange of TSE on Oct. 19, 2006, just two years and three months after establishment in July 2004. Acrodea is headquartered in Tokyo, and maintains an overseas presence in Seoul, Korea; Espoo, Finland; and Newport Beach, California, U.S.A. For more information, please visit http://www.acrodea.co.jp.
Established in December 2000, the company acquired Web 3D technology from Israeli company 3Di to display 3D video based on numeral formulas alone without requiring software installation. In 2001 3Di was made a wholly owned subsidiary, and the 3D technology developed further. Applications have extended to electronic documentation, 3D imaging for online services, and interfaces using the proprietary 3D technologies in various industries. As a communications company, Yappa has received high praise for widely providing useful technologies. The company pursues the development of useful technologies that bring delight and excitement to many, is dedicated to the formation of a prosperous society and culture, and believes the foregoing to be its values to exist. Yappa is headquartered in Tokyo, and maintains an overseas presence in France, New York, U.S.A., and Israel. For more information, please visit http://www.yappa.co.jp/.
Marketing at Acrodea, Inc.
TEL: +81 3-5768-8603
Email: pr@acrodea.co.jp
General Affairs at Yappa Corporation
TEL: +81 3-5689-8811
Email: info@yappa.co.jp
