[Report] Think about the future by experiencing the latest technology! Workshop event for children 'NTT Dream Kids 2024 Mirai School'

1) "NTT DREAM KIDS 2024" for learning about information and communications while having fun

"NTT Dream Kids" is a hands-on learning event for children that has been held every summer vacation since 2006 with the aim of helping children understand the importance of 'communications' as part of our social infrastructure.

NTT Dream Kids" is a fun way to learn about ICT systems and services.

2) Held with online contents & real events

"NTT DREAM KIDS 2024" was held online and in person.Online content is available on PCs, tablets, and smartphones (PCs are recommended for some content) until October 31, 2024.

①Online contents "Dream Kids Online"

From July 1 to October 31, 2024, elementary school students between the 2nd and 6th grade (recommended) can learn about advanced services and information communication systems. In addition, through mission-based activities, participants will learn the rules and etiquette necessary when using smartphones and computers, helping not only to create a better internet society but also to protect themselves.
The site also provides templates that can be used for free research reports during summer vacation, and introduces a career path event for junior high school students conducted by "Team Self as We," a volunteer group of female executives.

Online contents website (available until October 31, 2024, Japanese-language only).

②Real event "NTT Dream Kids Mirai School"

The "NTT Dream Kids Mirai School" was held on August 11 and 12, 2024 at the NTT West Training Center Main Building PRISM in Osaka, and on August 14 and 15 at the NTT InterCommunication Center [ICC] in Tokyo, Japan.

3) Mirai School report on learning cutting-edge ICT technology

This is a report on the "NTT Dream Kids Mirai School" held at the NTT InterCommunication Center [ICC] in Tokyo on August 15, 2024.

About 30 elementary school students participated in each session, divided into four teams of Blue, Yellow, Green, and Red. The event began with a lively greeting from the participants, kicking off the activities.

①Workshop 1: "Self-Introduction with Well-being Cards"

To start, the participants introduced themselves to team members using "wellbeing cards" developed at NTT's research laboratory. Using cards with various keywords such as "enthusiasm," "friendship," and "compassion," they shared stories about when they felt happy or excited. Many of them talked about their favorite things or memories of their summer vacation.

②Workshop 2 "Optical Communication Experiment"

In order to understand the mechanism of fiber-optic cables, which are used worldwide, we built a transmitter and receiver for a fiber-optic telephone. Once the kit was assembled, the music information from an electronic music box was converted into electrical signals that were then converted into LED lights, allowing the music to be heard through a speaker. When the music was heard, there were shouts of "I can hear it!" throughout the room.
After experiencing the "light" communication experiment, participants learned about the "IOWN" concept proposed by NTT, which aims to create an affluent society using cutting-edge optical technology.

③Workshop 3: "Let's Get Familiar with Generative AI"

Participants learned the basics of cutting-edge generative AI and the rules for its use through hands-on experience with NTT's CrossLingual Speech Synthesis Platform and the generative AI "tsuzumi." In a demonstration of the AI-powered speech synthesis system, participants read short sentences and the AI used their voices to reproduce various words that closely resembled their own.

Additionally, during a true-or-false quiz on generative AI knowledge and etiquette, everyone enthusiastically raised their hands to indicate their answers, with cheers erupting whenever someone got the correct answer.

④Workshop 4 "Thinking about the World of the Future"

Using cards with various keywords such as "robot," "sports," and "school," the participants came up with interesting ideas for the future world that will be created by NTT's R&D and technological innovation. The participants presented interesting and free-thinking ideas, such as "VR will allow you to participate in school classes" and "Having drones fly around during sports to offer advice."

4) Mirai School participants' voices

Children and their parents who participated in the "NTT Dream Kids Mirai School" gave a lot of feedback, such as "I usually just use my smartphone, so it was good to know how it actually works," "I was able to learn more about AI, which my child is interested in," "The explanations about fiber optics and the transmission of sound and light were easy to understand, even for adults," and ""The demonstration of fiber optics and hands-on assembly were excellent-something only NTT could offer." Moving forward, we aim to continue providing educational experiences where participants can learn while having fun.

5) NTT Group activities for children

Through "NTT Dream Kids," NTT Group will continue to promote initiatives to deliver an affluent, convenient society and an exciting future to the children who will lead the next generation.
https://group.ntt/jp/kids/

6) Related information

NTT Dream Kids 2024
https://group.ntt/jp/kids/2024/

NTT Dream Kids Online
https://nttdreamkids.group.ntt/index.php
Until October 31, 2024.

Osaka-Kansai Expo NTT Group official website
https://group.ntt/jp/expo2025/

Western Japan Public Telephone Association
Holding "Telephone Classroom" and "Disaster Message Dial Service (171)" PR activities at NTT Dream Kids "Mirai School
https://www.pcom.or.jp/branch/byyear/year2024/kns-06-048.html

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