Our Story
We will introduce our thoughts on the research and technology of Alxis Data.
Make Image Sharpening Technology an Infrastructure
in Information-Oriented Society.
The Future ALXIS DATA, Inc. Designs.
Inheriting the business of image sharpening technology from Casley Consulting, Inc., ALXIS DATA, Inc. was founded in September 2020.
“Ring”, further evolved image software “Discovery V '' that is equipped with a world-class image sharpening technology enables image analysis at ultra-high speed and has high expectations for its high practicality of image data used in extensive areas such as industry, medical and academic.
Jun Nishigata, the director, and chief scientist in ALXIS DATA, Inc. has developed this image sharpening technology of “Discovery V” and “RING”, and has been leading the research from Casley Consulting, Inc. to the present. Taku Kustuzawa, CEO of ALXIS DATA, Inc. plays a role in implementing the technology in society.
In this interview, an interviewer was invited from outside and asked the two of them about their careers, the potential, the future of ALXIS DATA’s technology, and the image of the organization that will realize it.
Jun Nishigata, Director and Chief Scientist, ALXIS DATA, Inc.
Providing Image Sharpening Technology to All Fields.
-Please tell us about the business of ALXIS DATA, Inc.
We mainly research image sharpening by using a tool called integral geometry.
The word, “ALXIS” comes from alchemy, and it has the meaning of converting image data into a more complete form(image sharpening).
We have a mission to provide image sharpening technology for applications in all fields. After providing, we will participate as a player to examine how it is being used and how society changes.
Underlying Thoughts is a Challenge for Unsolved Optical Problems.
-It’s not the end after you’re finished with research, but you are aiming to implement as a player. Why did you become interested in research and implementation of image sharpening technology?
One of the reasons was because I used the application, Google Earth in the past. When I operated Google Earth, I experienced my desire for research and felt like I wanted to develop technology myself.
Also, the field of integral geometry and optical imaging technology have high affinity.
During my high school days, I liked challenging a book that had unsolved exercises in geometry on it. Since then, I started studying integral geometry. Today, there is still an unsolved optical problem with the human eye, and I want to solve this problem, improve the regulation of life, and hardware specifications.
Innovation Brought by “RING” in a Modern Society Full of Sensors.
- What kind of problems was “RING”, using image sharpening technology created from?
High pixel count has been talked a lot about in society today.
Not only is there 4K, but higher pixels such as 5K and 8K have appeared and as downsize proceeds, image pitch size is becoming smaller and smaller. Again, we live in a life full of sensors.
While each person owns their own smart phone, and all kinds of sensors are used in infrastructure, there is a situation that image data is becoming enormous. Then, there comes two problems. One is a problem of a blurring image due to diffraction by lens. The other is a problem of calculation amount.
For example, 4K is used for security cameras and bio-related areas, but the image blurs easily due to the optics of the sensor. Furthermore, all enlarged image data in society as a whole must be processed and is compressing the amount of calculation which leads to a large task. There has been an existing image sharpening technology, called deconvolution, but it had a problem that the amount of calculation was very large.
- How does RING solve these problems?
Since the existing deconvolution estimates, analyzes blurring, and repeats try and error against blurred images that deconvolution can’t apply and adjust, it made a loop occur, and the amount of calculation becomes large.
On the other hand, our company succeeded to calculate optical properties by only one calculation, so the amount of calculation is drastically reduced. As a result, we can’t find any competitors because in theory our technology became faster a million times as existing technologies.
“Discovery V” can’t be activated if it doesn’t have optical information put in, so it was necessary to make some assumptions. However, “RING,” which has all algorithms remade can be used under the situation even when you don’t know what kind of properties the optical system used.
Therefore, there is a possibility for all kinds of optical systems to apply. Double the improvement of high resolution of image as before was the limit, but our company is aiming for 20 times more.
Causing a Paradigm Shift
-That’s an incredible number. The impact on society seems to be great but what kind of future do you think will be waiting for us beyond solving such problems?
I think it’ll become a world that optical technology is used for things of various range and scale. It will be effective for operation of artificial satellites, nanotechnology, and areas where material development was impossible because it was too small to see. I envision such a society where we can respond immediately to things like coronavirus by observing the physiological state of a virus.
To accomplish such a future, we want to go beyond the limits of high-resolution theory in the form of a paradigm shift. This is very difficult because there is no way to explain that it can be high resolution just because it’s theoretically like this. The paradigm shift is preceded by experimental data. Then, the next process is to create a theory to explain the experimental data. After firmly doing so and raising awareness, I want to spread the application.
*Paradigm
In Paradigm theory advocated by Thomas Kuhn, paradigm means the truth of that era.
In measuring light, projection measurement was the previous measuring method, but a new measurement technology, called weak measurement is being established without a theoretical background in recent years. ALXIS DATA aims for a paradigm shift by researching technology which the theoretical background isn’t decided on yet.
What is Important is an Attitude that Emphasizes Both Theory
and Data.
-Aiming for a paradigm shift like that, I believe business partners and colleagues are important. Who are your main business partners?
Most of our partners are Universities. When the partner is a company, we face challenges like having them show us their issues. However, when we develop new applications, universities enable us to ask questions frankly such as, “Please confirm if the function works effectively.” or “What kind of new function do you need?”
Their reactions against our questions like, ”It is useless for us” make us appreciate them for their honest answers.
-You have such relationships with your partners, so the research and development necessary for paradigm shift can be progressed. In the end, what kind of person is desirable as a colleague to make a paradigm shift happen from now at ALXIS DATA, Inc.?
The person should have expertise, but we emphasize interdisciplinary more.
For example, it is easy for the person who understands both image and the medical area well to go and find the customers’ issues. Researchers doesn’t always only research, but he or she has different assignments as a sales engineer that goes to see the customer and find issues. We think the person who can work like this is desirable.
Studying physics in addition to mathematics is one of my great strengths.
The world of physics is very interesting and it’s not a subject that you can solve everything if you understand its theory.
Taking and analyzing the data from the experiment can lead to the theory. It’s a way of thinking that emphasizes the importance of both the theory and data. Even in business, we emphasize the attitude of going to see customers, receiving data, and ask in detail about the meaning of the data, what kind of background it has and ultimately put that information into our technology.
Furthermore, it doesn’t mean it’s for the company, but I think it’s important not to be influenced by the external environment. I want to work with someone who has an important mindset of doing what that person likes and can bring out their own interests into work.
ALXIS DATA is trying to open up an unexplored market by capturing the era of trillion sensors and sharpening images.
We can feel their energy to change the world by the paradigm shift in optics.
Image sharpening technologies such as "Discovery V" and "RING" might open up the future soon.