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## 1. A Bluetooth$^{TM}$-based ubiquitous headset 

There is a lot of talk about ubiquitous computing—the fact that the future will see computing and communications adding to ev- ery aspect of life. Toshiba is contributing to this with its ubiqui- tous headset for next-generation communications. It makes pos- sible voice control of equipment and high-quality audio input and 

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output in a hands-free, wireless environment. The headset supports wireless communications based on Bluetooth$^{TM}$ and voice recognition technology. 

## 2. Multilingual voice recognition system 

Toshiba has developed a multilingual voice recognition system that can recognize different languages simply by replacing the language database. Currently, the system works with Japanese, American English, British English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Mandarin. With a compact design and high-speed operating capabilities, the system can be applied to car navigation systems, cellular phones and other equipment with limited CPU performance and memory size. Other aspects of the system’s versatility are a high level of resistance to noise, which can degrade voice recogni- tion, and a recognition algorithm that guarantees a wide array of practical applications. 

The development of simple, versatile recognition of various languages will bring voice recogni- tion to home appliances, PDAs and other mobile equipment and allow users to choose different languages at different times. Toshiba is working on early development of high-performance, multi- functional, multilingual voice recognition systems at R&D centers in Japan, China and Europe. 

## 3. Digital printer with simultaneous four-color transfer 

The R&D Center and Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd. have developed an offset printing method that trans- fers toner to paper without generating an electric field, thus enabling color printing of high-image quality onto standard plain paper, thick paper, rough paper and cloth, as well as metal plates. “image-on-image color processing” allows colors to be overlaid and developed on a photosensitive material and then immediately transferred onto paper, realizing rapid output of high-quality color images without color displacement. 

## 4. Multi-layer interconnection technology using nanotechnology 

New wiring technology enables low-cost production of wiring boards with fine-pitch, multi-layer inter- connections. The technology features inter-layer connections with fine three-dimensional wiring, formed on a porous substrate with nanascopic holes using photo-induced selective plating. Filling the de- sired areas on the substrate with metal forms wires to run through the vias on the board. If insulat- ing material is used instead, an insulating layer is formed. Using only a simple process of exposure and plating, the wiring technology enables successful formation of vias only 15 ∝ m in diameter— world-leading accuracy. 

The wiring technology also enables simultaneous formation of wires and vias, a process that eliminates dislocation between wires and vias, thereby improving yield. 

## 5. Development of a small fuel cell for portable equipment 

Toshiba has been conducting R&D into small-sized direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) for mobile equipment, and achieved enhanced cell performance with newly developed materials. Required peripheral equipment and electric driver circuits mounted with the cells have also been developed, and a prototype for Toshiba’s PDA has been completed. The DMFC features a maximum 8W output and continuous display for 40 hours with ten cubic centimeters of fuel—about five times longer than the secondary lithium-ion batteries in wide use today. 

We are now working to raise output and make the fuel cell even smaller, in readiness for the start of mass production in 2003. 

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