Application "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~" that gave birthday character Omron software a different color collaboration I asked developers Arecore

A character input application that a collaboration between "Hackador" of the news application and IME "Wnn Keyboard Lab" of OMRON software is "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ と"is. Omron, known for blood pressure gauges and thermometers, and development of "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~", a different color collaboration that attacked the offensive of Hakka Doll, which the bishojo character delivers the news I met people and asked Arecore.

Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ - to - Japanese input keyboard - Android application of Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.omronsoft.wnnext.hackadoll

The answer to the interview is Takuo Uebuchi, chief executive officer of Mobile Solution Division, Omron Software Division, and Keisuke Oda, Sales Group Chief.


GIGAZINE (hereinafter, G):
This time is the collaboration between the earlier development version of Omron Software's Japanese character input software iWnn IME "Wnn Keyboard Lab" and DeNA's news application "Hackador", please tell me the background how the original plan started.

Mr. Obata Hosono (Odaga), Head of Sales Group, Mobile Solutions Division:
We have been developing software IME which inputs characters for many years and keep in mind that users can efficiently input letters, but since 2015 we will have a new value I began to challenge the effort that I can not attach it. At the planning meeting after that, the idea of ​​"Is not it interesting to have an IME?" Came up. There are keyboards equipped with the ability to dress skins by collaborating with characters? However, not only the dressing function but also other keyboards equipped with other functions are more interesting. For example, it is a voice function that gives out voice, or is a dictionary exclusively for keyboards.


G:
I see.

Obata
When such a story is progressing, I think that it is probably around June. Our young employee found DeNA's "Hacka Doll" as content collaborating with Wnn Keyboard Lab. A young employee sees the excitement of Hacka Doll 's event at "Machi ★ Asobi" which is held twice a year in Tokushima, and this can go on. Also, thinking that curating application of Hacka Doll is also compatible with IME, it is the beginning of having brought the project to DeNA.

G:
Even GIGAZINE covered gore ★ Asobi from the first time, certainlyEvent of Hacka DollHe showed excitement that seems to be strange each time. So why did you think that the curation application of the news and IME are compatible with each other?

Obata
The curation app for news has a recommendation function that analyzes taste from articles read by users and recommends other articles that are likely to be interested. I thought that there is a point very similar to the learning function of the IME in the mechanism that the information input by the user triggers and then outputs it as a starting point. Also, at the planning stage, there is an opinion that curating apps and IME's interlocking functions are also interesting, so I came to the conclusion that IME is not compatible with curation apps.

G:
There are many bishojo characters other than Hacka Doll, but what is the reason for choosing Hacka Dole from among them?

Takuji Uebuchi, Head of Development Group 1 of Mobile Solutions Division (hereinafter Uchibubo):
There were other candidate characters and works, but DeNA was the one who told you the very first. If you give one more point, it is a speed feeling until release. Hacka Doll is one of the reasons why he chose Hacka Doll because DeNA had a sole right, so that the speed to advance the project was fast.


G:
Did you know about Hacka Dor before the project?

Obata
It is embarrassing, but I did not realize until young employees suggested in the project. However, as we collaborate this time, I've scrutinized about Hacka Doll. I would like to participate in the event of Hacka Doll! It began to think (laugh).

G:
People in Hacka Doll are so cute and talky, so the event seems to be quite fun. So please tell me the aim of Wnn Keyboard Lab collaborating with Hacka Doll this time.

Obata
I agree. "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" is equipped with functions other than dressing of skins, such as voice reading function and Hacka Doll dedicated dictionary. Actually, it is our first effort to collaborate with a character and install a function other than changing clothes. I thought that what kind of reactions users will show for these special functions, by collaborating with Hacka Dole, it will appear as a result easily. Moreover, although it has not been realized yet, I think that I would like to advance the coordination function with Hacka Doll in the future, and wondering if the value that collaboration with Hacka Doll would be more if I realized it.

G:
Due to the nature of the beautiful girl character Hacka Doll, some fans may have strict eyes on collaboration products, but are there any points you have kept on developing?

Kamibuchi:
It is not to finish off halfway products that disappoints existing users of Hacka Doll. If you do it, you mean to do thoroughly.

G:
Is it that you stuck with commitment and wanted development?

Kamibuchi:
Well, it stuck commitment to various places from design to function (laugh) "Hacka Doll's Ki-bowa" has three main "dress change" "voice reading" "dedicated dictionary" Although it is equipped with functions, the most dedicated of them is the "dedicated dictionary". From words that users are surprised as to what kind of words are contained in the user's mind, even words that are likely to receive a thrust like "You are here?" I chose. Actually reviewing product reviews and Twitter's comments, I think that it was good to stick to developers as well because it has been evaluated as "it is registered in vain meaningless words only".

For example, if you enter "Dora" with "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど", the word that comes with a pin will be displayed as a grate if you like gamers and animation, and words that will make you smile with some things in it are included.


Also, depending on the word, such as being stated as "staple of insertion at an animation production site" under the "donut" displayed by predictive conversion, a one-word memo comes with a fun element using it .


G:
Certainly, there are words that make you grin when you know it. I was concerned about the current story, but do you check the user's product reviews and comments pretty well?

Kamibuchi:
The user's response is a very worrisome point as a developer, so I will check it.

G:
Is there something that reflects requests or requests written in such reviews in real products?

Kamibuchi:
Although there are parts that can not be realized, we will incorporate user's suggestions and requests as much as possible. When there was a voice saying "that word is not registered in the dictionary", I immediately registered the corresponding word. In the first place, "Hacka Doll THE Ki - bowa" has a part contrary to "ease of use" which is one of the development concepts of the IME in a sense. When trying to push Hacka Dole to the whole surface, there are parts where convenience must be abandoned by all means.

For example, "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" adopts Fontworks' font "comet" used by Hacka Doll. Although it can not be said to be optimal if emphasis is placed only on viewability, comet is necessary for a keyboard collaborated with Hacka Doll, and if you use a different font it will betray users' expectations. It also has a dressing keyboard function. However, it is true that there was a user's voice saying "It's hard to use" against these unique functions. There was something pointed out by the user that "The keyboard is difficult to see due to the skin of the dress change function", and at that time it is for paid members, but the skin has a transparent function and the user freely sets the transparency level I distributed updates so that I can change the settings.

G:
So, which is the user 's reputation is so high?

Kamibuchi:
Thankfully, "Hakka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" original function has been generally highly appreciated, and it is more than I expected from reviews on Google Play. If you mention one unique feature that gets a high reputation from users, I think that it is "voice reading function" again.

G:
Is it a function that the character of No. 2 No. 3 reads a word?

When a specific word is entered, the voice of that word is unlocked, and it is the voice reading function that Hakkador 1 · 2 · 3 read the word actually.


Kamibuchi:
The most highly evaluated is the reading function, but there are lots of voices saying "character dressing is cute" or "words registered in the dictionary are sharp".

G:
I heard that the image of the dress change function is not an existing one but a drawing.

Kamibuchi:
That's right. As the user gets it all the way, there are opinions of employees saying, "I definitely will buy it if I draw down!" (Laugh) But Illustration is Hacka Doll I will check the producer Mr. Iwao, and I am going to finish it to a high level. Thanks to Mr. Iwao making a rather fine fix such as "please shift the angle 2 to 3 degrees", people of Hacka Doll's fans can also be convinced.

G:
Although it is said that one basic clothing change image will be added as a free basic course, is not this a depiction?

Obata
Only the "Hackador Course" of 324 yen per month is available for drawing. "More Hacka Doll Course" adds 8 dress-up images including 1 free sheet every month and also increases the number of voiced words greatly, strengthens words in the dedicated dictionary I will.

A drawn dress image for paid members delivered at the end of December 2015 update is kore. It is designed like a New Year.


In the update at the end of December 4, Chibi Characters are also delivered.


G:
Although it was not actually adopted, what kind of functions were present at the planning stage?

Kamibuchi:
The reading aloud function is "to read a word", but there was a function that one voice one voice every time you press the key. There was no technical problem to implement, but if you record a single note, it will be a machine read aloud when you pronounce it as a word. If you pronounce "Ohayou" and "Oh" "は" "よ" "う" "Separately pronouncing a single tone makes it a completely different voice, and this is the voice actor's I can not make use of my voice. Therefore, I adopted a form that sounds not a single tone but a single word. After considering also that it is possible to read any word when recording a single sound.

G:
By the way, are there any characters you like in # 1, # 2, # 3?

Kamibuchi:
I think that No. 2 is very cute, but if it is a voice it is Number 3.

Obata
I like the appearance of No. 3 very much, but if I talk about character, it is number one.

G:
From now on please tell me about iWnn IME which is the base of the Wnn Keyboard Lab, which is necessary to use "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど". It is said that iWnn IME is installed on many Android terminals, but on which terminal is it specifically installed?

Obata
Actually, many Android terminals are equipped with IME developed based on iWnn IME.

G:
I see. There are many users who use iWnn IME everyday before they notice. So please tell me what iWnn is differentiated from other Japanese input software.

Obata
We have been engaged in the development of IME for more than 30 years, and we supply our products to other electronic devices as well as mobile phones. So it is one of the big features that you can use it on various terminals. Is it a place that gives a wide range of Japanese input solutions to the development of new electronic equipment?

G:
In the iWnn IME that the user uses as usual, in reality, it is packed with substantial technology in this part, or has it took a considerable effort to develop this part?

Kamibuchi:
One is context adaptive prediction. Situation adaptive prediction is to judge the input situation of the context related to the season, time zone, past / future and display the optimum candidate for prediction. For example, if you type "Sa" at Christmas time, "Santa Claus" appears as a prediction candidate. Even if you enter the same letter, different forecast candidates may be displayed in the morning and evening.

G:
I think that development of the IME is done with a completely different approach with the input of the physical keyboard and the touch input, but is there any difficulty with the touch input unique?

Obata
There are lots of things ... .... The number of keys is different from the physical keyboard and the touch input keyboard in the first place. With a physical keyboard you can copy and paste by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl key and other keys. Since it is not common to touch two at the touch input, it is necessary to replace it with another action such as long press. You must consider keyboard design considering input sensitivity as well. For example, when you touched the screen with your finger, I actually knew that the user was tapping the person below the one I thought. Actually touching the screen is the part of the belly of the finger, not the fingertip. So, in fact it thinks that you are tapping the lower place than you think, reflected in the layout.

IWnn IME features not only input but also the layout function considerably, with a floating mode in which the size of the keyboard can be freely changed, moved, and the transmittance can be freely changed by the user doing. Recently as the size of smartphones is increasing, it is necessary to adapt the keyboard accordingly.

Kamibuchi:
Technically speaking, there is a wild card prediction, which is a technology we have a patent in our company. If you only want to enter a word but you only know that the beginning starts with "A", you can use "wild card prediction" to display "AOO", "AOOO", "OOOOO", and 1 If you choose one, predictive conversion candidates based on the number of characters are displayed.


Obata
Since iWnn IME is developing with "ease of use" as the first priority, many useful functions are installed, but there are some things that are difficult for users to notice. I think that most users are using the default settings at the time of purchase.

G:
I see. So, what is the security measure of iWnn IME? Since the IME is loaded in various applications, there are many users concerned about security.

Kamibuchi:
First, regarding the security of iWnn IME, there is a premise that "do not communicate". I am not connected to the server, I do not even send data to the server.

In the Wnn Keyboard Lab of the earlier development version of iWnn IME, you can use the function to communicate at the time of conversion and display more conversion candidates, but at that time display a message and understand the user properly I have you use it after you do. However, even if you communicate, it never saves the data entered by the user on the server. We regard importance as safety domestic brand, we do not collect data and accumulate.

Obata
When setting up the IME, you will see a warning message like "There is a possibility that data will be sent when you make settings" does not it? This message is only displaying warnings on Android and iOS features, not that the iWnn IME is sending data.

G:
That's right! Does "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" also take similar security measures?

Kamibuchi:
"Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" was equipped with the function of external conversion function (Cloud Hakka - bow - san) at the update of December 2015. If you press the "Convert External" button with the letters entered already realized with Wnn Keyboard Lab, conversion candidates for more Hacka Doll users will be returned, but before using I explain to the effect that input data transmission is done so that users understand it. Although we are sending data to the server, we do not collect or accumulate data at all like the iWnn IME or Wnn Keyboard Lab.

The dictionary function of "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~" has many words used in fields with strong subcultural elements such as animation · game · manga. In those words, it is the current situation that new things are always born. In order to cover all new words appearing one after another, it is very inefficient to add new words to the IME itself as we have done so, so add new words on the cloud and use them in real time It is dependent on the external conversion function which can be given by.

External conversion function (cloud Hakka __- __-) is added in the December update. If you use this, the character input is more expensive.


G:
Is there anything you would like to install such a feature in the future with "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど"?

Kamibuchi:
Currently, it is only voice reading function that gives out sound, but I think that sound effect and BGM flow well each time you press a key.

Obata
There is something that I would like to have a linkage function with Hacka Doll at the head home.

Kamibuchi:
I would like to do it, too. The words entered in Hakka doll of the head family are made to be learned by "Hakka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~" and appear in the conversion candidate, or the word entered by "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~" on the contrary Sharing with Hacka Dole of the article, to be made into the curation material of the article. I think that it can be realized if it cooperates on the application in the terminal, not just via the network. The area is where I am talking with DeNA, so that "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~" is made more convenient.

G:
Finally, can you give a message to GIGAZINE readers?

Obata
"Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" has a function that sticks to the hearts of subculture lovers as well as those who like Hacka Doll, so please try using it once. There is confidence that you will be satisfied if you can use it!

Kamibuchi:
As for OMRON software, "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" is a new challenge. We will give new value of "fun" and "interesting" to the IME that we use on a daily basis and will continue to challenge the things we flew in the future so please give me "Hacka Doll THE KI ~ ぼ ~ ど" To do.

G:
Thank you for today.