NAKAMURA Satoshi Laboratory in the School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences will conduct a demonstration experiment for the first time for the public to use Pensaku, a penguin identification system in cooperation with Sunshine Aquarium (Ikebukuro, Tokyo) from October 15th (Tuesday) to 18th (Friday) and 20th (Sunday) to 21st (Monday) for a total of six days.
In recent years, zoos and aquariums have been attracting attention for their efforts to promote new discoveries and deeper interest by communicating the appeal of individual animals and to link this to the ecology and conservation of species and living creatures. In order to deepen visitors’ understanding of the characteristics and ecology of each individual penguin, Sunshine Aquarium has decided to provide a venue for demonstration experiments in which visitors can experience the Pengusaku, a penguin identification system developed by the members of NAKAMURA Satoshi Laboratory at the School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences. This is the first system in Japan to identify individual creatures by drawing their characteristics by hand (studied by the Laboratory).
Three Points
1. Easy for anyone! The latest technology makes penguin watching more fun!
This penguin identification system, developed by Meiji University students is the first service of its kind in Japan, allowing users to identify an individual penguin by inputting their belly pattern in a coloring-in style.
2. Attached to penguins! Easy to remember!
Unlike conventional image recognition-based identification services, this system actively captures characteristics through coloring, and is expected to improve memorability and attachment to the individual (studied by the Laboratory).
3. You can do it at the Sunshine Aquarium!
The Sunshine Aquarium, which is bright and open to the outdoors, is the perfect place to observe penguins at close range. It was chosen as the best place for this study.
Mechanism of Pensaku, a penguin identification system
Each penguin is identified by inputting the characteristic belly pattern of the penguin on a smartphone screen, and search results are displayed in descending order of similarity. On the result screen, you can see detailed information about the individual, such as name and sex, so that you can better understand the individual through further observation.
According to the Laboratory, this system was designated with an eye to future commercialization and expansion to aquariums throughout Japan and around the world and will be able to provide detailed information on individual characteristics and personalities. Furthermore, it is also expected to contribute to research fields, for example, by enabling detailed behavioral research on wildlife through its application to ecological research in the wild.
NAKAGAWA Yuki, NAKAMURA Satoshi Laboratory
We have developed an observation support system that focuses on the different patterns on the bellies of individual penguins, so that visitors can observe the penguins in more depth, taking an interest in each individual penguin, rather than just looking at them as a cute animal. We hope that your observation experience will be enriched by learning about the personalities and characteristics of penguins and hope that many people will make use of the system and that it will help them to discover new things and enjoy themselves at the aquarium. We hope that many people will be able to meet penguins that they want to see again.
NAKAMURA Satoshi, Professor of Meiji University School of Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences
He is engaged in study on the interaction between people and information, such as handwriting, memory, concentration and comics. He collects and transmits interfaces (BADUI) that are difficult to use or understand.
Comment from Sunshine Aquarium
We zookeepers help visitors discover more about penguins with the desire to tell you a little more about penguins every day. Many questions arise when I observe penguins. I felt that the Pensaku could address such questions where possible. The appeal of this Pensaku is that anyone can do it easily. By observing penguins and drawing their patterns by yourself, you can identify them with high accuracy. Starting from this, you became curious about the next individual, so you will check it. I think that this system will help to create a chain of observation like this, and that it will help to expand people’s interest in living creatures.
Also, although it may be a little way off, I think that if it becomes possible to identify individual penguins in the natural world, and if this can be used for research into their ecology and behavior, it could help save endangered species. In that sense, I imagine that this experiment will be very valuable.