[Report] NTT Dream Kids 2025, a workshop event for children to experience the technologies of the future Mirai School

1) NTT Dream Kids 2025: Experience the Technology of the Future

NTT Dream Kids is an experiential learning event held every summer since 2006 with the aim of teaching children about the role and mechanisms of telecommunications, an important infrastructure that supports society, in an easy-to-understand manner.
How do cell phones, smartphones, and tablets connect to the world?
The internet is very convenient, but what precautions are needed to use it safely?
What is an "eco-friendly base station"?
Programming seems difficult, but is it actually easy to do?
NTT Dream Kids answers such simple questions from children, while providing a fun way to learn about and experience the mechanisms and services of ICT, as well as future communication technologies.

2) Fun Online Content for Learning with a Gaming Experience

NTT Dream Kids 2025 also offers content that can be learned online anytime, anywhere. Children can enjoy learning about information and communications, programming, disaster prevention, and security.
The online content will be available until Friday, October 31, 2025, and can be accessed via PC, tablet, or smartphone (some content is recommended for PC).

3) Report on Mirai School: Learning Cutting-Edge ICT Technology

Mirai School is a workshop that is perfect for summer vacation research projects, offering hands-on experiments with optical communications, experiences with NTT's cutting-edge technologies, and programs that encourage children to think about a prosperous future.
This year, it was held as a special program for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Participants spent two exciting hours experiencing technologies related to the Expo and imagining the future of communication.

Program

・Workshop 1: "Introducing Yourself with Well-Being Cards"

The session began with self-introductions using "Well-being Cards" developed by NTT Laboratories. Well-being refers to "living comfortably as oneself," and the cards feature words that express feelings such as "gratitude," "challenge," and "aspiration." The children recalled events from their summer vacation that they found enjoyable and selected cards that matched their experiences to present. Examples included "Feeling connected to nature during a family trip" (using the "Connection with Nature" card) and "Being happy to swim in the pool" (using the 'Challenge' and "Enthusiasm/Immersion" cards). Through the cards, the children reflected on themselves and gained insight into their peers' values, creating a relaxed atmosphere and serving as an effective icebreaker for the team.

・Workshop 2: "Optical Communication Experiment"

Next, we experienced an "optical communication experiment" to learn about the mechanism of communication using light. The children made their own receivers using solar cells and paper cups, and transmitters incorporating LED lights. They successfully transmitted music and voice information via LED light to the receiver wirelessly and played it through a speaker. They also used transparent rods simulating optical fibers to observe how light passes through them. Through this fun and engaging activity, the children learned about the mechanisms of everyday internet communication, as well as the speed and energy efficiency of optical communication, deepening their interest in future communication technologies.

・Osaka-Kansai Expo NTT Pavilion Technology Experience

In the second half of the program, the children explored four stations featuring advanced technologies that can also be experienced at the NTT Pavilion of the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Through technologies that enable communication of sound, muscle movements, touch, and even spatial information, they learned how communication will change in the future. The children's eyes lit up as they eagerly took on new experiences that engaged all five senses.

Cross-lingual speech synthesis technology

"Voice synthesis technology" creates voices that sound just like your own using AI. The children recorded short sentences and the AI analyzed the characteristics of their voices. Almost instantly, a voice resembling theirs was generated and played through a speaker. They were amazed to hear that it could speak not only Japanese, but also English, Korean, and Chinese. NTT's voice synthesis technology aims to not only preserve a person's unique voice, but also enable those who have lost their voice to converse in their own tone once again. This experience offered a glimpse into the future of communication, with applications for everyday guidance systems and robots.

Muscle-electric communication technology

Another experience was "electromyography communication technology," which captures muscle movements as electrical signals. Children attached sensors to their arms and controlled game characters simply by exerting force on their muscles. At first, they struggled to operate the game using only their muscles without hands or controllers, but gradually got the hang of it, and the game became very exciting. EMG signals hold the potential for people with illnesses or injuries that make it difficult to move their bodies to freely control avatars that act as their alter egos. This was an experience that allowed participants to imagine a future where technology connects people, while learning in a fun, game-like manner.

Tactile transmission technology

Another activity featured "tactile transmission technology," which conveys the sensation of touch over long distances. Children placed their hands on devices facing each other and experienced the mysterious sensation of vibrations from marbles or ping pong balls dropped on the other side of the device being transmitted to their hands. By actually feeling the vibrations and impacts in their hands, they experienced a surprising sense of being in the same place together. As this technology evolves, it will become possible to high-five distant family members or share immersive experiences at remote events. The children were amazed that future communication could extend to touch, and they smiled as they repeatedly tried the devices.

Spatial data transmission and reproduction technology

Another highlight was "spatial transmission technology," which can recreate an entire remote environment through communication. Its defining feature is that it allows users to share not only images and sounds, but also three-dimensional spaces themselves in real time. The children were fascinated by the strange sensation of feeling as if people in distant locations were right next to them. As this technology advances, it will become possible to enjoy concerts remotely, take virtual trips, and have dinner parties with distant family members. This corner gave visitors a real sense of how future communication will expand beyond the barriers of time and distance.

・Workshop 4: "Let's think about the world of the future"

In the workshop "Let's Think About the Future World," children used hint cards to freely imagine what the future would be like when they grow up. The themes ranged from the environment and energy to communications and daily life. Using the cards as a starting point, unique ideas such as "flying cars that eliminate traffic jams" and "traveling using VR" were proposed one after another. It was a time for the children to stretch their imaginations and realize how the technologies they had just learned about could change the future.

Through these various workshops, the children engaged with the latest information and communication technologies, greatly expanding their feelings and imagination about the future. The surprise and smiles that emerged from the experience were the joy of learning and creativity itself. This experience may have been the first step toward new interests and dreams for the children, and a catalyst for them to think about society and the future.

・Experience corner also available

After wrapping up the main program, visitors enjoyed a tour of the Advanced Network Demonstration Lab, where they could experience IOWN firsthand, as well as an online learning site, a virtual expo experience corner, and an exhibition area where they could freely try out public telephones.

4) Voices of Mirai School Participants

We asked the children who participated in the NTT Dream Kids 2025 Mirai School about their impressions of the workshop. We received a variety of responses, such as, "I enjoyed the game where you use your muscles to move characters," "I was happy to be able to make my own machine that produces light and sound," "I liked the time spent choosing cards and thinking of new ideas," and "IOWN was difficult to understand, but I think it will make the world more convenient." Some children also said that the workshop sparked their interest in IT-related jobs.

The children also showed strong interest in the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Those who had already visited shared, "It was fun learning about countries I didn't know about," and "I went with my family on a trip." Some children who hadn't visited yet said, "I want to see the large wooden framework."

5) Scenes from Each Venue

・Sendai venue

Myaku Myaku, the official character of the Kansai Expo Osaka, also made an appearance and enlivened the venue.

・Osaka venue

The children were able to experience various services utilizing IOWN unique to the QUINTBRIDGE venue.

・Kanazawa venue

Riku Maru also made an appearance, and we enjoyed taking photos with Myaku Myaku.

6) NTT Group Initiatives for Children

Through NTT Dream Kids, the NTT Group provides opportunities for children-the next generation of leaders-to learn and experience in ways that inspire hope and dreams for the future. By engaging with the latest communication technologies and imagining the society of the future, we aim to nurture children's new interests and spirit of challenge, and to help them envision a rich and convenient society and a future that sparks excitement.

https://group.ntt/jp/kids/

7) Related Information

NTT Dream Kids 2025 https://group.ntt/jp/kids/2025/

NTT Dream Kids Online https://nttdreamkids.group.ntt/Until Friday, October 31, 2025.

Osaka-Kansai Expo NTT Group Official Website https://group.ntt/en/expo2025/

Osaka-Kansai Expo NTT Group Official Website (Expo Quest for Kids Expo Children's Exploration Club) https://group.ntt/jp/expo2025/kids/

Osaka-Kansai Expo NTT Pavilion https://group.ntt/en/expo2025/pavilion/

Osaka-Kansai Expo: Sharing Stories https://group.ntt/en/expo2025/fd/

[Report] Exploring the Future Through the Latest Technology! Children's Workshop Event "NTT Dream Kids 2024 Future School" Held! https://group.ntt/en/magazine/blog/dreamkids2024/