"Image quality" of documents used to imply how beautiful the picture looked on paper output from copying machines and printers. Recently, the various functions required in an office, such as copying, printing and scanning, have been integrated, and the copying machine has evolved multi-functional one. The networking of office equipment has progressed, too. This has made it possible to easily scan and transmit a paper document digitally, increasing the importance of "scanned image quality". As "the scanned image" may be used for various purposes, we must consider various points regarding "image quality," depending on usage. The image may be viewed or used on a screen or on paper; or it may be used on cellular phones or PDAs. Different image representations are required so that the images can be handled easily depending on purpose and use.
Beyond that, the fact that (analog) copying machines became digitized and multi-functional has made it possible to offer customers various utility values integrating paper and electronic documents, rather than OA equipment that simply copies paper documents as is.
On the other hand, document security has become a hot issue with customers. Companies struggle with security measures on the Internet, such as virus countermeasures, limited access and so on. However, even as the computerization of documents progresses, offices are still filled with paper, and there is the fear that confidential documents will be copied and carried away, with resulting information leaks. Ricoh, as a company selling copying machines and multifunction imaging devices, has grappled with the security of paper documents from the beginning, while keeping quality output results firmly in mind.
The remarkable development of IT has greatly changed our office and working environment. Although use in the world of entertainment leads even now, multimedia information such as video and sound will come to be used as an easy way for everyone to share information and communicate in business. We conduct research and development aimed at achieving a ubiquitous and universal office environment. In such an environment, varied information, not only that on paper and in images, which is the core area of Ricoh, but also that on multimedia can be handled safely and easily adapting to purpose and use.
We will continue to propose new and world first utility values to solve our customers' inconveniences, investigating customer oriented market needs and introducing requirements engineering techniques for verification of usability.
