NTT Group collaborated with Kei Nishikori to develop a system that enables anyone to experience the vibrations of facing serves from the Japanese tennis star.
With the Nishikori VR experience as an example, the Tokyo-based telecommunications company announced it would look to develop a system that was useful for training in a variety of sports.
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NTT had announced in May that upon signing Nishikori as an advertising partner in advance of Tokyo hosting the 2020 Olympics, it was discussing creating an attraction where the average person can enjoy the virtual experience of playing tennis as he does. Nishikori was the runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Open.
The company showcased the VR experience earlier this month at the NTT R&D Forum in Tokyo.
Visualize the future: Innovative sports training using #VR to play tennis against Nishikori, a top-ranked player in Japan, at @NTT R&D Forum pic.twitter.com/wUcJQyjwzY
— NTTI3 (@ntti3) February 17, 2017