Pyongyang Informatics Centre

The Pyongyang Informatics Centre (PIC) is an IT research and development centre whose basic business is research and development of software and hardware and dissemination of knowledge and consultation in reference to IT-related affairs.

Founded in July 1986, the PIC has developed many programs essential for the IT-based national economy, including Korean-language information processor, 3D CAD, Web applications, Network, virtual reality, mobile games and 3D engine for mobile.

It has also developed a comprehensive Korean-language information processing technology, such as Korean word processor "Changdok," multilingual input program "Hana," and other programs for OCR (optical character recognition), speech recognition, machine translation for English and Japanese, and "Okphyon" for ideograph study as well as many Korean fonts. They are providing every convenience to their users.

Its multimedia programs—Korean map "Samcholli," "Korean History, Folklore & Customs," "Korean Dishes," "Paduk (go) Puzzle Game," "Young Musician," "Health and Diet" and karaoke editor "Hwipharam"—are enjoying immense popularity, because they are helpful to widen knowledge and improve health.

It is now putting efforts into the research and development of virtual reality technology, a growing trend of the world in the IT domain.

Its new VR programs include the virtual building navigation system enabling its user to input the data of 3D models into virtual space and take a tour of them as if in reality, and image-based virtual environment making a new virtual environment by mixing images taken by a camera with computer-processed 3D images.

Such programs enable people staying in their rooms to see the insides of many buildings in the city and even make a space travel.

Based on previous successes and experiences, the PIC's researchers are further promoting the development of a mock-up system that makes it possible to create a life-sized test model, and human interface that makes interactive interface between human and computer by using virtual reality equipment in virtual space.

The centre is also rendering various services to customers—IT service to order and access to modern sci-tech data—necessary for technical modernization in many fields of the national economy.

It develops information system designs and programs for modernization of factories and enterprises to order, renders technology consulting service of providing the data of modernization trend and technical features of certain facilities, and introduces up-to-date IT facilities.

The introduction of technologies that the centre has researched and developed covers a vast sphere, including IP-telephone exchange system, card system, 3D CAD programs for architecture and clothing.

The PIC's website "Information 21" is a good guide of customers who are trying to make several sectors of the national economy information-oriented.

The PIC is also widely spreading information technology. It has opened an O&P Training Institute, whose full-time lecturers with academic degrees and titles give lectures regularly on programs including office and multimedia, and prestigious engineers are invited to give irregular lectures on various subjects, such as network design and building, database programming and programming language. Those who want to take the course are studying at the institute and acquiring profound IT knowledge.

The PIC has its own affiliates and partners for software development in China, Singapore, Japan, Turkey, Germany and other countries. It is actively participating in IT-related international conferences, seminars and scientific discussions to activate the offshore projects, IT collaboration and technical exchange.

Choe Ju Sik, CEO of the PIC, said: "In future, too, the PIC will develop better programs relying on constructive and innovative ideas, research and active technical exchange."

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