Summary
Services Provided: Collaborative system architecture and development, AI analytics implementation, hardware integration, infrastructure engineering
A Vision Sparked in 2015, Realized Through Partnership
The story of AI Classroom® begins not in a lab or a boardroom—but in the mind of the Founding Director of SHO-zemi Labs, who in 2015 began exploring how video and AI could transform teacher development. Partnering with domestic and international researchers, he experimented with video data and early computer vision techniques to help teachers reflect on student engagement in new ways.
But the technology wasn’t ready. Even with cutting-edge GPUs at the time, processing classroom video for real-time analysis was prohibitively slow. The concept remained ahead of its time—until edge computing devices became more accessible around 2019. That’s when SHO-zemi Labs turned to Tokyo Techies.
From the start, Tokyo Techies was less like an outsourced vendor and more like a collaborator. We worked with SHO-zemi Labs as partners—transparent, responsive, and intellectually engaged. Together, we developed AI Classroom®, a platform now used across 160+ campuses by over 400 teachers. English Square, an English school operating in Saitama, Japan, also has the system installed on-site.
The Case
The Challenge
Traditional in-person class observations are time-intensive and logistically complex. SHO-zemi Labs envisioned a system that could:
- Seamlessly record classroom teaching
- Use AI to analyze and visualize student attentiveness
- Encourage peer feedback and collaborative reflection
- Protect privacy and scale across distributed campuses
The Solution
Built through ongoing collaboration, AI Classroom® rests on three pillars:
- Automated Video Capture
- AI-Powered Behavioral Analytics
- Peer-to-Peer Feedback Tools
Teachers schedule recordings in advance; lessons are automatically uploaded to a secure platform. AI models extract behavioral insights, including:
- Undulation Value (upper body movement)
- Synchronization Rate (alignment in student attention and motion)
These visualized metrics allow teachers to quickly identify moments of disengagement or high energy. Built-in commenting features allow colleagues to annotate videos with supportive feedback specific to a section of footage, recommend examples, and foster mentoring relationships.
Tokyo Techies helped implement a scalable backend infrastructure featuring:
- Edge device and hardware integration for on-site recording
- GPU-accelerated AI inference pipelines
- Secure cloud storage and facial-blurring for privacy
- A UI designed for the specific needs of educators and reviewers
Innovation through Collaboration
This project has always been more than system development—it’s been co-creation. The SHO-zemi Labs team contributed real-world classroom insights and pedagogical direction; Tokyo Techies translated those insights into scalable engineering solutions.
When Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) joined the collaboration, Tokyo Techies’ Chief AI Officer participated in discussions that led to enhanced analytical models and interface refinement.
Thanks to this synergy, AI Classroom® has evolved into a dynamic, educator-focused platform informed by both classroom realities and cutting-edge research.
The Results
Today, AI Classroom® is a registered trademark in Japan (Reg. No. 6462840) and patent-pending. It plays a central role in teacher development at Shonan Seminar, providing scalable, data-driven support for instructional improvement across a wide range of experience levels.
The platform has demonstrated measurable improvements in classroom performance and an enhanced instructional feedback culture.
Endorsement
“AI Classroom® was a concept I began exploring in 2015, but the technology wasn’t ready yet. Tokyo Techies helped make it real. They weren’t just developers—they were partners in innovation, showing technical excellence, flexibility, and genuine commitment. Communication was seamless, especially as our internal team works in English. They also collaborated effectively with our partners at CMU.
If your organization is looking for a capable, collaborative, and trustworthy tech partner, I highly recommend Tokyo Techies.”
— Founding Director, SHO-zemi Labs
Note
This project represents a strategic partnership, rather than a traditional client-vendor relationship. AI Classroom® is an original educational innovation developed by Shonan Seminar and SHO-zemi Labs in collaboration with Tokyo Techies.
“AI Classroom” is a registered trademark of Shonan Seminar Co., Ltd. (Registration No. 6548657 in Japan).
About Shonan Seminar Co., Ltd.
Shonan Seminar, an education company that supports students at every stage of their learning journey, innovates learning by applying technology to the classroom. Their mission is to “Learn, Nurture and Serve.”
About SHO-zemi Labs
SHO-zemi Labs adapts, develops, and advocates for teaching and learning efficacy methods.
They apply technology to classrooms, design and conduct innovative research in collaboration with some of the world’s leading universities and educational institutions, and consult and mentor EdTech communities and startups globally.
SHO-zemi Labs values learning innovation in service to the next generation. They empower those who are both learning in today’s education system and reimagining education for tomorrow.
