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Japan: Gateway to the Future
From: Science Museum
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 n order to see what new technologies lie over the horizon, the place to look is Japan. In February 2002 the Science Museum hosted Japan: Gateway to the Future, an exhibition that showcased the country's latest advances in digital technology. The exhibition revealed a number of cutting-edge networking technologies, including mobile phones, cars and robots that had not been seen in the UK before. As well as an unprecedented level of technical sophistication, what all these technologies have in common is that they interface directly with their human users. |
Mobile Phones
Mobile communication technology has already transformed our lives to a great extent and its influence looks set to grow. |
 In Japan, mobile phones have achieved unparalleled popularity because of their convenience, reasonably priced terminals and low communication charges. There are now more subscribers for mobile phones than for landline phones. While originally designed for voice communications, most mobile phones in Japan are now mobile information terminals providing Internet access, email and other services. |
The use of mobile phones for Internet access is increasing in Japan along with the range of available content. Over 30 million Japanese people regularly send and receive emails, get news updates, check the latest stock prices, access company databases and make bank transactions using their telephones. |
Third generation mobile phones
Mobile communications have evolved over the years, from analogue, voice-only first generation communication to the second generation of digital, voice and data communications. Since the world's first third generation (3G) mobile phones were launched in Japan in 2001, mobile video clip and music distribution services have become available as well. 3G phones are based on the W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) system. This offers a better quality of voice communication and can also handle large volume data such as full-motion video transmission. The W-CDMA system uses a coding scheme to encrypt voice and data, so that multiple transmissions occurring simultaneously and within the same frequency spectrum are clearly understandable when 'decoded' for the designated recipient. |
Video-phones enable users to conduct mobile video-conferencing in real-time and permit users to view video clips and downloads (such as movie trailers) on credit card-sized screens. |
ITS car
The development of automatically piloted cars is still some way off, but very smart cars could be coming off production lines in the near future. Toyota have developed a car which operates the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and features a number of digital technologies. These are all available in Japan but have yet to be offered to the rest of the world. |
The steering wheel contains a built-in microphone allowing the driver to instruct the car to switch on the lights, the hazard lights and the windscreen wipers vocally. Generally, control of the car is more centralised to the steering wheel which houses a steering switch enabling various operations such as the music system, DVD and trip computers, which measure distances and speeds. |
The car's dashboard houses an Electro Multi-Vision Screen. This displays route information provided by a satellite navigation system as well as various helpful views captured by cameras situated at key points around the car. A camera at the back, just above the number plate, broadcasts the back view on the screen which, along with line diagrams depicting the car's trajectory, assist with reversing and parking. Side view cameras display images that allow the driver to see around blind corners on both sides of the car. Because the cameras are situated right at the front of the car, they can see round corners before the driver can. Both cameras only activate when the car is moving at less than five miles per hour so the screen does not distract the driver at faster speeds. |
The car also features a radar cruise control that calculates the distance to the car in front and keeps the car at a fixed distance. Most cruise controls keep the car moving at the selected speed until the driver brakes. This more sophisticated version measures the distance to the car in front and then automatically slows down to maintain a minimum distance behind by easing off the throttle. If the car in front speeds up again, it will automatically accelerate up to the original cruise setting. If the car in front slows down sharply, the car beeps at the driver to prompt him or her to brake. |
The car has an integrated telephone antenna, which allows the driver to make phone calls and access a mobile network known as MONET. This provides a limited Internet access within the car and drivers can receive traffic reports, news, weather, sport, hotel information and more from a dedicated information centre. They can also send information from their home or work PC to the car via the information centre and can send and receive emails from the car using a regular email address. The driver is able to input data only when the car is stationary but can perform a lot of functions with voice instructions while moving. |
Robots
The term robot entered the language in 1921 from the Czech word robota, meaning 'forced labour'. Today Japan uses more robots than any other country. As well as their uses in industry, robots are now starting to make their way into households and hospitals in the form of 'pets' to provide companionship and comfort. |
 Paro is a robot in the form of a baby seal. It is used in hospitals to treat children, the elderly and disabled people. Paro looks vulnerable and stimulates the patients' caring instincts. Acts of nurturing are therapeutic and reduce the patients' stress; interacting with the robot regulates their heart beat and breathing. Paro provides constant companionship. Its heat-producing sensors make it feel like a live animal when it 'falls asleep' with the patient. |
The robot responds to stimulus of the touch sensors all over its body. Its movements are created by seven motors. The responses are not looped but are programmed to be random, making Paro seem less like a toy and more like a real pet. As well as being able to move its body, Paro has a mobile face, eyes that open and close, and makes gentle sounds. Created by Dr Takanori Shibata, a robotics scientists at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, Paro has antibacterial fur so that germs are not passed from patient to patient. It is already in use in hospitals in Japan with major commercial production taking place from December 2002. |
 Aibo is a home entertainment robot. Its name is derived from 'artificially intelligent robot' and also means 'pal' or 'companion' in Japanese. Aibos operate autonomously--they function alone, making decisions based on their environment and interactions with humans. |
They come equipped with the senses of sight, sound and touch. Stereo microphones allow them to locate sound sources and respond to various vocal commands. A camera and infra-red distance sensor in the nose allows them to see and judge distances. Aibo uses a range of facial expressions and body movements to communicate emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear and anticipation. Thus they are able to 'interact' with their owners who can shape their 'personalities', depending on how they treat them. |
Aibo robots are extremely popular in Japan. Their owners take them to Aibo dancing competitions and fashion shows and they even have their own TV show--they are programmed to run to the screen and interact with the programme when they hear the theme music. |
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