Japan Super Smart Society 5.0
Summary:
- This paper talks about what is Society 5.0, potential of Japan implementing it, and how it can benefit in terms of human lives, infrastructure, and financial technology.
- This paper was written as final paper for Media and Law Fall 2020 Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU). With the guidance of Professor Hary Gunarto.
Full Paper:
Japan Super Smart Society 5.0
The term “Society 5.0” is defined as; a human-centered society that balances economic advancement with the resolution of social problems by a system that highly integrates cyberspace and physical space. Things to be known is that the aim to develop the society to become “Society 5.0” was already proposed to be implemented in Japan. In exact, it was proposed in the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan by the government itself (Government of Japan, 2020).
Surely questions would arise regarding why is it called the Society 5.0; such as what is Society 1.0, 2.0, and etc. The answer is that can be traced back from the history of civilization. Society 1.0 is regarded as when human are implementing hunter-gatherer society; where they moving from one place to another according to where the animal moving and the season. Society 2.0 is regarded as when human are implementing agrarian society; where people start to reside in specific location and starting to grow their own food and tame animals for everyday use. Society 3.0 regarded as industrial society that can be highlighted by the invention of steam train, fossil fuels, automobile, and manufacturing that helps the well being of the society. Society 4.0 regarded the present time (21st century) where society are cannot be detached from the Internet and the massive transaction of information, thus, it often called information society period.
Therefore Society 5.0 in general is where the use of Big Data collected by Internet of Things will be converted into a new type of intelligence by AI and will reach every corner of society. In addition, as development would be progress together by the resolution of social problems; such as wage gap, climate crisis, aging population, etc. thus, would benefit towards the wellbeing of the society and create a sustainable society in whole. The visual aid below would help to explain more regarding how society 5.0 is;
Whereas in Society 5.0 a high degree of convergence between cyberspace (virtual space) and physical space (real space) would be result in the faster resolution of a problem in example the production of high-value-added information, proposals, instruction, deliveries, and technology in general. This high degree of convergence is the result of the available ease and fast analysis from Artificial Intelligence, something that seems impossible in present time. In addition, if compare with present time, usually progress/development have to undergo time for a researcher to access the “cloud” of information on the Internet of Things, then after they finish analyzing they would delegate their findings through creation by technology such as robots or delegation for a better society. Surely, those progresses takes time and thus much different from Society 5.0 that heavily relies on the sensor technology to avoid unnecessary research time and Artificial Intelligence to analyze the data acquired from Internet of Things (Government of Japan, 2020).
It is known that Japan has advantages to make society 5.0 possible. First reason is that, Japan has abundant accumulation of real data. We know that Japan with its universal health care system and a wealth of operating data from numerous manufacturing facilities has recorded basic health and medical data that can be used as raw data for use in the current market economy and industry. Second reason is that, the potential of Japan’s advanced technology cultivated from “monozukuri”; which is the manufacturing of things technology. In addition, years of basic research would be a beneficial for developing technologies like Big Data and AI.
There are many aspects that Japan society can be benefit from if they successfully shifting into Society 5.0. For example, in healthcare; where we already know that Japan is facing an aging society in the 21st century. Japan is currently suffering from increasing medical and social security expenses and demands for caring for the elderly. On the other hand, with the shifting and technology available in Society 5.0, now the problem are solved because the creation of AI and robots that help to connect and share information regarding medical data, treatment, or nursing care records. In addition, remote medical care services would ease the convenience of the aging society (online health consultation). With this innovation every treatment diagnosed are assured to be the most effective with rich database & analysis. Thus, the well being of people would be increased (health life expectancy).
Secondly, such aspects like in mobility. As we know Japan population decline results in under populated rural areas, while most of the area are lacking in access to public transportation. In addition, the fast growing e-commerce penetration has been difficult since shortages of drivers often exist. In a Society 5.0 all those problem will be resolved because autonomous driving taxis and buses for public transportation would be available. In addition, in a e-commerce interest a single driver cargo truck & flying drone using AI automatic vehicle system would make delivery convenient.
Thirdly, in infrastructure section; where as we know Japan are now facing the deterioration of public infrastructure as it was last developed during 19th century, thus, create a problem of shortage of labor and increased in financial burden for inspection and maintenance concerns. In a Society 5.0, the problem will be resolved by relying on sensors, AI, and robots that will autonomously inspect and maintain roads, bridges, tunnels, and dams.
Fourth, in FinTech technology; where we know that high proportion of Japanese money transactions are still conducted in cash and bank procedure is taking a timely process and proved to be cumbersome. Thus, in Society 5.0 it will all change and improve the transaction and the well-being of a society by invention of block chain technology for money transfers and cashless payment would be everywhere (only through smartphone).
Those are some examples of problem can be solved through the shifting of Society 5.0 in Japan. On the other hand, as all things, there is always a risk that arises because of these improvements. For example, the risk of a cyber attack, as Society 5.0 really relies on database that is stored through clouds by Internet, remote controlled that signaled by Internet, and precious data/ username to gain access of most of features in Society 5.0. Such cyber attack like phishing, hacking, identity theft surely are inevitable if does not prepare a precaution. One solution to resolve those problems is to have a thorough education of knowing all kinds of cyber attack and always take precaution to avoid cyber attack; such as regularly change password, beware of malicious links on spam email, strengthen dual check password from multiple devices, and update the newest security updates to strengthen software from hackers.
Another problem that may arise is the revolt of Artificial Intelligence as several entrepreneur moguls already state that may posses bigger threat than nuclear weapons. Notably Elon Musk who known owning Tesla, SpaceX and develop A.I on OpenAI state those in mind in response to recent advance of A.I developed by DeepMind (google) called AlphaGoZero that proved to be able to learn to play Go (a complex ancient Chinese Strategy Game) by simply randomized play against itself and being able to win professional human players. Thus, Musk really concern about AI capabilities to outpace human ability to manage it in a safe way (CNBC, 2018).
Bibliography:
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. (2020). “Society 5.0”. Science and Technology Policy, Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. Retrieved from https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/society5_0/index.html
Clifford C. (14 March 2018). “Elon Musk: ‘Mark my words — A.I. is far more dangerous than nukes”. CNBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/elon-musk-at-sxsw-a-i-is-more-dangerous-than-nuclear-weapons.html
File attached by Professor Gunarto H. for Media and Law Class APU SP20 “Realizing Society 5.0”
