Social media is the information source allowing me to run into information a bit off target from my interest: TAKASHI KURATA

February 9, 2016

This is part two of a three-part discussion on future technologies and devices between a sci-fi author, Takashi Kurata, who is gaining attention for his unique view on the world, and Ricoh researcher Keiichiro Yutani. Continuing with the first installment, they bring together their imaginations to develop discussions on everything from the evolution of devices to the relationship between robots and the mind and body of humans, and methods used to gather the latest information.

How do we come to an understanding of evolving technology and the relationship between transience and human feelings?

• Kurata：

  In your research field, including electrochromic devices, you are at the stage of trial and error, anticipating 10 years and 20 years down the road.

• Yutani：

  That’s right. As for me, I want to create some kinds of objects relating to people’s lives. For the purpose of having many people use this technology, we are making prototypes of various devices such as glasses where the lens color changes.

• Kurata：

  In the beginning you have a basic technology and then it starts evolving in various directions.

• Yutani：

  Yes. I also have interest in the way that humans interact with robots and automated equipment. I really think the interface will change depending on how it is used by humans. For example, news that recently held my attention featured a person whose legs did not move and was given artificial legs and came to be able to walk.

• Kurata：

  While the artificial legs are part of the body, they are essentially robots.

• Yutani：

  Yes, indeed. On the one hand, a robot can execute such complicated movements, and on the other hand, humans’ intentions to command are vague and subject to change. And to come to terms with the transience of feelings for those people I think is extremely difficult, but new technologies and devices that gradually work out the differences are starting to be released.

• Kurata：

  I’ve heard a story that technology is progressing in the direction where the artificial legs are able to make decisions and decide to move. When you have a device that thinks deeply, makes autonomous decisions, and then moves, rather then using the word tool, you have something that possesses independent thinking – basically I think that the word robot would be more appropriate.

• Yutani：

  Yes, I agree. With the advancement and miniaturization of various sensors and search functions for distance and location, I often feel they are becoming more like humans and living things.

• Kurata：

  I have a feeling that if you take a snapshot of a street in the year 2036, it would show a scene of a world where robots, both big and small, have become ordinary. If you take a photo of the street now, you see that everyone is holding a small square machine (laughter).

• Yutani：

  I also have a smartphone (laughter).

• Kurata：

  That scene I never could have imagined when I was an elementary school student. Even up to now, I sometimes find it strange why everyone is carrying one. And to take that even further, beyond that feeling, I think that it will become an odd town, which is just full of robots that are bizarre shapes.

While placing yourself in the best location for the flow of information, you can output, think and learn

• Yutani：

  By the way, when you are writing, how do you acquire the latest information and specialized knowledge?

• Kurata：

  At present, social media is my information source. If you follow various people and view the timeline of excerpts from science-related articles, there are many occasions when material will suddenly pop-up out of nowhere. I feel that is the most interesting thing about social media and further about the Internet. Being in the best location for the flow of information, you can pick up a diverse amount of information, and further for example, you can think for yourself.

• Yutani：

  And by information do you mean topics related to technology? Or topics related to fiction like some person considering some kind of thing?

• Kurata：

  There are both. There is breaking technology information and news with headlines such as, “New Discovery with Regenerative Medicine!” And other times I’m inspired by acquaintances who may write, “Can it be done with this kind of thing?” And it is not only about receiving information, but the basic premise requires that you also put out information. This is probably the beauty of social media. Social media forces you to continually put out information and allows you to think and learn.

• Yutani：

  In my case, basically, I gather information by reading publications that focus on a specific field of specialization, as well as going to academic conferences and exhibitions. Rather than being incidental, it’s a situation where I go with the purpose of learning something I want to know.

• Kurata：

  If you have the opportunity to come in contact with something new to you, I feel that anything can be beneficial. As for social media, I feel that it is good when something comes in that is a bit off of your interest. Information that you did not know previously, suddenly appears before your eyes. That’s the beauty of social media.

• Yutani：

  Surely, in that sense, there are times when interesting ideas and keywords appear that come from the engineers who have different areas of specialization. Speaking of a keyword, in the story this time, the word transience particularly resonated in my heart. Where did this word come from?

• Kurata：

  What I thought of as one definition for sci-fi is fiction that depicts change. You think that something will not change only to realize that it has changed so much. Things really do change. It is, in relation to this, the surprise, the interest, and the fear that I find extremely interesting. In the story this time, I felt strongly about having change perceived as something positive.