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IP: Tokyo Diary #3, the future
From: David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 12:05:07 -0400
I went to Japan mainly as the speaker for the Japanese Forum on International Relations dinner meeting on IT and its implications for Japan. They schedules two meeting prior to the dinner with representatives of the forum and the press. The attendees (as mentioned in my Tokyo Diary #1) were very senior members of industry with mainly economists and business people represented (few technologists). The meeting was interesting in many ways. It started with an excellent French/Japanese dinner started at 1800 and ending promptly (as per schedule) at 1830 (actually felt leisurely). At 1830 I started talking for 50 minutes with simultaneous translation. That was followed by 1 hour of intensive questioning. The two main points I made when asked why Japan is a follower in IT was that they lacked the engine of innovation -- Silicon Valley and Silicon Alley. That the ability of those areas to encourage young innovative people is unmatched anywhere else and until Japan can do that they will follow. I heard no disagreement . I also made the point that in my opinion, we were in for a major change in technology with the potential of all optical networking in both the WAN, Lan and computer interconnect. I am betting it happens in the first decade of the 21 century and that it will completely change (or better yet should completely change) our understanding of networking, computer architecture and even software systems. I took the radical position that it may even mean we should re-examine network protocols {-) and old Farber position). I had to explain all this in non technical terms and that was fun. My position was that such a change point offers the opportunity for overturning established ideas and companies and that a nation which invests in the understanding of the impact of AON (all optical networks) stands a chance of attaining leadership (given they also create or sustain their creativity engines). I suggested that if I were in Japan I would start a well planned and focused research program (MITI funded) totally different in attitude from the past 5 th generation and Real world efforts and aimed at understanding the technology and creating the intellectual atmosphere for leadership in the 21 st century. I also said quite openly that as an American I hope the US realizes all this and responses with an effort that will allow us to maintain our leadership. The reaction seemed good at least I was allowed to leave japan in one piece :-) I enjoyed the interaction a lot. It was much more aggressive on both sides than I have found normal in Japan. Dave ************************************************************************ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin, ~1784 ************************************************************************
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