IP: Tokyo Diary #3, the future

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

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






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