With the spread of the Internet and mobile phones, IT (Information Technology) has deeply penetrated society and economy and is bringing about major changes to the real world with certainty. Particularly in recent days, an environment where people have access to networks "anytime" and "anywhere" is getting more and more complete - a "ubiquitous information society" in the very sense of the words.

The hot topic of the IT world since the second half of 2002 has been "wireless IC tags." This technology, where IC chips under 1mm are attached to objects for automatic identification using wireless communications, came under focus with the rapid fall in chip prices.

If technologies to identify individual objects or persons spread, specialized services for "that object" or "that person" will be available. Compared with the existing barcodes, which meant management on the "item" level, this means a great step forward. Applications under study are, for example, the clarification of property rights on objects, delivery of customized information, and even inventory finance, not to speak of the fact that the production and distribution history of merchandise will become clear.

However, on the other hand, some point out the issue that privacy may be infringed by others reading individual information.

At "Global Information Summit 2004," we will discuss the above issue under the theme "Digital ID Revolution," in a program consisting of "keynote speeches" and "Session 1: Technologies and Infrastructure Supporting the Digital ID Revolution," "Session 2: The Digital ID Revolution and Business Models," and "Session 3: Vision and Issues of the Digital ID Society."

Experts from Japan and all over the world will exchange their opinion on where the technology will go next, on the construction of new business models, on the establishment of rules, and on other topics.

Before the actual summit, we will hold a net conference with opinion leaders inside and outside of Japan, to highlight the issues also from the business and from the user perspective. The discussions of the net conference and of the summit will be reported to a broad audience in newspapers of the Nikkei group, as well on our website (Japanese only).