This is Jiro Kokuryo the coordinator for the off-line March 10 meeting.
My apologies for not responding to the valuable input by Ms. Hauben
and Professor Shimasaki sooner. I made the mistake of trying to come
up with a thoughtful response, and end up in not responding at all until
it is becoming too late... I have to at least send a thank you note. So
here it is.
I cannot speak for the panelists, but I the coordinator do recognize
Ms. Hauben's point about the significance of the Netizens and the
Netizen concept, and will certainly propose to the panelist to discuss
what the essence of the Net and the Netizens are. Questions such as:
I see Netizenship as a term not so much describing membership in a
community, but the deeds done by someone online to help the Net grow and flourish. Also
for me, a crucial aspect is that one recognize that the Net is in essence a new *communications* achievement (as opposed to *information* being primary etc.)
This means that someone who is a Netizen is interested in promoting *communication*,
which is the basis for something new and different to emerge from the interaction
of views and news of those discussing online.
It is this dynamic aspect of *communication* which I see as the basis to
solve the real problems of real societies, both on and offline.
represent kinds of debate that I would like the panelist to have.
Concerning Ms. Hauben's question about the status of Japan, I would
say Otemachi and Kasumigaseki are certainly on the verge of collapse,
but Japan ain't just these two cities. (This is like saying NY and DC
are major parts of US, but they may not represent the US.) Our team is
observing how the Japanese manufacturing sector is adopting digital
technology in the design of products. To be fair, I should say that the
manufacturing is struggling to replicate the Japanese craftsmanship
in digital space. At the same time, we are beginning to see the non-
tangible knowledge based cyberspace beginning to interact with our
still strong manufacturing sector. We are also observing active
collaboration of networked users of products influencing or even controlling
the product development.
These phenomena are too small to lift the entire economy yet. I think it
will take a number years until the efforts pay off. I am hoping the number
is a small one. If they do pay off, we will be offering our distinct
contribution on the Net.
Following is a summary of points discussed in the parallel Japanese Online
Conference.
26th February to 4th March
The topic of Japanese identity was brought up again.
There are those who say that if, in the search for identity at the
community level, we are forced to abandon identity at the community level
in favour of identity at an individual level, diversity is in danger of
being lost. At the same time, there are those who claim that, if identity
at the community level is favoured over identity at the individual level,
then those who value identity at the individual level over identity at the
community level well likely feel that diversity has been sacrificed.
Left at this, the problem looks like it will never be solved, but it does
seem that the question is not simply one of individualism versus
diversification, or sharing of common elements versus unification, but that
the (Net) society cannot begin until both elements have been balanced.
By way of summary, the chairperson reviewed the topics that have been
raised so far.
- The problem of increasing understanding among end users.
- 'Net disputes' and 'Networks and human rights'.
- The future of journalism.
- The information overflow.
- Further discussions on Japanese identity.
- The future of the networked society.
- Digital networks and daily life.
- Will digital networks be the breeding ground of a new democracy?
- 10 Internet warnings.
- Digital networks and confidentiality.
- Japanese culture and privacy.
Online Conference