So, in today’s article, we will find out about Japan’s Society 5.0 and how they are transforming the present Japan to a new Japan with Big Data, AI, Robots, and more.
Japan had planned society 5.0 back in 2017 before the Coronavirus outbreak. But, due to this pandemic, it has increased its pace in developing society 5.0. If you are still wondering, what are the previous versions of society 5.0 then let me take you to it one by one
Society 1.0 to 5.0
Society 1.0 – Considered as the birth of human beings were hunting and gathering began. Society 2.0 – Considered as Agrarian Society were agriculture, crop cultivation was developed. Society 3.0 – Considered as the Industrial Revolution were the growth of industries began. Society 4.0 – Considered as an Information society were inventions took place. Society 5.0 – A super-smart city were AI capabilities are enhanced with Big Data, Machine Learning, Robots, and Drones.
Japan’s Society 5.0
Japan has started this Society 5.0 mainly due to two reasons that is, the aging population of Japanese people and the stagnant growth in the economy and increasing debt on the country for a long time.
Japan’s Society 5.0 is divided mainly into four categories:
- Infrastructure
- Mobility
- Healthcare
- Fintech
Infrastructure
Japan is planning to use AI, robots, drones, sensors, and IoT to solve problems like maintenance and repairs of roads, bridges, dams due to a shortage of labor, and increase safety and productivity. Japan, which was known for its bullet trains and was the house of the fastest trains in the world. But, China overtook the title home of the worlds fastest train. So, Japan recently tested and set a new world record speed of 375mph (600kmph) with its Maglev train and overtook China.
Mobility
Japan is developing autonomous vehicles or driver-less vehicles and drones as a means of transportation in Japan’s Society 5.0. So, that it can give access to public transportation in rural areas. And it is planning to use unmanned cargo vehicles and drones to improve its logistic services.
Healthcare
Japan is facing an aging problem, most of its citizens will be above 60 in the near future. So, to take care of its citizens, Japan is using AI to collect data related to health and can access anywhere in the country. It is also setting up a remote medical facility center everywhere with the help of robots as a nurse.
FinTech
Even in Japan, most of the people transact with cash and visit the bank. So, the Government is planning to promote cashless transactions through mobile and internet with the usage of blockchain to advance its security, transparency, and prevent fraudulent transactions. Blockchain is nothing but a chain of blocks that can store every information like date, time, amount, who purchased from whom transactions with a unique digital signature to distinguish from one another and stored permanently with high security.
Robots In Society 5.0 and during Coronavirus
We all know that Japan is known for its robots, and they are taking these robots to the next level by deploying almost everywhere in Japan, including hospitals, airports, public places so that the people can interact with them and make them feel happy. Even these robots have been used in this recent pandemic or coronavirus time in hospitals in various ways. Let’s see one by one.
The above robot is developed by OhmniLabs and ANA HOLDINGS INC., the parent company of All Nippon Airways. The company says that the robots are a new way to connect people and to expand their social interaction. A version of this robot can walk through forests and into remote locations. “If you have a physical limitation, you can just teleport your consciousness and you have a new body, and you can communicate and expand your abilities. This is the kind of mobility that we want to introduce to the world,“ says Akira Fukabori, director of ANA HOLDINGS INC.’s.
Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot manufactured by SoftBank Robotics with the ability to read emotions. It is used in hotels, hospitals, and public places. During the Coronavirus situation, pepper is used in hospitals to greet, cheer up the patients, remind them to check the temperature, and rest well.
Whiz works along with Pepper to clean hospitals and hotels where guests with COVID symptoms are staying.
UV radiation robots are used in hospitals to kill the virus. The robot disinfects the space in less than two minutes.
Japan is working to be the first country to realize the vision of Japan’s Society 5.0 with its robots during Coronavirus as an example. Its effects could be seen in other parts of the world soon. The Japanese government and companies are working together to put developments in technology, especially in AI and automation, at the service of improving human society and evolving civilization as a whole.
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.