Concept-Oriented Research and Development in Information Technology

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Introduction

Kinji Mori

Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

Society and the economy have changed rapidly and unpredictably over the past several decades, and technology is becoming increasingly reflective of general socioeconomic trends. Basic needs for daily life have been satisfied as technology has advanced, especially until the latter half of the twentieth century.

Historically, technologies have contributed to supporting personal life. On the other hand, as technologies and their applications have advanced rapidly and globally, their contributions to society have not been evaluated adequately.

Technological research and development (R&D) has to be dynamically directed to advance both society and the economy:

• Society Environmental issues, such as climate change, earthquakes, and tsunamis, as well as rapid industrial advancement in emerging countries, have impacted society. Conventional technologies and their research activities have not been regarded as appropriate for such changing situations. Therefore, technological R&D must change to achieve sustainability as well as growth.
• Economy There have been several different types of financial crises. The market is globalized, and emerging countries have been advancing their technological skills and accelerating their power in the market. As this global competition has increased, the lifecycle of technology and products has decreased. In particular, earlier component technologies for products and services supplied by leading companies ...