Technologies are converging
So-called converging technologies are playing a significant role today, and experts believe their future social and economic roles will be even greater.
Take the cell phone. Its original purpose was simple - it made phone calls. Today, the typical phone comes equipped with a camera, mp3 player and voice recorder. Smartphones do even more, as they are more like handheld computers with Internet connections than your father’s old rotary-dialed contraption.
And the cell phone is only one example of technologies that are rushing to unite. The payoff comes when experts form disparate industries are able to cooperate. For its part, the government is trying to fuel this combination.
On Nov. 18, the National Science and Technology Council approved the basic plans for development of converging technology in Korea that were proposed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Knowledge Economy and four other ministries.
The Amazon Kindle is an electronic device that can store up to 200 books. Users can download books and newspapers from online stores.
A “Converging Tech Map” has been developed to guide standardization and development. Initially, neuroscience and environment?al technology were singled out.
Down the road, robotics, advanced materials, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, information technology and the media will be included in the plans.
Steps are being taken to ensure an open and advanced developmental stage through “e-R&D,” a system that will share ideas and data from experts.
Under the proposed plan, government-supported research centers and universities will cooperate on curriculum development. And researchers will be able to be affiliated with more than one research institution.
Since cooperative initiatives between government ministries is important, research and development centers for converging technology are slated to open.
Apple’s iPhone 3G is the first mobile phone to use “multi-touch” technology. It also has a wide array of functions including Internet access.
“Up until now, converging technology development was limited by the narrow perception that it is a mere union of nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology. In order to prepare for the complicated issues of the future and to deal sufficiently with a variety of economical and social demands, we have expanded the meaning of converging technology to include cooperative efforts among various organizations” added Kim.
For example, severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza and climate change are major social issues that the government believes require the new approach.
The Nintendo Wii is a video game console whose motion sensors capture the physical movement of gamers.
While the idea of developing institutions that feature converging technologies is relatively new to Korea, prominent companies and research centers around the world have been developing and manufacturing products based on the theme for years.
Through these products, those firms and centers have been gaining a strong foothold in the market.
Take Apple for example. Always a convergence leader, Apple started an iPhone revolution through its user interface, “multi-touch” technology.
Another example is the Nintendo’s Wii Fit system, which upgrades the standard video gaming experience by providing gamers an assessment of their movements through blending IT and sports gaming experiences.
And Hug Shirts, which contain sensors that read a person’s skin temperature and heart rate through Bluetooth technology on a mobile phone, can send the information to a friend’s cell phone.
Part of the reason the Korean government is strongly interested in converging technology is that development of new products through technology blending can boost the nation’s economy.
The government’s current plan is to stand shoulder to shoulder in the field with some of the world’s powerhouses.
In order get started down this road, the government held hearings from May to October with ministries and experts from various fields. Surveys were also conducted.
That’s not to say support for the field was previously nonexistent in Korea, only that the efforts were done in isolation by various ministries, research centers and companies. But there was no combined, single-minded effort to bring it all together.
“The lack of cooperation means the possibility of losing sight of the original goal. Instead, the competitive drive for development can result in lack of original ideas and technologies. The end results can be mere reproduction of new technologies from elsewhere,” said Roh Young-min, chief manager of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology.
“Converging technology supported by the government should distance itself from the efforts of private entities through a focus on the government funding basic research and building adequate infrastructure,” Roh said.
Choosing the right field of specialization is another important factor in the initial developmental phase.
“It’s not a good idea to merely follow the pack. We need to recognize which field is of strength to us and invest in those areas accordingly,” said Shin Yong-hyeon of Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science.
“Since converging technology is a riskier investment in comparison to other fields, the focus on numbers, sales and quick results isn’t wise. It is important during the planning of follow-up measures to focus on the need to set up medium- to long-term support,” added Shin.
By Ko Sung-pyo JoongAng Sunday [jason@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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