Message from the President August.2018

The “world of the future” that is often featured in science fiction movies and comics—typified by autonomous vehicles, remote robotic surgery, automation and the optimization of daily life by IoT, and live video in a 360-degree view or hologram that makes you feel as if you were there—is now becoming a reality thanks to overwhelming technological innovations in the fifth-generation mobile communication system (hereinafter, “5G”).

The 5G system is characterized primarily by high-speed communication, large capacity, low latency, and simultaneous connection. Because autonomous driving and remote surgery, for instance, require detailed motions, an operational lag caused by time delay that occurs when data are transferred may result in a fatal error. The key to lower latency is minimizing the time lag due to data transfer. It can also be expected that simultaneous connections, where many objects are connected at once, can automatically activate different things with one operation and dramatically improve the efficiency of our lives and work.

While we benefit greatly as communication technology evolves, it can also put our privacy at risk without our realizing it. Security has always been important, but with the take-up of 5G it will be more critical than ever to defend yourself. You should strengthen your online security, obviously, and take responsibility for your own words and actions. And then, recognize the potential risks that may infringe your privacy before you enjoy the convenience that 5G offers.

As the take-up of 5G will bring more technological advances in various industries and fields, as Meitec engineers you will have more opportunities and areas where you can display your talents. I want you to make full use of the technical skills and experiences you have cultivated along your career path, and work on design and development projects that can maximize the features of the overwhelming communication technologies of 5G. I also expect that you will create “connections” in society and play an active part in making the world of the future a reality.

Finally, we often hear in recent years that “with the evolution of AI, robots will replace human work.” Yet this displacement is something humans have faced repeatedly throughout the history of technological advances. The important thing is how well we can manage to use AI and robots as tools. If we cannot judge whether the answer or data derived by AI is correct, then we will be “replaced.”

We need to always question this and make an objective judgment, instead of just assuming it is correct. In making a judgment, we must rely on the instinct we have acquired throughout our personal experience. With the right instinct, you can make the correct judgement and choice.

I expect all of you at Meitec to be “innovators” who can properly use the innovative technologies and tools of AI, robots, and 5G.