Let's Go to the Field

I am constantly conducting joint research with various companies. In addition to collaborating with companies in my own field of IT and communications, I often work with industries in different sectors. For example, I have relationships with companies in fields such as architecture, civil engineering, transportation, and machinery. Discussing topics with people from different industries is very enjoyable because it allows me to learn about unknown worlds. However, in joint research, one is required to propose new solutions or invent technologies for specific problems. To achieve this, I make an effort to go to the actual sites where problems occur and experience those issues firsthand.

For instance, I am conducting joint research with a company in the construction industry to automate part of the construction process using IT. To understand the current situation, I first visited a construction site. I wore the same helmet as the workers and walked across dangerous scaffolding. By experiencing this, I was able to understand the true constraints, allowing me to propose IT solutions that are feasible under those conditions. This is something that is difficult to grasp just by reading documents. Additionally, in joint research with a railway transportation company, we are researching high-speed optical wireless communication between trains and the ground. I once walked along the tracks with the staff late at night when trains were not running. By walking, I could confirm various facilities along the tracks with my own eyes and learn about detailed constraints, which led to more realistic proposals.

Simply listening to the stories of those involved is often very helpful in identifying problems. For example, when I conducted joint research on a navigation system for the visually impaired with a certain company, I directly asked visually impaired individuals what kind of difficulties they faced. I learned things that were surprising to me as a sighted person—such as how they have to find the toilet by touch inside a restroom, or how those who can perceive even a tiny bit of light from streetlamps at night rely on that light to walk. Knowing these difficulties allowed me to propose a new IT system.

In future joint research with different industries, I intend to continue making the effort to go to the field, experience it with my five senses, and empathize with the people involved.