Viewpoint on "Why Singapore has the smartest kids in the world"

MIscellaneous thoughts about "Why Singapore has the smartest kids in the world, CNN"

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/05/asia/singapore-smartest-kids/index.html

 To sum up, this article says that Singapore improved their educational system and the writer attributes Singapore's rags-to-riches transition to the educational system. Singapore emphasizes creativity as well as knowledge and resilience as well as smartness. The importance of education should be instilled at a young age -- before children even get to primary school. Its education system prioritizes good teachers. No further details aren’t mentioned in this article.

 I have heard and read about the similar way of thinking to this article several times. In this article, the writer focuses on after 1970s in Singapore. Therefore, for 30 to 40 years, they established the education system, change their country’s industries, and now today they are one of the best performing economies in the entire world. The important point to notice is that they achieved a certain goal drastically within a short span. Human-beings have always discovered new things, found solutions, and invented new conveniences since ancient times. That is to say, it can be said that Singapore has executed the dogma thoroughly and in a planned way on a national scale. Creativity and resilience are classic yet new.

 However, I would like to advocate that life-long learning is kind of important as well as early childhood education. Synergetic effect of experience and learning would lead to creativity and resilience in every field. In developed countries, society is aging, so the old must be creative and resilient as well as the young. Because aging elderly people will be increase as consumers and suppliers and ideas from age people will be important for produce new goods and services.

 Let me to wrap up. We should consider early-childhood education for not only knowledge but also creativity. Further, I think that we had better learn as necessary throughout our life and we could be creative and resilient by synergetic effect of experience and learning. According to this article, “This is sort of a question of priorities. You can see in all tiers of public policy, education comes first. That's your future." I would like to say that education comes first in youth and learning on the basis of our experience comes first regardless of socioeconomic position. That’s our future especially in aging society.

Viewpoint on “NASA satellite images: Which are the most polluted countries in the world?”

What I think about CNN NEWS “NASA satellite images: Which are the most polluted countries in the world?”

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/16/world/nasa-air-quality-maps/index.html

http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12094

 Using global satellite maps, NASA scientists examined air pollution trends over the last decade in various regions and 195 cities on the earth. In this research, nitrogen dioxide hotspots are used as an indicator of general air quality. Because nitrogen dioxide can quickly transform into ground-level ozone, a major respiratory pollutant in urban smog. According to HASA research findings, the United States, Europe and Japan have improved air quality thanks to emission control regulations, while China, India and the Middle East, with their fast-growing economies and expanding industry, have seen more air pollution.

 We can understand what factors cause this outcome. The difference between the developed nations and the developing areas is what the priority is. In the developed countries, consumer needs are security, safety, health, sustainable environment, and others, while people in the developing regions are still interested in pursuit of material affluence and convenience.

 However, even though nitrogen dioxide level is decreasing, in Syria, the civil war has reduced economic activities.

Above map is the trend of the Middle East which shows the change in nitrogen dioxide concentrations from 2005 to 2014. Blue indicated an observed decrease in nitrogen dioxide.

 Fortunately or unfortunately, new, high-resolution global satellite maps of air quality indicators tell us human brutality, stupidity and cruelty of war as well as the environmental problems objectively. Conversely, I think that human beings are great to develop that science technology like the satellite. Whether we make the best of the warning or not is also up to us. We must keep it firmly in our mind.

 By the way, using the map of satellite, who can see truly about the title of this news?

 “Which are the most polluted countries in the world?”

Viewpoint on “5 crazy, innovative concept vehicles at Tokyo Motor Show”

My opinion on “5 crazy, innovative concept vehicles at Tokyo Motor Show”

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https://www.techinasia.com/5-crazy-innovative-concept-vehicles-tokyo-motor-show-2015

 What type of car did we imagine to hear of an electric car in a single phrase several years ago? Sure, I knew “Toyota’s hybrid Prius”, but what the first thing I can thought of an electric car was the rechargeable battery powered electric car.

I don’t think I was the only one who thought so. In fact, quite a few people said like the following. The automobile will also become one of the digital consumer products and the battery will be a similar positioning of the integrated circuit chip of PC. Therefore, Developing countries including China can catch up and overtake advanced countries in the automobile industry like the PC industry. Because they can purchase a battery and assemble a vehicle by low labor cost.

 However, this time around, I feel like that the point of view and the circumstance are apparently different from a few years ago. It sees that hydrogen fuel cell technology instead of rechargeable battery technology has become the mainstream. Furthermore, labor cost in China is also less competitive than before.

 On the other hand, consumer needs has changed recently. It probably changed after around the Great East Japan Earthquake. We have become to buy what we really need, want, and desire. However cheap or it might be, we don’t buy what we don’t need. Most of us seek something more useful, healthy, environment-friendly, and valuable. For example, to be specific, we have feelings of resistance to what is cheap but not healthy.

 What I think after reading this article is that Toyota’s concept must win the hearts and minds of more consumers. It’s more useful, healthy, environment-friendly, and valuable for consumers. Toyota released as follows.

 “Clean generation of hydrogen from a wide range of primary energy sources will make local, self-sufficient power generation a global reality, and fuel cell vehicles will take on a new role as power sources within their communities. Toyota’s aim is to add an all-new sense of purpose to the automobile by turning fuel cell vehicles from eco-cars into energy-cars.”

 I believe that its realization and dissemination of the concept would contribute to resolution of the environmental issues and make our work and daily life creative and independent. The improvement of energy issue and environmental problems could help us address other challenges, - food shortage, poverty and development, human rights and global security.

Viewpoint on “Arizona State announces free MBA program, seeks to increase diversity”

I would like to write about my impression after I read this article.

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/10/21/arizona-state-free-mba/

http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2140391913080109401

http://10rank.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-256.html

 I am kind of surprised at this article. Even though it is tentative, is it true? - “Its new price tag on a master’s of business administration degree? That would be $0. ….. The full-tuition scholarship will be worth between $54,000 and $90,000, depending on the student’s residence.” William Polk Carey donated $50 million to Arizona State University (ASU). How many students are bale to be helped pursue a MBA degree? The answer is “Hillman says the school will offer the scholarships to a maximum of 120 students in the fall.” I have heard many American stories like this.

In Japan, Atsugiri Jason from America is popular nowadays and he shouts in a loud voice, “Why Japanese people? Why?” Conversely, I want to shout like this, “Why American people? Why?” The questions are as follows.

1 Why do they own that great deal of money as an individual?

2 Why are they so generous?

3 Why do they feel a sense of unfairness?

I guess that answers are different in respective cases. However, I think that this must be ‘Transcendence needs of Maslow’s Hierarchy - helping others to achieve self-actualization’.

 Actually, this is not my first time to think of something like this. In my junior high school days, I read ‘Daddy-Long-Legs’ as an English side reader. Back then, I was kind of interested in this book. The literature was published in 1912, so it was about a century ago. Therefore, at least, for more than 100 years, they have had a mind to contribute to education traditionally in the U.S.

 Come to think of it, in 2012, in America, the amount of donation was $316.23 billion (30 chou-yen) and 19.4 times than Japan’s. Furthermore, the rate of individual donation was 72% of all. That’s not all. The employees in NPO accounted for 10% of all in America. One of the centerpiece of President Obama’s politics is also ‘social innovation fund’. Though I don’t have enough money to be able to donate and I don’t know that we will live in the similar social trend in the near future in Japan, I’m also able to have the motivation like the following sentences. They are the last part of my essay - What I think about TED "The puzzle of motivation by Daniel H. Pink". I want to write the same conclusion.

While looking at my children’s smiles, I sometimes think about what I can do for them and what can be a goal for us. I think that this type of thinking process is also one of the transcendent needs and intrinsic motivators. When we work on this kind of theme, needless to say, obviously, we must work creatively, passionately, and effectively. Because at that time, we can play the role of a hero like in American movies. They can risk their lives and do a really good job for love and others, not for money. If we can find this sort of motivator, we will be able to grow stronger, do a better job, and live life more fully.

Viewpoint on “Computer glitch caused delays at U.S. airports”

What I think about the news is that they are not terrorisms.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/10/14/Computer-glitch-caused-delays-at-US-airports/3081444871534/

To put it simply, passengers flying were delayed across different U.S. airports including JFK airport on October. According to this article, a glitch of customs computers led to outrages at several U.S. airports, causing traveler lines and problems. The glitch affected computers used to screen for terror suspects. More than 400 flights were reported to have been delayed because of the incident.

This raised fears that the system had been hacked. However, the department of Homeland Security stated that there was no evidence for this. What truly caused the glitch has not yet been identified.

So, did the airport management handle the glitch well? I think that the answer is no. Actually, the airport management couldn’t handle the glitch well.

There is the criticism, “People wondered why the staff did not do manual checks instead of stopping operations”. But I guess that labor-intensive method has its limits since there isn’t always excess manpower in every company. I guess that half manual checks cause second accident. However, it goes without saying that the training for the employees might be needed to deal with every unpredictable contingency.

However, not only the airport management but also other business managements depend on computer systems and can’t take perfect measures in preparation for all those kinds of incidents. I think that the best way to be done is developing an alternative computer system which can work at the same time. But it is very expensive and it will be reflected in airfare or airport fee. Maybe, computer system like this is supposed to have an alternative system. This time around, at least, they might not have such a system to screen terror suspect.

While all the world has been working on strengthening security systems against terrorism lately, Japan’s organization related must check security systems including computer systems. And also, in case that a glitch occurs suddenly, authorities should prepare multiple measures to be taken , regardless of whether they are owned by publicly or privately.

Viewpoint on "Salary Budget Planning Report - Asia Pacific (Third Quarter)"

My viewpoint on  "アジア太平洋地域の2016年の昇給率が高インフレの影響で低下"

～ タワーズワトソン昇給率調査 ～

https://www.towerswatson.com/ja-JP/Press/2015/10/Rising-Inflation-Set-to-Trim-2016-Salary-Raises-in-Asia-Pacific

 Asian employees’ reaction to increase of salary depends on other surrounding status. In respective countries, regions, and companies, additionally, in political and economic matters, there must be different reactions between them, so we can’t imagine their feelings and thinking easily. However, as long as their real wage is increasing, they must think that tomorrow will be better than today in everything and they can have a dream. In this way, they may be happy, even though they experience a certain level of inflation and their needs are not still met in daily life. Real wage increasing can be sufficient motivation.

 On the other hand, Japan gets only lower increase of 2.4%. Considering inflation and others, it is not increase but just status quo. Under the circumstance, we have to find our motivations. And so, I think that autonomy, mastery, and purpose in Daniel Pink’s speech are significant for us. That is to say, they are the 21st century motivators. In a way, finding this type of motivator is tougher than pursuit of material affluence.

 I thought the following when I listened to Daniel Pink’s speech of TED. “We can say that the products and services for social contribution would increase, leading to sales and profits for the company. Business managers and workers need to keep this in mind. I think that this type of thinking process is also one of the transcendent needs and intrinsic motivators. When we work on this kind of theme, needless to say, obviously, we must work creatively, passionately, and effectively. Because at that time, we can play the role as if he/she were a hero like in American movies. To put it strongly, they can risk their lives and do a really good job for love and others, not for money. If we can find this sort of motivator, we will be able to grow stronger, do a better job, and live life more fully.

 In order to live like this, we need to hone our vision, competency, and perseverance. First, we should start things which we can do easily. Next, we may expand range of our activity. And then, we can study harder. Eventually, we may contribute to people around us. This way lead to our motivation and deserved reward.

Viewpoint on "Sharp’s RoboHon and Monohm’s Runcible"

My viewpoint on the two types of smartphones.

https://robohon.com/special/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2893322/runcible-is-a-circular-smartphone-for-people-who-hate-smartphones.html

RoboHon

 Sharp’s RoboHon and Monohm’s Runcible are used in limited places and circumstances.

 Sharp’s RoboHon has both features of a smartphone and a robot. It is able to identify faces and voices, so it can call out the user’s name when taking a picture. RoboHon can also inform the user about certain updates, such as receiving a new message. It can also walk, talk, and dance.

I don’t think that we need that many functions in our normal everyday life. Conversely, when we encounter special circumstances, that features may be very useful. That is to say, since it has multiple functions, it can be used in limited situations. For example, the purposes are for something technical event, kind of entertainment, or supplementary roles.

 Monohm’s Runcible is based on Firefox OS, so you can use web apps for basic connectivity, but don’t expect a full-blown app store or a traditional smartphone interface.

 These days, I think that we can live conveniently with standard features as a smartphone. As people around us have a smartphone, most of us are obliged to live daily and work based on having a smartphone. Therefore, because it has only simple functions, it can be used for limited needs. For example, they are cases in which we can live refocusing on real people and the real world. Even though in this case, we will sometimes use PC for other full-blown app store or traditional smartphone functions.  Personally, I think that I may use Monohm’s Runcible except when I am busy. However, two or more people communicate with each other. In most cases, one of them is not busy, while the other is busy. There lies the problem. 

Runcible