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From: Newman.es@PARC-MAXC.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.ai
Subject: Re: New Generation computing: Japanese and U.S. views
Message-ID: <14657@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Dec-83 21:18:23 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.14657
Posted: Tue Dec 13 21:18:23 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Dec-83 01:26:37 EST
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From:  Ron Newman <Newman.es@PARC-MAXC.ARPA>

                [Reprinted from the SU-SCORE bboard.]

My juxtaposition of quotations is intended to demonstrate the difference
in priorities between the Japanese and U.S. "next generation" computer
research programs.  Moto-Oka is a prime mover behind the Japanese
program, and DARPA's Robert Kahn is a prime mover behind the American
one.  Thus I consider the quotations comparable.

To put it bluntly:  the Japanese say they are developing this technology
to help solve human and social problems.  The Americans say they are
developing this technology to find more efficient ways of killing
people.

The difference in intent is quite striking, and will undoubtedly produce
a "next-generation" repetition of an all too familiar syndrome.  While
the U.S. pours yet more money and scientific talent into the military
sinkhole, the Japanese invest their monetary and human capital in
projects that will produce profitable industrial products.

Here are a couple more comparable quotes, both from IEEE Spectrum, Vol.
20, No. 11, November 1983:

  "DARPA intends to apply the computers developed in this program to a
number of broad military applications...
  "An example might be a pilot's assistant that can respond to spoken
commands by a pilot and carry them out without error, drawing upon
specific aircraft, sensor, and tactical knowledge stored in memory and
upon prodigious computer power.  Such capability could free a pilot to
concentrate on tactics while the computer automatically activated
surveillance sensors, interpreted radar, optical, and electronic
intelligence, and prepared appropriate weapons systems to counter
hostile aircraft or missiles....
  "Such systems may also help in military assessments on a battlefield,
simulating and predicting the consequences of various courses of
military action and interpreting signals acquired on the battlefield.
This information could be compiled and presented as sophisticated
graphics that would allow a commander and his staff to concentrate on
the larger strategic issues, rather than having to manage the enormous
data flow that will[!] characterize future battles."
    --Robert S. Cooper and Robert E. Kahn, DARPA, page 53.

  "Fifth generation computers systems are exptected to fulfill four
major roles:  (1) enhancement of productivity in low-productivity areas,
such as nonstandardized operations in smaller industries;  (2)
conservation of national resources and energy through optimal energy
conversion; (3) establishment of medical, educational, and other kinds
of support systems for solving complex social problems, such as the
transition to a society made up largely of the elderly;  and (4)
fostering of international cooperation through the machine translation
of languages."
    --Tohru Moto-Oka, University of Tokyo, page 46


Which end result would *you* rather see?

/Ron