Public Technology Design Consortium

Objectives

Digital technology, such as the Internet, has empowered the individual and enabled each member of society to equally play a variety of roles within society. An era is gradually being created where people can become independently involved in finding solutions to problems and shaping and maintaining social order. This research, based on these changes, will examine practical design reforms to activities conducted in public interest by all groups, including commercial organizations, government organizations, NPO and NGO, in order to realize a new civil society.

The following are some of the Working Groups (WG) that will be involved in the implementation of this research.

  • Digital Currency WGThe popularity of the Bitcoin over the past few years indicates the willingness of society to accept the democratization of a currency system via digital technology. This Working Group will clarify issues surrounding cryptocurrency, like those experienced with Bitcoin, and make proposals aimed at improving currency systems. With more than ten years of research experience in this particular field, SFC will lead the way in reforming currency systems within civil societies across the world.
  • Politics and Communication WGIn order for the people, the real rulers, to actively participate in politics, there needs to be a deeper understanding of politics and policies. Based on the premise that this is a problem relating to communication, this Working Group will aim to establish a design method that will enable information to bridge the gap between government and the people.
  • Academy Camp WGEducation where established knowledge is simply passed down is not suitable for growing people, those responsible for future civil society, who will change the world. This Working Group will aim to establish a design method to create a camp, called “Academy Camp”, which incorporates academic learning elements, where people can discover issues for themselves and work with others to find solutions.

Research Outline (First Year)

  • Each Working Group will publicly announce their design method proposal. They will also organize a system, where theory is put into action, to provide a means for proposal evaluation.
  • Digital Currency WG will examine and analyze the current status of digital currency and publish a report on subsequent findings. They will also organize an experimental platform for digital currency.
  • Politics and Communication WG will analyze pattern language relating to the design of politics and communication.
  • Academy Camp WG will publish a report on past camp implementations.
  • “Digital Civil Society Design Symposium” will be held to bring the results of all the WGs together.

Researchers, managers and professors

Jun MuraiDirector Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
Research representative
Masaki Minami Project Assistant Professor Graduate School of Media and Governance
Academy Camp & Behavior Change
Fumitoshi Kato Professor, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
Academy Camp
Kenji Saito Part-time Lecturer, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies
Digital Currency
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