Stability of quantum states of finite macroscopic systems

We study the stabilities of quantum states of macroscopic systems, against noises, against perturbations from environments, and against local measurements. We show that the stabilities are closely related to the cluster property, which describes the strength of spatial correlations of fluctuations of local observables, and to fluctuations of additive operators. The present theory has many applications, among which we discuss the mechanism of phase transitions in finite systems and quantum computers with a huge number of qubits.Comment: Proceedings of the Japan-Italy Joint Waseda Workshop on "Fundamental Problems in Quantum Mechanics", 27-29 September, 2001, Tokyo, Japan. (Edited by S. Tasaki, to be published from World Scientific, 2002) 7 pages, no figure

The use of computers in education worldwide : results from a comparative survey in 18 countries

In 1989, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Computers in Education study collected data on computer use in elementary, and lower- and upper-secondary education in 22 countries. Although all data sets from the participating countries had not been received at the time of writing, this paper provides some preliminary results from 19 educational systems in 18 countries. Countries participating in the study include Belgium (Flemish and French school systems), Canada (British Columbia), China, France, West Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States. The paper shows statistics related to: (1) the availability and the use of computer hardware, software, and peripherals; (2) the problems experienced in using computers in schools; and (3) the attitudes of administrators towards computers. The results show that drastic changes have taken place in the last few years in the number of schools equipped with computers, and the number of computers available in schools. It is noted that in most educational systems microcomputers are used by a limited number of teachers, and are used mainly for teaching students about computers. Major problems that appeared included a lack of teacher preparation time, the lack of sufficient computer software of high quality, and a lack of teacher education and training. It is suggested that the creation of short- and long-term implementation strategies could facilitate the integration of computers into existing subjects. (5 references) (DB

Attitudes Toward ICT Use in Education : Analysis of Board of Education Website Postings

A board of education director in Hino, Tokyo, Japan, makes daily website postings about the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. Undergraduate students can learn teaching methods using ICT from the website by means of e-learning. We focused on their feelings regarding the use of ICT in education and analyzed them using text mining. As a result, three main aspects of undergraduate students’ feelings emerged: 1) training programs, support systems and cooperation with relevant departments were important in promoting the use of ICT in education, 2) undergraduate students had a negative preconception of ICT and computers and 3) ICT was useful and effective, but using computers for education had a bad influence on children. In addition, we suggest that they thought ICT was a teaching methodology and the computer was a simple tool for education.ArticleED-MEDIA 2009-World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications.2009(1):3315-3320(2009)conference pape

"The Shift from Belt Conveyor Line to Work-cell Based Assembly Systems to Cope with Increasing Demand Variation and Fluctuation in The Japanese Electronics Industries"

As consumption patterns become increasingly sophisticated and manufacturers strive to improve their competitiveness, not only offering higher quality at competitive costs, but also by providing broader mix of products, and keeping it attractive by launching successively new products, the turbulence in the markets has intensified. This has impelled leading manufacturers to search the development of alternative production systems supposed to enable them operate more responsively. This paper discusses the trend of abandoning the strategy of relying on factory automation technologies and conveyor-based assembly lines, and shifting towards more human-centered production systems based on autonomous work-cells, observed in some industries in Japan (e.g. consumer electronics, computers, printers) since mid-1990s. The purpose of this study is to investigate this trend which is seemingly uneconomic to manufacturers established in a country where labor costs are among the highest in the world, so as to contribute in the elucidation of its background and rationality. This work starts with a theoretical review linking the need to cope with nowadays' market turbulence with the issue of nurturing more agile organizations. Then, a general view of the diffusion trend of work-cell based assembly systems in Japanese electronics industries is presented, and some empirical facts gathered in field studies conducted in Japan are discussed. It is worthy mentioning that the abandonment of short cycle-time tasks performed along conveyor lines and the organization of workforce around work-cells do not imply a rejection of the lean production paradigm and its distinctive process improvement approach. High man-hour productivity is realized as a key goal to justify the implementation of work-cells usually devised to run in longer cycle-time, and the moves towards this direction has been strikingly influenced by the kaizen philosophy and techniques that underline typical initiatives of lean production system implementation. Finally, it speculates that even though the subject trend is finding wide diffusion in the considered industries, it should not be regarded as a panacea. In industries such as manufacturing of autoparts, despite the notable product diversification observed in the automobile market, its circumstances have still allowed the firms to rely on capital-intensive process, and this has sustained the development of advanced manufacturing technologies that enable the agile implementation and re-configuration of highly automated assembly lines.

RFID-enabled real-time manufacturing for automotive part and accessory suppliers

Automotive part and accessory manufacturers (APAMs) at the lower tiers of the automotive vertical have been following leading vehicle assemblers in adopting RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and ubiquitous computing technologies, aiming to alleviate their advanced manufacturing systems. RFID-enabled real-time traceability and visibility facilitate the implementation of advanced strategies such as Just-In-Time (JIT) lean / responsive manufacturing and mass customization (MC). Being typically small and medium sized, however, APAMs are faced up with business and technical challenges which are summarized by the so-called "three high problems". They are high cost, high risk and high level of requirement for technical skills. Based on a series of industrial field studies, this paper establishes an innovative service-oriented business model for overcoming the "three high Problems" based on the concept of Product Service Systems (PSS) and RFID gateway technology.published_or_final_versionThe 40th International Conference on Computers and Industrial Engineering (CIE 2010), Awaji, Japan, 25-28 July 2010. In Proceedings of CIE40, 2010, p. 1-

How Individually Optimized Education Can Be Achieved

Individually optimized education is essential for Japan and ICT systems is necessary for it. However, computers have been introduced not to reform traditional lessons but to maintain them. In other words, new education system should be introduced places or people that are separated from traditional one

Macro, mini, micro and nano (M(sup 3)N) technologies for the future

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), micro systems technologies (MST), and micromanufacturing are relatively recent phrases or acronyms that have become synonymous with the design, development, and manufacture of 'micro' devices and systems. Micromanufacturing encompasses MEMS or MST and, in addition, includes all of the processes involved in the production of micro things. Integration of mechanical and electrical components, including built-in computers, can be formed into systems which must be connected to the macroworld. Macro, mini, micro, and nano technologies are all a part of MEMS or micromanufacturing. At this point in the development of the technology, it is becoming apparent that mini systems, with micro components, could very well be the economic drivers of the technology for the foreseeable future. Initial research in the fabrication of microdevices using IC processing technology took place over thirty years ago. Anisotropic etching of silicon was used to produce piezoresistive diaphragms. Since the early 60's, there has been gradual progress in MEMS until the early 1980's when worldwide interest in the technology really started to develop. During this time high aspect ratio micromachining using x rays was started in Germany. In 1987 the concept of a 'silicon micromechanics foundry' was proposed. Since then the interest in the U.S., Germany, and Japan has increased to the point where hundreds of millions of dollars of research monies are being funneled into the technology (at least in Germany and Japan) and the technology has been classified as critical or as a technology or national importance by the U.S. government

The fusion of law and information technology

In information society, legal norm communications have been never established in certain fields for a long time. That is, a few legal norms have never obeyed in the fields. Above all, legal norms which relate to data protection, information contents and information security, would often infringed. Most violation would be conducted by using information technologies. Information technologies would often be used in these infringing incidents. It can be said that these infringing incidents would have never been conducted without information technology. These infringing incidents include hacking actions, personal data abuse, personal information disclosure, unauthorized access, infringing copyrights, infringing privacy rights, and so on. A way of preventing those infringements is to raise the level of punishment against the violators. But, it will prove to be disappointing. Furthermore, it would be an ex post facto measure to the last. It would be needed to invent an ex ante measure, if it is possible. As the ex ante measure, the author proposes a fusion of law and information technology. An information technology will lead people to a lawful deed when they conduct actions in using computers and networks. They say that information technology cures information technology. After all, the fusion will aim at realizing laws, and it will contribute to recover a social justice