Japan’s inspiring social good technologies

Technology shapes the way we live. This is especially true over the past couple of decades with the advent of the internet. Being connected gives us countless conveniences. It is now easier than ever to use our smartphones to connect with others instantly or to purchase what we need.

Technology has potential, of course, for greater purposes. It can assist the elderly and disabled, create more sustainable agriculture, and even help us relieve stress in fun and interesting ways.

Japan in particular is known for its technology, especially consumer products. The country is also producing machines and applications for social good, which can impact our lives in positive ways.

Living long with social, helpful robots

In Japan, robots are assisting the elderly and serve important healthcare functions. The country’s ageing society presents economic and social challenges. However, it also means that Japan is in a unique position. It can lead the way in providing solutions for countries facing similar demographic crises.

Robotic technology is being introduced in various settings, from private residences to nursing homes. The IMAirumo PaPeRo robot developed by SOLXYZ, for example, is a monitoring device for elderly people living on their own. It has functions for the families of elderly users to track their condition, such as checking room temperature and current whereabouts. It also has features for seniors themselves, including reminders to take medications.

Some Japanese nursing homes are also taking advantage of robotics to help their residents. Existing robots that were not necessarily developed for social good can still serve that purpose. Softbank’s famous Pepper robot can be used in nursing homes to lead activities and entertain residents, with one Tokyo home using it for kanji games.

Companionship robots are also being used in Japanese nursing homes. Paro, an interactive seal robot, is one of the older examples of this technology. It was developed by automation company AIST to provide the benefits of animal therapy to nursing homes where it may be difficult to have real animals.

Recent years have seen new additions to this field for general use. The companion robot Lovot is developed by Japanese company Groove X. The name combines the words “love” and “robot.” They have facial recognition technology and can move independently. Lovots follow user’s movement and actively seek attention from their owners. Companion robots can be a great way to reduce loneliness and assist in day to day tasks. However, the cost may still be prohibitive for individual users and organizations.

Using apps to care for ourselves and others

Smartphone apps are another tool to help Japan’s elderly and others in need of care. With Japan’s greying population comes an increase in the number of diabetes cases, for example. Japan’s health ministry suspected that there were 10 million people with diabetes in 2016. The smartphone app Shichifukujin was developed by the Aichi Health Promotion Public Interest Foundation to monitor the conditions of diabetes sufferers. Shichifukujin refers to seven lucky gods in Japanese mythology. The app uses cartoon character versions of Japanese gods to monitor weight, blood pressure and exercise habits, among other things. Shichifukujin was used in a two-year study called PRISM-J that monitored the conditions of diabetes patients.

Besides healthcare, smartphone apps can benefit everyday users who are interested in social good. There are several Japanese apps using blockchain technology for users to get involved. One example is GiverCoin. This is a platform which you can use to apply for social good services from companies and NGOs. Each time a user does this, they receive GiverCoins in their app’s wallet, which allows him or her to participate in various events and other things. The goal is to get users to actively participate rather than just building awareness of social issues.

Another similar app is actcoin. It allows users to find organizations to volunteer for and donate to. Users receive 10% of the amount donated back in the form of in-app coins. Organizations and events listed through the platform’s search also display information about which of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals the event is related to. Users also have profiles which clearly show their activities on actcoin. During Japan’s state of emergency in the Coronavirus pandemic, actcoin connected with the organization KidsDoor to provide relief to Japanese children. The app includes a button to tap for users to declare their intent to stay home. For each tap, the Social Action Company, the makers of actcoin, donates 10 yen to Kids Door.

IoT to accelerate sustainability

Plantio is a Japanese startup aiming for people to rethink food production. Their goal is to help people move away from mass produced agricultural products and their negative impact on the environment. They have been developing technologies for urban farming services. These include indoor farms and small home planters utilizing IoT.

One of their goals is to effectively use rooftops for urban farming, where people can not only plant vegetables but also foster a sense of community. They have also launched a web service called “grow SHARE.” The service allows users to find and register places for growing vegetables in the Tokyo area. It also lets them find and exchange information, as well as recruit volunteers.

The technologies listed here are but a small sample of what Japan has to offer. Technology has endless possibilities to be used as a force for social good. It can make people’s lives more comfortable and their jobs easier. We can also find novel ways to reduce loneliness and stress, and connect with each other not only for entertainment but for a greater shared purpose. Through apps, as well as robots and other machines, we can make our lives healthier, more sustainable and meaningful.