From here on the future »10 million people with disabilities" No one is left behind "The important role of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation talks about the blind director

"Project from here for the future" that TV Asahi works on "with Corona era".

At "Hodo Station," we are developing a project, "From People to the Future," which features "people" who are at the forefront of the times in a wide range of fields.

This time, Chieko Asakawa, the director of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, located in Odaiba, Tokyo, where you can experience various science and technology from everyday questions to the latest technology.

Mr. Asakawa, who became the second director of the museum in 2021, is active as an engineer at IBM while having the handicap of being totally blind. She aims to realize a "society where no one is left behind", and she aims to solve social problems with new technology.

The number of people with disabilities in Japan is about 10 million. What is the future that Mr. Asakawa is looking at when trying to change this society, where about 7% of the people have some kind of disability, with new technology?

◆ Innovation born from assistive technology for persons with disabilities

"We can experience new science and technology for ourselves and work together for social implementation. We want to make Miraikan such a platform."

Mr. Asakawa introduces an automatic driving navigation robot "AI suitcase" for the visually impaired.

"This is a navigation robot that we are developing to safely guide visually impaired people to their destinations and is called an" AI suitcase. "When you specify the place you want to go using your smartphone, you can use your smartphone. A command is given to the suitcase, the destination is set, and it starts moving automatically. The handle has a sensor, and it stops when you let go. "

This AI suitcase is packed with various latest technologies.

"This system can recognize various obstacles until it reaches the destination. A device called a cylindrical rider rotates a near-infrared laser in a range of 360 degrees and 100 m, and the surroundings You can create more and more shapes for walls, obstacles, and buildings. "

The AI ​​suitcase, which grasps the surrounding conditions and the shape of the building with infrared rays, can recognize its own position by comparing it with the registered map. It also has a camera for recognizing obstacles. It is currently being developed with the aim of putting it into practical use.

When Yuta Tomikawa announcer actually used it with his eyes closed, he said such an impression.

"Oh, it moved .... I feel like I'm moving while looking around. But I feel more secure than I expected. The movement is so smooth that I realize that there is something when the suitcase tries to stop. Straight. As long as you proceed, it feels like you can trust and follow.

… Is this the destination? (Open your eyes) Oh, I'm moving to such a place. It's amazing, in no time. "

Upon hearing this impression, Mr. Asakawa said, "Someday, such things will be rented in various places, and we will be able to obtain the necessary information on the spot," he said with hope for the future. ..

For example, a visually impaired person walks from home to a parking lot in an AI suitcase and travels to a destination in a self-driving car. And even in the facility at the destination, he will act with the AI ​​suitcase. Mr. Asakawa is aiming for a world where support from such technology is substantial.

In addition, he is thinking about how to use it beyond just assisting movement.

"Currently, AI suitcases are being developed as robots that support visually impaired people walking around town, but in the near future, they will be used in various applications such as city use for the elderly and mobility assistance in hospitals. I'm hoping that it will continue. "

In the past, in the history of mankind, various innovations have occurred from assistive technologies for persons with disabilities.

For example, the telephone invented by Graham Bell is said to be a technology born in the process of studying various audio signals for families with hearing impairments.

Development of autonomous driving technology for cars has also started around 2010, mainly targeting the visually impaired.

"Accessibility technology started with the purpose of supporting people with disabilities, but I think it will actually be useful for everyone," (Mr. Asakawa).

◆ Blindness in the second year of junior high school, from physical education to science

Mr. Asakawa started to be involved in the development of accessibility areas because of her own experience. When she was born she was visible and she was a sports girl when she was little, but her turning point came when she was in the second year of middle school. She lost her eyesight because of an injury in the pool.

"The first thing I thought was that I couldn't go to PE college ... she thought that if she went to college since she was a kid, she would be a PE student, so that dream disappeared. Tato.

However, I also wanted to find a new job that only I could do even if I couldn't see. After that, I thought about what I could do, but it was quite difficult. When I was thinking I had to find some expertise, I learned the news that a blind person got a job as a computer engineer. I talked to various people and found out that there was such a school. "

For her aspiring physical education, turning to the realm of science was a daunting task.

"But we have few choices, and we have to choose from them. And even if they don't fit, it's not so easy to have the next one, so I just wanted to do it and studied."

She went on to a vocational school where visually impaired people learn information processing, and then got a job at IBM Japan. What made her famous asakawa was the development of the world's first software, "Home Page Reader," which reads out the characters on her web pages by voice.

She said that people who were previously unable to visually obtain information from the Internet became able to obtain information on their own, making a significant contribution to improving the quality of life (QOL) of the visually impaired. It has gained worldwide acclaim.

"I was very happy to hear the words" Home Page Reader is a window open to the world "in the comments received from users. I have the image that the limited information sources have expanded to infinity. I also had it myself. I think that being able to access the necessary information by myself is essential for active social participation.

By making good use of technology, we can understand people who can connect with each other. It is argued that diversity, “diversity” and “inclusion”, but I think access to information is important in terms of deepening understanding of such things. ”

Mr. Asakawa is looking forward to the trend toward a society where no one is left behind, where the SDGs are being called out.

"At the time of my blindness, disability was really special and there was an atmosphere that I shouldn't talk about. Last year, the Olympics and Paralympics were held in Tokyo, but the impact was great and the world changed. I really think it's Tana.

In today's society, understanding of diversity, diversity and inclusion is rapidly deepening, and I think we are creating a base where everyone can move forward together. "

So what are the future challenges?

“In order to overcome obstacles and realize an inclusive society, we must become a society in which people with disabilities themselves can demonstrate their abilities. Therefore, technology is important.

We will do our best to learn and use techniques that can be used by people with disabilities. And challenge what you can do. I think it's important to use technology to fill obstacles and perform as much as possible. "

A new technology developed by Google in 2021 allows visually impaired people to run without a companion by recognizing the yellow line drawn on the road with a smartphone camera.

Smartphone apps introduced in Fukuoka Prefecture and other prefectures use technology that allows safe crossing by notifying the name of an intersection and the color of the signal by voice or vibration when approaching a compatible traffic light.

"The level of technology can still be improved." "As a developer, we cannot stop here. We need to spread new technologies as well as technologies that support people with disabilities," said Asakawa, who chose next. The stage was the director of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. What is the reason?

"As a researcher, I found it very difficult to implement in society even if I developed technology. Inventions and social implementations cannot be separated like the two wheels of a car. Miraikan is with many people. I thought it was a place where I could be connected, so I might be able to accelerate social implementation by transmitting new science and technology from here. That was one of the reasons I decided to take office. "

After taking office, I worked on the experience of AI suitcases at Miraikan mentioned above. The data obtained here is fed back to development, and it is said that it is taking steps toward practical use and making these technologies open source.

"The goal is to make this technology as open source as possible, increase the number of friends, and spread it throughout the world."

What kind of future does Mr. Asakawa, who continues to update society through technological development, envision in the future?

"It is natural to recognize that there are diverse people, and all our daily lives are going around. I hope that such a future will come. For that purpose, I feel that diversity is not so special. I think that is important.

Diversity is necessary for our society to generate more innovation, and working with diverse people is the key to innovation. I think that diversity will become the norm as we repeat the loop that expands that understanding and progresses. "

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation plays an important role in the process of realizing that future.

"In order to see diversity as normal, it is very important to have no bias. To do so, we need the opportunity to work and study with people who are diverse from childhood. I think. At this Miraikan, I would like to create an opportunity for people to see and think about the future that is one step ahead that has not yet been implemented in society. "

* Related information: "Project from here for the future"