Fusing the Humanities and Science
-The Beginning of the New Digital Century-

Katsufumi NAKAMURA,
Director-General, Broadcasting Culture Research Institute

The 21st Century has arrived. Here in Japan, with the launch of digital high definition television and data broadcasting on the digital satellite channels, we are calling this the New Digital Century.
Rather than being swept away by the fierce competition in marketing this new technology, we believe that we have entered upon a new age that presents us with many new challenges in using the technology for social development and the betterment of people's lives.

Publication of "The History of 20th Century Broadcasting"
Broadcasting in Japan began in 1925 at Atagoyama, Tokyo, where our Broadcasting Culture Research Institute now stands. As one of the events to mark the 75 years of broadcasting, our institute published The History of 20th Century Broadcasting on March 22, 2001, to coincide with the 76th anniversary of broadcasting in Japan.

Broadcasting has progressed by leaps and bounds in the relatively short time since its birth in the 20th century. The history is an all-embracing work, looking at the roles played by broadcasting in the changes in society and culture, and also studying the importance of the other media, such as newspapers and telecommunications, and noting trends in other parts of the world.
The history also serves to remind us that this is indeed a history of neverending technological innovation.

Cooperation with NHK Science & Technical Research Laboratories
Early last year, the number of mobile phones in use in Japan overtook the number of contracts for fixed telephones, and the growth is still continuing at an amazing pace. It has become a familiar sight to see young people talking into their i-mode handsets as they walk along the street or busily tapping out e-mail messages (very nimbly at that) and searching for information as they ride the trains.
The technology itself has the power to bring big changes in social structures and revolutionize people's lifestyles and customs. In creating the sequel to the "thumb" culture, we must ask what kind of culture we wish to make in order to produce the kinds of lifestyle we desire. This must be approached from both the cultural and the scientific sides.

In this respect, NHK has two research organs, the Broadcasting Culture Research Institute and the Science & Technical Research Laboratories, each established in order to fulfill its responsibilities as set out in the Broadcasting Law.
The Science & Technical Research Laboratories were set up in 1930 as the only institution in Japan to carry out comprehensive research on broadcasting technology. The laboratories have made enormous contributions to the broadcasting world, both in Japan and abroad, and to the advance of electronic technologies. NHK has become a world leader in the research, development, and practical applications of satellite and high definition TV broadcasting.
The Broadcasting Culture Research Institute and the Science & Technical Research Laboratories will continue to cooperate and strengthen their ties to make the age of digital broadcasting truly attractive and fruitful.

For the Greater Fusion of the Humanities and Science
The two organs have already launched a joint project for the study of multi-media. The key theme here is "interactive studies." Joint surveys and research have already begun on infrastructure, contents, services, viewer needs and intellectual property rights, drawing on the special knowledge of each organ to describe a composite vision of the future.
In this digital age, we look forward to even greater fusion of the humanities and science.