Information channeling is undergoing remarkable progress in various sectors of society in industrial activities, public services and, more recently, in daily living.
In the sector of industrial activities, automation is continuing with the aim of increasing productivity--introduction of computers for process control by the manufacturing industry, and introduction of numerically controlled machine tools, industrial robots, computer-aided design systems and, more recently, flexible manufacturing system by processing and assembling industries.
(46) {{U}}Meanwhile, in offices rapid office automation is presently in progress, stimulated by the popular acceptance of computerized systems, expansion of communications networks and the remarkable technological progress achieved in related equipment such as Japanese word processors.{{/U}} Rapid automation and efficiency improvement are also being achieved in the sector of commodity distribution through the introduction of advanced point of sales systems.
Information channeling is being utilized actively in the field of public services. (47) {{U}}For example, large capacity computers were introduced from an early stage for the control of railway trains and for extending seat reservation services, and more recently diagnostic systems utilizing computers have become commonplace in medical care.{{/U}} (48) {{U}}To cope with the steady shift toward an aging society, research is in progress to develop technologies related to medical information systems with the aim of improving efficiency in medical services.{{/U}} Regarding education, computerized systems including the CAI (computer assisted instruction) system and CMI (computer managed instruction) system are presently being put to trial operation.
In the sector of administration, efficiency of clerical work is being improved through the introduction of computers, and huge volumes of administrative data are more recently being stored in data base systems. (49) {{U}}In the wake of these moves, computers have become indispensable for advancing large-scale R&D (research and development) projects as in connection with space development and atomic power development, and also in the field of basic research in life science.{{/U}}
Daily living is also a sector in which information channeling is taking firm root. (50) {{U}}To cope with civilian needs for more convenience in home living and in order to meet the needs raised by growing diversification of lifestyle, active research is presently in progress to develop and commercialize new media incorporating sophisticated data processing functions for use in addition to existing media involving the television, radio and telephone.{{/U}} In concert, research is being directed at developing technologies related 'to automation in the home.