Daily Summary:
Fujitsu Research Laboratories:

Attended three lectures on diverse topics: numerically modeling landslides, applying wide-learning AI to predict tropical cyclone intensification, and using games to assist troubled youth.
Observed Fujitsu’s involvement in various technological advancements, such as supercomputing, quantum computing, and AI tools.
Explored historical artifacts like a 1960s computer and learned about the practical applications of cutting-edge technologies.
Fujisan World Heritage Centre:

Learned about the cultural and spiritual significance of Mount Fuji, including its role in historical arts like ukiyo-e and its association with Fujiko, a religion based on Fuji worship.
Gained insights into the geological and cultural ties between Japanese society and Mount Fuji, reflecting on the mountain’s influence on Japanese identity.
Learning Reflections:
Technological Impact on Disaster Mitigation:

Highlighted the vast resources dedicated to R&D in Japan, such as using supercomputers for landslide simulations, raising questions about the cost and long-term value of such investments.
Discussed the broader implications of disasters on cultural resilience, community cohesion, and adaptive practices.
Ethical Dilemmas:

Concerns about surveillance technologies used in contexts like gymnastics judging and disaster response, exploring their dual potential for positive and negative societal impacts.
Reflections on integrating social work into gaming platforms to reach troubled youth, with parallels drawn to digital missionary work and the challenges of maintaining ethical consent.
Cultural Interplay with Geohazards:

Explored the hypothesis that disaster-prone regions like Japan may develop community-centric cultural practices due to selective pressures from frequent geohazards.
Considered whether this phenomenon could be observed in other disaster-prone cultures globally.
Mount Fuji’s Influence:

Awe for Mount Fuji’s spiritual and cultural legacy, emphasizing its role in shaping Japanese literature, art, and societal values.
Reflected on the geological complexity of Mount Fuji as a triple junction volcano and its broader implications for Japanese life and spirituality.
Group Dynamics:
Appreciation for the advancements in disaster modeling and the ethical challenges they present.
Noted difficulties in following highly technical lectures without prior knowledge, emphasizing the importance of accessible science communication, especially in disaster policy contexts.
Discussions highlighted concerns about privacy and ethical use of surveillance technologies and the potential misuse of advanced AI.
Big Picture Thinking:
Technological advancements, particularly in supercomputing and quantum computing, were likened to humanity’s greatest innovations, such as the wheel, with their potential to transform fields from medicine to space exploration.
Expressed concerns about the dual-use nature of technologies, where tools for societal advancement might also be weaponized or misused.
Reflected on humanity’s historical approach to addressing global threats like nuclear proliferation, questioning whether similar frameworks could address challenges like autonomous weapons, mass surveillance, and AI ethics.
Emphasized the need to balance technological progress with preserving human dignity, individuality, and the untamed spirit of humanity.