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The Japanese public currently seeks serenity and peace of mind - in other words, spiritual affluence - over material affluence. This includes good health, environmental conservation, greater security, and greater satisfaction of recreation.

The "Public Opinion Survey on Lifestyles," implemented by the Prime Minister's Office, shows that the public sees science and technology as having raised their standard of living and enhanced their material affluence and individual enjoyment. There are also great expectations on the role that science and technology can play in the future improvement of safety and efficiency in environmental conservation, recycling, and waste treatment, among others (Fig. 16 ). At the same time, however, negative assessments are also on the rise, and an increasing number of people harbor a negative impression of science and technology, e.g., too compartmentalized to understand, fear to abuse or misuse, or progressing at too fast a rate, for instance ( Fig. 17 ). A strong negative impression of science and technology can cause aversion, which can in turn prevent a technology from being utilized, thus preventing individuals and soci

ety from benefiting from that technology.

Fig. 16: The public's assessment of and expectations on science and technology: How should advancements in science and technology be used?

Fig. 17: Public awareness of science and technology

First, science and technology must actively contribute, in ways clearly apparent to the public, to the solving of environment problems, particularly such currently widely publicized ones as dioxins and endocrine-disrupting substances, recycling, and the treatment of waste.

Second, science and technology must make clearly apparent contributions to health and safety, which are the basis of public peace of mind. At the same time, any negative effects that could arise from this process must be carefully forecasted and prevented or eliminated. This entails responding from a comprehensive standpoint including cultural and social scientific approach that also addresses effects on socioeconomic systems, values, and ethics.

Third, because those who feel they cannot keep up with the progress of technology are relatively numerous among women and the elderly, the introduction into society of a product or service that uses information or telecommunications technology should also be accompanied by innovations that also encourage women and the elderly to use that product or service.