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pro bono to contribute to society by using their work skills. Also, people are showing interest in participating in activities for communities that share specific values
different to work, family life or hobbies.
With advances in technology, spatial distances have shrunk and many more
options are available for working styles and life styles. Until now, people were more
or less forced to participate in activities at the place of their affiliation such as companies, but from now on they are free to choose for themselves as to what kind of
activities they do and what kind of communities they join. It is up to the individual
to decide on what kind of community they will participate in, or indeed, whether
they will participate or not.
6.5.2 Freedom of Mobility Induces Changes to Work Styles
In 1964, the year that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo, the Tokaido shinkansen (bullet train) started running between Tokyo and Osaka, shrinking the travelling
time to 4 h. The next year it became even quicker at 3 h and 10 min. Before the bullet train started operations, this journey took 6.5 h so the new travelling time was a
great reduction compared to before. Nowadays, it takes only 2.5 h. When the new
Chuo Shinkansen, a maglev line, commences operations this journey will only take
about 1 h. By air, it takes about 1 h from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Itami Airport
in Osaka. Shinaksen networks apart from the Tokaido line have been developed and
the areas within reach of a one-day trip from Tokyo have definitely increased.
Innovations in transport will occur from now on too. Due to advances in ICT, the
cost of transferring information is practically zero. Transport costs for human beings
are undergoing a slashing of prices. With the entry of low cost carriers, the prices of
air tickets have fallen to about half of what they had been previously. If a plane similar to that of an advanced drone becomes real, then cost structure will be totally
changed. Technically speaking, that is quite possible. The Airbus Group has already
successfully completed its first test flight while unmanned combat drones are being
used by the United States to carry out bombing strikes in Syria. Being unmanned
does give some cause for concern but human beings also make mistakes. In any
case, drones that are chosen are sure to have strict safety measures in place.
At the same time the degree of freedom in transport is expanding, the freedom
not to move at all has also been created. Previously meeting up at a company and
having face-to-face talks was the norm, as was reading documents that were circulated and stamping one’s seal on them. However, nowadays most deskwork is done
on computers. The system for holding video-conferences has become widespread
and opportunities for everyone to gather together have noticeably decreased.
Foreign-owned companies and major corporations have adopted telecommuting
more and more. The number of people who do not have to get on trains at the same
time every day is increasing.
If the need to go to the office decreases, then it is no longer necessary to live
within commuting distance of the company. Nowadays we often hear of people who
6.5 Diverse Options and Freedom of Participation
pro bono to contribute to society by using their work skills. Also, people are showing interest in participating in activities for communities that share specific values
different to work, family life or hobbies.
With advances in technology, spatial distances have shrunk and many more
options are available for working styles and life styles. Until now, people were more
or less forced to participate in activities at the place of their affiliation such as companies, but from now on they are free to choose for themselves as to what kind of
activities they do and what kind of communities they join. It is up to the individual
to decide on what kind of community they will participate in, or indeed, whether
they will participate or not.
6.5.2 Freedom of Mobility Induces Changes to Work Styles
In 1964, the year that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo, the Tokaido shinkansen (bullet train) started running between Tokyo and Osaka, shrinking the travelling
time to 4 h. The next year it became even quicker at 3 h and 10 min. Before the bullet train started operations, this journey took 6.5 h so the new travelling time was a
great reduction compared to before. Nowadays, it takes only 2.5 h. When the new
Chuo Shinkansen, a maglev line, commences operations this journey will only take
about 1 h. By air, it takes about 1 h from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Itami Airport
in Osaka. Shinaksen networks apart from the Tokaido line have been developed and
the areas within reach of a one-day trip from Tokyo have definitely increased.
Innovations in transport will occur from now on too. Due to advances in ICT, the
cost of transferring information is practically zero. Transport costs for human beings
are undergoing a slashing of prices. With the entry of low cost carriers, the prices of
air tickets have fallen to about half of what they had been previously. If a plane similar to that of an advanced drone becomes real, then cost structure will be totally
changed. Technically speaking, that is quite possible. The Airbus Group has already
successfully completed its first test flight while unmanned combat drones are being
used by the United States to carry out bombing strikes in Syria. Being unmanned
does give some cause for concern but human beings also make mistakes. In any
case, drones that are chosen are sure to have strict safety measures in place.
At the same time the degree of freedom in transport is expanding, the freedom
not to move at all has also been created. Previously meeting up at a company and
having face-to-face talks was the norm, as was reading documents that were circulated and stamping one’s seal on them. However, nowadays most deskwork is done
on computers. The system for holding video-conferences has become widespread
and opportunities for everyone to gather together have noticeably decreased.
Foreign-owned companies and major corporations have adopted telecommuting
more and more. The number of people who do not have to get on trains at the same
time every day is increasing.
If the need to go to the office decreases, then it is no longer necessary to live
within commuting distance of the company. Nowadays we often hear of people who
6.5 Diverse Options and Freedom of Participation