“Kawaii ne” (Oh..it’s so cute)...”Ganbatte ne” (Go for it/All the best)... This is some of the terms that we always heard when we watch Japanese drama and even for some of us, even have heard it directly when travelling in Japan. The country that is full of its unique culture and lifestyle and “Kawaii” (cuteness) concept, but yet when it is come to innovation in technology, Japan is always the “sensei” (Guru) of technology.
I am a big fan of Japanese soaps and film especially the one staring Takuya Kimura, thus “googling” Japanese stuff is a must for me. While I am “googling”, I found out that United States (US) and Japan the “sensei” of technology are ready for the 4G networks, where else in other parts of the world especially Malaysia still struggling even with 3G networks.
According to Nikkei, via Bloomberg, all four major Japanese telcos are moving one step closer to building out their 4G networks, with service roll-outs beginning in September 2010 through late 2012. The combined investments to build base stations, service equipment and related facilities for these new networks are forecast to top 1 Trillion JPY, or approximately $10 Billion, by 2014.
4G? Wait, not even everyone of us own the 3G phone and yet, there is 4G coming in the market. Really? Technologies do change rapidly. Thus, to ensure that I would not be left out, I would like to share a little information about the technology of 4G.
- What is a 4G network?
4G is the fourth generation of wireless communications currently being developed for high speed broadband mobile capabilities. It is characterized by higher speed of data transfer and improved quality of sound. The data rates for wireless technologies or the speed as can be seen in Figure 1 whereby 4G network maximum speed is up to 100Mbps. While Figure 2 indicates the features for 4G networks.
Figure 1 – Data Rates for Wireless Technologies (http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/).
Figure 2 – 4G Network Features
- 3G VS 4G network.
| 3G (DSL Speeds) Max Speed up to 3.1Mbps | 4G (Wired Network Speeds) Max Speed up to 100+Mbps |
| All 2G and 2.5G Features plus:
|
All 3G Features plus:
|
Table 1 – Comparison of 3G and 4G networks (http://www.wirelessinternet.org/4G-network.php).
· What types of devices use 4G Networks?
The 4G network is set to not only restrict with 4G phones and laptops only. Due to its features, many industries are considering to the expansion of 4G connectivity compatible devices such as:-
- Video Camera
- Gaming Devices
- Vending Machines
- Refrigerators
- Billing Devices
The trend is to provide wireless internet access to every portable device that could supply and incorporate the 4G embedded modules. The 4G technology could not only provide internet broadband connectivity but also a high level of security that is beneficial to devices that incorporate financial transactions such as vending machines and billing devices.
· More 4G?
With maximum speed of 100Mbps, 4G definitely offers user more. It can be in terms of:-
a) Contents provisions and agents
In the future the group of network supporters and the group of content-providers will be different significantly. The customer could pick and choose among the mobile application and any providers who offer high level of performance with the aid of agents. Agent means a special, intelligent program which runs basically on the owner terminal or it starts his work on it. Its aim to collect the user’s habits in telecommunication and everyday life time and to offer gathered services based on them.
b) Forging Ahead Adhoc Networks
We can assume that 4G networks mean global sized and uniform systems. This is where adhoc networks came as it is a set of uniform devices where the terminals have the selfsame hardware platform and there are no other assigned fix-settled equipments to control the systems. This type of network could provide better performance in particular cases. Situations of ad hoc will be usually in the future.
By that time the so-called intelligent household utensils will spread and will be very popular. In our home the conventional tools and utensils will be “clever”. For example the refrigerator will able to sense the decrease of foods and it will order them using the Internet; our coffeemaker will make an offer about our breakfast; our heating system will adapt to our present at home; TV will find our programme-watching habits out and it will try to propose us the available best TV channels. Wow, it is great though it sounds scary at the same time as most of the decision is made by the system, not us anymore.
· Conclusion.
4G definitely sounds great and undeniably can assist user conveniently than before. However in reality, how many Malaysians have using 3.5 or even 3G before? If we check 3G coverage area, we will get only few small dots in Malaysia. There is a lot of area STILL not covered by 3G networks yet. Extra note that current 3G mobile phone is not compatible to 3.5G and of course not with 4G.
Perhaps, we should learn from the best which is Japan the “Sensei” of technology. A culture of innovation and technology must be created to ensure that Malaysians also can come out with latest technology and creative innovation. In fact, one of the reason Japan is success in the innovation of technology is due to its creativity culture among them. Furthermore, the Japanese people are willingly to try and adapt with the new technology available. In terms of the adoption process as indicates in Figure 3, most of the Japanese are innovators and early adopters whereby the consumers are the first mover to try any new innovation available.
Figure 3 – The Adoption Process (http://www.marketingteacher.com/ Lessons/lesson_adoption_process.htm).
Sadly for Malaysians, many of us are in late majority or laggards whereby we use technologies after the innovators have moved to others new innovation. However, we cannot blame Malaysians for being a laggard in terms of innovation. As stated earlier, we are still struggling in the 3G network. The culture of innovation and creativity should be created to ensure Malaysians users are confident with the latest technologies offered, thus the willingness for users to adapt and support the new technologies can be higher. Due to that, let us create a innovative and creative culture among us :)...
-Lydia Binti Nasaruddin Sia- 2008347159
hi lydia,
ReplyDeletecan i have ur email address.
please email
me sonrisah@gmail.com