In 2015/16 a number of bodies/nations set about defining societies they would aspire to in the near future. Each vision document similarly described some idealistic, egalitarian, super-smart, human centred, state providing a near uniformity of living conditions, and opportunity. At the same time, each society would be free of adversity, with economic development guided by ecological and human need. Of course, economic growth was defined to continue in line with the past. Very nice, but a product of old linear thinking and modelling! It is now approaching 2022 and in the past 5/7 years our base silicon technology has advanced to enjoy a >30 fold increase in computing power. Our top end mobile devices would now challenge a super computer of 1996/7 era, whist AI systems now pervade our homes, offices, vehicles, professions and all our on-line services. At the same time, information overload has started to rival some medical conditions! All of this has also been compounded by two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions that have seen the normalisation of social isolation, limited travel, working and eduction from home, virtualised medicine and care, support services, shopping and meetings. In turn, this has resulted in empty offices, towns and cities. Concurently, climate change, global warming, pollution, finite resources, a stressed planetary system, and social unrest have suddenly become urgent issues. Against this backdrop it really seems to be time to revisit those Society 5.0 Visions and the limited linear thinking that contrived them! In this presentation we examine many of the core parameters and assumptions to highlight existing, or soon to be realised, solutions and remedies. In doing so, a different picture of Society 5.0 emerges.

1. Society 5.0
Redefined
Prof Peter Cochrane OBE, DSc
www.petercochrane.com
1

2. A 2016 Vision
OVERTAKEN
A Human/Cyber Physical-Centred Society
balancing economic advancement with wellbeing
UKgov Cabinet O
ffi
ce
21016 Vision
2

3. A 2016 Vision
OVERTAKEN
A Human/Cyber Physical-Centred Society
balancing economic advancement with wellbeing
UKgov Cabinet O
ffi
ce
21016 Vision
A reasonable 2016
definition / aspiration
that ignores the rate
of TECH driven change!?
2

4. 2016 Visions
OVERTAKEN
A Human/Cyber Physical-Centred Society
balancing economic advancement with wellbeing
Japan: To create a new social contract/economic model by embracing the tech
innovations of Industry 4.0. Embedding these innovations into every corner of a
society to satisfy the new United Nations global goals to create a “super-smart”
society, and one that will serve as a road map for the rest of the world.
Idealistic: Technology and data will be used to balance economic development with
the solution of social challenges; people will be liberated from all restrictions that the
information society proved unable to remove; and we will witness the formation of a
human-centred society in which everyone is able to shine and
fl
ourish.
3

5. 2016 Visions
OVERTAKEN
A Human/Cyber Physical-Centred Society
balancing economic advancement with wellbeing
Japan: To create a new social contract/economic model by embracing the tech
innovations of Industry 4.0. Embedding these innovations into every corner of a
society to satisfy the new United Nations global goals to create a “super-smart”
society, and one that will serve as a road map for the rest of the world.
Idealistic: Technology and data will be used to balance economic development with
the solution of social challenges; people will be liberated from all restrictions that the
information society proved unable to remove; and we will witness the formation of a
human-centred society in which everyone is able to shine and
fl
ourish.
TYPICALly POLITICAL
FORMULATIONs HIGH ON
AMBITION AND PROMISE BUT
VERY LOW IN THE HOW!?
3

6. an ‘incomplete’
egalitarian dream
2 0 1 6
DRAFT
4

7. 2021: Technology HAS
changed THE SCENE
”A collaboration and augmentation - centered society balancing ecological, social, and
economic transformation, to realise sustainable futures through human-machine partnerships“
A pertinent Society 5.0 now we know
what we didn’t know in 2016!
Human-Machine
Augmentation
&
Collaboration
5

8. Formulation
Society 5.0
Today
Outdated
Tomorrow
Outmoded
OUTPACED Technology advances at an exponential rate
Notice
that
this
is
a
logari
thmic
scale
1997 Super
Computer
in every
pocket!
6

9. 2021: Perspective
There are more now far more machines than people
Machines manufacture more products than humans
Machines are now the dominant communicators
Machines are the prime data/information repositories
Machines are becoming increasingly intelligent…
…and edging toward sentience!
A pertinent Society 5.0 ought to embrace
what we know about machines and AI
7

10. 2021: REALITY CHECK A pertinent Society 5.0 now we know
what we didn’t know in 2016!
THE RIGHT
Metaphor
Society 5.0
Augmented & Collaborative
nurturing the
co-existence and
wellbeing of humans and machines
A 2021 ++
Metaphor
8

11. Mechanisation
Steam Power
Cyber Physical
Nano-Bio Tech
Mass Production
Assembly Line
Automation
Computer
Water Power
REVOLUTION
HYPOTHESIS
INDUSTRY 5.0
Smart Materials
Programmed
Form & Function
Evolving
Sentient
Living?
Micro-Electronics invoked/enabled more societal
change than any other mechanism
9

12. Mechanisation
Steam Power
Cyber Physical
Nano-Bio Tech
Mass Production
Assembly Line
Automation
Computer
Water Power
REVOLUTION
HYPOTHESIS
INDUSTRY 5.0
Smart Materials
Programmed
Form & Function
Evolving
Sentient
Living?
Accelerating
Human
Progress
Micro-Electronics invoked/enabled more societal
change than any other mechanism
9

13. Mechanisation
Steam Power
Cyber Physical
Nano-Bio Tech
Mass Production
Assembly Line
Automation
Computer
Water Power
REVOLUTION
HYPOTHESIS
INDUSTRY 5.0
Smart Materials
Programmed
Form & Function
Evolving
Sentient
Living?
Accelerating
Human
Progress
Sentient/Evolutionary
Intelligent/Adaptable
Micro-Electronic
Mechatronic
Electro-Mechanical
Mechanical
Micro-Electronics invoked/enabled more societal
change than any other mechanism
9

14. Mechanisation
Steam Power
Cyber Physical
Nano-Bio Tech
Mass Production
Assembly Line
Automation
Computer
Water Power
REVOLUTION
HYPOTHESIS
INDUSTRY 5.0
Smart Materials
Programmed
Form & Function
Evolving
Sentient
Living?
Accelerating
Human
Progress
Sentient/Evolutionary
Intelligent/Adaptable
Micro-Electronic
Mechatronic
Electro-Mechanical
Mechanical
Micro-Electronics invoked/enabled more societal
change than any other mechanism
An Electronic, IT, AI Robotics,
Automation
9

15. DEPENDENCY
H Y P O T H E S I S
“If all electronics were removed then the vast
majority of humanity would die”
No Food
No Water
No Heat
No Light
No Power
No Police
No Farming
No Industry
No Logistics
NO Healthcare
No Government
No Waste Disposal
No ++++
“Our dependence on our technology is now ‘total’…
. and micro-electronics is at the core”
10

16. F A S T E S T
HYPOTHESIS
“COVID-19 has invoked more global societal
change in the shortest time compared to anything
we have experienced before”
11

17. O v e r p o p u l at i o n ?
C L I M A T E C H A N G E !
GLOBAL POLLUTION !
“We have damaged the planet, and perhaps,
she is now
fi
ghting back”
“We have Industry 4.0 and 5.0 as the
cornerstones of Society 5.0. and 6.0, and a
short time to correct our past actions and
errors”
“Society 5.0. and 6.0 have to work” !
12

18. N E W T H I N K I N G
& NEW MODELS
Human consumption/demands are at a rate that
is about 50% more that the planet can provide
On The Sustainability Agenda:
Energy
Logistics
Reuse
Recovery
Recycling
Repurposing
Raw Materials
Manufacturing
Food Production
+++
“We have to stop producing more
and more for the few and start
providing su
ffi
cient for the many”
“New Economic Models have to re
fl
ect/quantify
the ecological and social impact of all decisions”
13

19. s e g u e : V E R Y s i m p l e
m i n d e d A B I L I T I E S
Climate
State
Good
Stable
Bad
Unstable
Average
Temperature
State 1
State 2
14

20. s e g u e : V E R Y s i m p l e
m i n d e d A B I L I T I E S
Climate
State
Good
Stable
Bad
Unstable
Average
Temperature
State 1
State 2
Tundra Methane Release
Amazon Destruction
Ocean Temp Rise
CO2 Forest Fires
Ice Melt CO2
Pollution
++++
14

21. s e g u e : V E R Y s i m p l e
m i n d e d A B I L I T I E S
Climate
State
Good
Stable
Bad
Unstable
Average
Temperature
State 1
State 2
Tundra Methane Release
Amazon Destruction
Ocean Temp Rise
CO2 Forest Fires
Ice Melt CO2
Pollution
++++
14

22. R E A L I T Y
C H E C K
In only 2 Covid-19 weeks/years and entire
societies changed on a global scale
The Global Economy has
su
ff
ered glitches and some
damage, but it has survived, it
has kept going, and so have
all our institutions & societies!
So; fast change on a global
scale is not only feasible - it is
demonstrably possible!
15

23. W O R K I N G F R O M
HOME A NEW NORM
Despite all the naysayers it turned
out that many people are far more
productive working at home
16

24. W O R K I N G
New methods and
new styles… A lot of formality, ritual,
travelling, wasted time
and expense has now
been dispensed with..
..a net result is more
work completed
by fewer people!
17

25. EDUCATION
A T H O M E
Every child and teacher need good broadband
access, their own PC/Laptop/Tablet…
The UK had a national scheme
for donations of ££ and old/
unused devices
+ online tutors
and volunteers
18

26. REALISATION
WORK is what you do
NOT
Somewhere you go!
19

27. D I F M t o D I Y
H E A LT H C A R E
From Do It For Me to
DIY; Of
fl
ine to Online
Low cost monitoring devices, wearables, test packs
in the mail, video conference consultations, and self
medication +++
20

28. MONEY HAS ALL
B U T VA N I S H E D
Was considered a biological hazard - now seen as
inconvenient and an impractical encumbrance
21

29. Likely to resign
and change
employer if
forced to return
to o
ffi
ce
PAR TIA L IR REVERS IBILITY
OF NORMALISED changes
29%
26%
45%
Undecided
/Neutral
Unlikely
to move
jobs
USA employers are
seeing resignations
as they try to revert
A recent survey of employees revealed
a sea change in attitude to work and
lifestyle in the USA
22

30. A P R O B L E M
COMP OUNDED
Across the developed world there are worker
shortages spanning the employment spectrum
whilst immigration quotas remain very low!
1.5M
Current
Vacancies
10M
23

31. TRaining and EDUCATION HAVE
T O M U TAT E t o A C O N T I N U U M
The old ‘sage on
a stage, chalk…
…and talk model
is too slow and
unresponsive
24

32. I N S T A N T A R
E X P E R I E N C E
& E D U C AT I O N
25

33. I N S T A N T A R
K N O W L E D G E
/ T R A I N I N G
26

34. E X P O N E N T I A L
E D U C A T I O N
27

35. B I G D O W N S I D E
R E L E N T L E S S
DATA OVERLOAD
As a species we have limited stamina and
abilities - we need ever more help.
We a re f u n d a m e n t a l l y
incapable of understanding
or coping with non-linear
systems, and blind to the
hidden patterns buried in
vast assemblies of data!
28

36. Collaboration
NOT COMPETITION
Frequent high volume tasks
Logical analysis/deduction
Combinatorial complexity
Exponential education
Relentless stamina
Vast networking
High precision
Novel problems and solutions
Constrained working
Adaptable dexterity
Abstract thinking
Limited stamina
Beyond logic
Inaccurate
Intuitive
AI to the rescue in analysis, precise and
in some cases, judgement calls
29

37. I B M W AT S O N
AI Barrister
AI to the rescue in analysis, precise and
in some cases, judgement calls
30

38. R o b o t s C R E A T E
J O B L E S S H U M A N S
Not a chance! Machines always
increase the number of jobs and
people in employ
31

39. P R O F E S S I O N S
R E A L I T Y C H E C K
We only have time few a small sample
32

40. E F F E C T I v e N E S S
BOOST - RADIOLOGISTS
33

41. M O R E E X T R E M E
E X E M P L A R S O F
o u r L I M I T A T I O N S
34

42. Our future has to be based on
n e w m a t e r i a l s , s c i e n c e s ,
technologies, engineering,
p r o c e s s e s , a u t o m a t i o n ,
robotics, organisational and
operating/management modes,
intelligences and thinking… all
centred on Nano/Bio Tech, AI
and robotics
BIO-TECH nano-TECH
Lower energy
Lower waste
Less friction
New materials
New industries
New processes
New capabilities
AI
AL
Robotics
I 4 . 0 B ac k D r o p
TO SOCIETY 5.0
AI
IoT
35

43. X E N O B OT S
36

44. R o b ot s At w o r k
C o n t r o l l e d I n s i d e t h e b o d y
37

45. Wheel Futures
Passive-Active
Assembled ??
Printed ??
39

46. - Materials inventory & suppliers
- Production process detail
- Vehicle compatibilities
- Full logistics record
- Storage histories
- Handling details
- History of use
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Stress
- Failures
- Repairs
- Disposal
- Recycle
- Reuse
- +++
- Dynamic element of a vehicle
- Performance optimisation
- Parameter adjustment
- Pressure adaptation
- Suspension trim
- +++
D U M B t o S M A R T
40

47. D U M B t o S M A R T
Wired and wireless vehicle IoT
D o z e n s o f s e n s o r s ,
r e c o r d e r s , c o n t r o l
u n i t s , a g g r e g a t e d b y
o n - b o a rd a n a l y s i s w i t h
I o T / I n t e r n e t c o n n e c t
v i a m u l t i p l e c h a n n e l s
WiFi,3, 4, 5G Direct
to Service Centre
Communication
Direct Car-to-Car
Avoiding 3, 4, 5G Congestion
41

48. S O C I O L O G Y
O F T H I N G S
42

49. S O C I O L O G Y
O F T H I N G S
42

50. R o b o t s P r o d u c e
almost everything
C Y B O R G
S o c i e t y
43

51. Corporate
Product
S e l f
Made
Career
Of
fi
ce
9 till 5
Anywhere
Anytime
Mode
Process
Bound
Innovation
Adaptation
Solution
Focus
PC
Laptop AI
Tablet Nets
Mobile Tech
Tools
Long
Term
Fixed
S h o r t
Te r m
Flexible
Horizon
B E W A R E O F
M I N D S E T S
O l d & N E W
44

52. a ‘more complete’
egalitarian dream
AI IoT
Robots
Cyborgs
Machines
Networks
? ? ?
2 0 2 1
REVision
46

53. FUTUREs BELONG
TO THE MOST AGILE
A N D A D A P TA B L E
47

54. s e g u e I N : s i m p l e m i n d e d
Climate
State
Good
Stable
Bad
Unstable
Average
Temperature
State 1
State 2
Tundra Methane Release
Amazon Destruction
Ocean Temp Rise
CO2 Forest Fires
Ice Melt CO2
Pollution
++++
Thank You
www.petercochrane.com
48