The idea behind Society 5.0 is to create a super-intelligent society in which various social challenges are solved by implementing innovations of the fourth industrial revolution — such as IoT, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, or the sharing economy — into every industry and social life. In such a world, people, machines and their environment are interconnected and able to communicate with each other [1]. In practice, Society 5.0 will, among other things, seek to provide better care for seniors — in Japan, the population is ageing rapidly, and if there were ever to be a shortage of hands to care for the elderly in the future, it is the new quality of computing that will be able to raise the standard of healthcare for retirees [2]. Society 5.0 is a term that refers to a new society in which technological developments are human-centred and seek valuable solutions for the lives of people around the world.
Fig. 1. Illustration of Japan’s social transformation plan — Society 5.0.
Source: https://www.japan.go.jp/abenomics/_userdata/abenomics/pdf/society_5.0.pdf
[Accessed: 7 March 2024].
History of the Development of Society
Society 5.0 is the result of nothing more than an evolution spanning five stages of social development:
- Society 1.0: Gatherer-hunter society (the way of life of the first humans, which lasted until about 12,000 years ago) — a society that based its lifestyle on hunting for animals and searching for wild vegetation and other types of nutrients [3].
- Society 2.0: Agricultural society (first appears around 10,000–8,000 years ago) — a society that focuses its economy primarily on agriculture and the cultivation of large fields [4].
- Society 3.0: Industrial society (from the late 18th century onwards) — a society in which the dominant way of organising life is through mass production technologies, used to produce immense quantities of goods in factories [5].
- Society 4.0: Information society (since the second half of the 20th century) — a society in which the creation, dissemination, use, integration and management of information is an essential aspect of economic, political or cultural activities [6].
Technological Integration for a Better Quality of Life
The concept of collecting data from the world around us, processing it by computers and putting it to practical use is not new in today’s world. The operation of air conditioners, for example, is based on exactly this principle. They regularly measure the temperature in a room and then compare the reading with a pre-programmed temperature. Depending on whether the measured temperature is higher or lower than the one originally set, the device pauses or starts the airflow. This mechanism uses automated computer systems. The term ‘information society’ (Society 4.0) therefore refers to a society in which each such system acquires data, processes it and then uses it in its own specified environment.
Now, knowing exactly what the idea of Society 4.0 is, we can understand what distinguishes it from Society 5.0. The fundamental difference is that Society 5.0, instead of using systems that operate in a defined, limited way, will use systems that operate in an integrated way, affecting the life of society as a whole. Data will be processed by advanced information systems, such as Artificial Intelligence, as these systems are adapted to process such large amounts of data. The main purpose of using the collected data will be to ensure everyone’s happiness and comfort [7]. At BFirst.Tech, we also see these needs and respond to them with specific tools. Our areas — Data Engineering and Data Architecture & Management use innovative technological solutions to collect, analyse and manage data to support efficient and sustainable process management. This type of management has a significant impact on security, data reliability and strategic decision-making, which contributes to the prosperity of society.
The New Era of Prosperity and the Challenges It Faces
Society 5.0 aims to use state-of-the-art technology in such a way as to ensure the well-being of all people. The idea is that technological development can be a tool to address social inequalities, improve quality of life and create a more sustainable community. The main objectives it envisages are:
- reducing social inequalities,
- speeding up medical services and increasing the precision of medical procedures and operations,
- increasing food production while reducing waste
- improving public safety
- solving problems caused by natural disasters,
- promoting public participation in the development of ideas and projects,
- ensuring transparent access to data and ensuring information security.
Society 5.0 aims to create a harmonious balance between technological development and societal needs, but this brings its own challenges. One of the most crucial conditions for this vision’s successful implementation is the commitment and leadership of governments. This is because governments are responsible for aspects such as funding, the implementation of technology in public life or the creation of new security-related legislation. Cybersecurity risks are another significant challenge. It is important to bear in mind that the actions of hackers, or issues related to data theft, can effectively hinder the development of innovation, so it is crucial to ensure a sound level of data protection [8].
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Society 5.0 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are two separate initiatives that are moving in a very similar direction. Indeed, these two innovative approaches share one common goal — to eliminate social problems sustainably. It can be said that Society 5.0 will, in a way, realise the Sustainable Development Goals, through specific actions. These actions, matched with specific goals, are:
- aiming for more accurate and efficient diagnosis of diseases through the use of advanced technologies (such as Big Data and Artificial Intelligence),
Fig. 2. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
- disseminating e-learning and making education more accessible,
Fig. 3. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
- creation of new jobs related to fields such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence or data analytics,
Fig. 4. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
- promoting innovation and investing in new infrastructure (such as smart networks or high-speed internet),
Fig. 5. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 9.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
- creating smart cities that use sensors and data analysis to optimise traffic flow, reduce energy consumption and improve safety,
Fig. 6. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable transport.
Fig. 7. Illustration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 13.
Source: https://www.un.org.pl/download
Common Direction
It is crucial that the benefits of Society 5.0 are equally available to everyone, so that everyone has the same opportunity to benefit from their potential. Only with such an approach can Society 5.0’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals have a chance of an effective outcome [9]. BFirst.Tech, as a substantive partner of the United Nations Global Compact Network Poland (UN GCNP), is also concerned with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, through the specific activities it undertakes. In areas that focus on data processing, design and management, namely Data Engineering and Data Architecture & Management, our company implements goals that overlap with those targeted by Society 5.0, such as Goal 9 — on securing, aggregating and analysing big data, optimising and managing and controlling the quality of processes using AI; Goal 11 — on securing critical information that impacts on improving the lives of urban residents; and Goal 13 — on reducing resource consumption and waste emissions by increasing production efficiency.
Changes Affecting Numerous Areas
With the implementation of the Society 5.0 concept, many various facets of society can be modernised. As mentioned earlier, one of these is healthcare. With Japan’s ageing population, the country is currently grappling with rising expenses and the need to care for seniors. Society 5.0 solves this problem by introducing Artificial Intelligence, which collects and then analyses patient data to provide the highest level of diagnosis and treatment. Remote medical consultations, in turn, positively impact the convenience of the elderly, giving them the possibility of contacting a doctor even from their own place of residence.
Another facet is mobility. Most rural areas of Japan do not have access to public transport, influenced in part by a declining population contributing to an increasingly sparsely populated area. The growing shortage of drivers, linked to the ever-expanding e-commerce sector, is also a problem. The solution that Society 5.0 proposes to these issues is the implementation of autonomous vehicles such as taxis and buses. What is also worth mentioning is the area of infrastructure. In Society 5.0, it will involve sensors, AI and robots that will autonomously control and maintain roads, tunnels, bridges and dams. The final area worth mentioning is financial technology (FinTech). In Japan, the majority of monetary transactions are still carried out using cash or banking procedures, which can take far too long. Society 5.0 proposes the implementation of Blockchain technology for monetary transactions and the introduction of universal smartphone payments available everywhere [10].
Summary
Society 5.0 is the concept of a society that uses advanced technologies to create a society based on sustainability, social innovation and digital transformation. The aim of Society 5.0 is not only to achieve economic growth, but also to improve the quality of life of citizens. There are also some challenges behind the development of this idea, mainly related to data security, or the introduction of appropriate regulations to ensure a transition that will be smooth and comfortable for all. Society 5.0 largely shares a vision of the future with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) announced by the United Nations — many of the SDG targets can be achieved through the implementation of this concept. Society 5.0 encompasses a wide range of areas of society, including healthcare, mobility, infrastructure and financial technology. Through advanced technologies in these areas, the aim is to create a sustainable and innovative society that will positively impact citizens’ quality of life.
References
[1] https://www.japan.go.jp/abenomics/_userdata/abenomics/pdf/society_5.0.pdf [Accessed: 7 March 2024].
[2] https://sektor3-0.pl/blog/japonski-czlowiek-nowej-ery-czyli-spoleczenstwo-5-0/
[3] https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/hunter-gatherer-culture/
[4] https://www.thoughtco.com/agrarian-society-definition-3026047
[5] https://www.thoughtco.com/industrial-society-3026359
[6] https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Information-Society
[7] Atsushi Deguchi, Chiaki Hirai, Hideyuki Matsuoka, Taku Nakano, Kohei Oshima, Mitsuharu Tai, Shigeyuki Tani “What is Society 5.0?”
[8] https://www.sydle.com/blog/society-5-0-5fc163e1725a642683ed9230
[10] https://medium.com/@jacobprakoso/japan-super-smart-society-5-0-9b9e8ba49a7
