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+ July GLOCOM is founded (First Director: Dr. Yasusuke Murakami)
GLOCOM was founded as a research institute by an educational foundation, the International University of Japan, and located in Hiroo, Tokyo. It aims to become an international hub of research on Japanese society and to carry out comparative analysis and policy studies on contemporary politics, economy and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective.
+ Experiments with machine-translated electronic conferences on personal computer-based network
GLOCOM conducted an experiment of machine-translated conferences (between Japanese and English in both ways) with text-based online services as a communication framework. This brought GLOCOM to realize the limits of personal computer-based communication in constructing global networks and prompted a shift in focus to the Internet.
+ November GLOCOM obtains “glocom.ac.jp” domain and establishes an international connection to the Internet
+ Intelprise Enterprise Collaboration Project (IECP) begins.
IECP was launched with a view to constructing a research alliance through collaboration between industry and academia; in other words, among intelprise (GLOCOM) and enterprises (IECP member businesses). Its main subject is to analyze 21st century systems in which information civilization, information industry and information technology constitute the core notion. Its target is to provide industries with guidance for corporate activities and policies for the future.
+ July Dr. Murakami, Director of GLOCOM, dies.
+ October Dr. Shumpei Kumon becomes Director.
GLOCOM worked to set up and extend new research systems while inheriting the concepts of the former Director. In particular, studies specializing in information society were emphasized.
+ April GLOCOM's web site is set up and starts disseminating information from Japan.
+ October GLOCOM moves to Roppongi.
GLOCOM moved from Hiroo to the current site in Roppongi. Taking this opportunity GLOCOM endeavours to improve its research environment by making the best use of the latest information network and to deepen research.
+ April Murakami Memorial Symposium is held.
+ June Information Technology and Communication Policy Forum of Japan is organized.
The Forum was called for by Dr. Kumon, Executive Director of GLOCOM, to discuss how Japanese information and telecommunication policies should proceed by focusing on the NTT breakup issue, and influential Japanese individuals were invited. The Forum announced three policy proposals as the "First Set of Policy Proposals" in October and as of March 1996, nine proposals were announced by the Forum.
+ October First "GLOCOM Forum" is held.
The first GLOCOM Forum was held with the general theme: "Towards the creation of an open digital network (ODN)." This forum was planned with the intention of stimulating debate on the first set of policy proposals made previously by the Information Technology and Communication Policy Forum of Japan.
+ October "Research Advisory Council" is established.
This Council was established by enterprises that understand and desire to support the activities of GLOCOM as an intelprise working to share wisdom.
+ "Netizen Forum" is organized on the Internet.
Netizen Forum was based on public mailing lists on the Internet, enabling participants to share their research outcomes at a quality level. In the forum, netizens, short for "network citizens," freely participated in discussions. The mailing lists were managed both in Japanese and English.
+ November Board of Trustees is organized.
The Board of Trustees was organized to discuss important matters about GLOCOM's operations, such as its research plans, management plans, organization, personnel, budgets, and accounting.
+ June Community Area Network Forum (CAN Forum) is founded.
CAN Forum advocates that construction of information networks be started from local communities around the country and be operated mainly via internal motivation. It also supports a region-based "platform" where people from different regions gather to share experience and knowledge.
+ GLOCOM regularizes and vitalizes activities
This year GLOCOM decided to further extend the activities of existing organizations and committees on a regular basis.
+ December Y2K Study Group is organized.
The Y2K Study Group was formed with the aim of carrying out investigations and research into the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem in a way that transcended the boundaries of industries and organizations. This Group continued its operation in liaison with the government's Y2K task force until 2000.
+ April World Wide Vision Initiative (WWVi) is formed.
The WWVi was set up as a voluntary group (Chair: Dr. Kumon, Director of GLOCOM) to improve the technical and social conditions for TV broadcasting using the Internet. The WWVi made proposals on related legal matters, held international symposiums and participated in technology development until it discontinued its activities at the end of March 2001.
+ July "Y2K Study Group" announces its policy proposals.
The Y2K Study Group drew up policy proposals on July 27 and submitted them to then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
+ February The "i-civil Research Circle" begins.
The i-civil Research Circle was launched as a place to exchange interdisciplinary views on the studies of info-socionomics. A mailing list was set up and the first session was held in June. Since then, the Circle has held an off-line session every one or two months.
+ March WWVi hosts an international symposium: "Communication and Broadcasting in the age of Internet."
Participants discussed the desirable form of communications and broadcasting in the age of the Internet, addressing topics like digitalization of broadcasting and the "last mile" issue, which have been controversial both inside and outside Japan.
+ April "Global Communications Platform from Japan" is launched.
This platform was set up mainly on a web site (www.glocom.org) as a "place" where opinion leaders in Japan are invited to express their opinions in English on matters that could have a significant impact on Japan and could exchange opinions freely with influential people inside and outside Japan. It also disseminates information offline by holding forums and seminars inside and outside Japan and by issuing newsletters.
+ November GLOCOM participates in "DOT Force."
The G8 Kyushu Okinawa Summit held in July, 2000 put forward a plan for tackling the problem of the digital divide. To that end, Digital Opportunity Task Force (DOT Force), which consists of three parties (governments, private and not-for-profit sectors), was organized to support the plan. GLOCOM actively participates in this task force as a representative of Japan's not-for-profit sector and continues its activities in liaison with the related groups and government offices on an individual and specific tasks.
+ February "Science and Technology Knowledge Platform" project is launched.
GLOCOM plays an active role in an attempt to find new business opportunities by sharing knowledge on science and technology across institutional boundaries.br />
+ March WWVi holds a second international symposium: "Communication and Broadcasting in the age of the Internet, 2001."
Participants discussed business models for Internet broadcasting, spectrum auctions and policies for the deployment of broadband Internet.
+ July GLOCOM celebrates the 10th anniversary of its foundation.
+ November GLOCOM holds the 8th GLOCOM Forum, marking its 10th anniversary.
Under the general theme "An approach to revitalizing Japan -- beyond and over conflicts between civilizations", participants discussed information civilization, technology development, and legal system from a long-term perspective.
+ November Global Communications Platform holds the Tokyo Forum.
Under the theme “Socio-Economic Impacts of Mobile and Wireless Technologies,” continued from the Los Angels Forum held in September, participants discussed strategies and policy issues from global and community's perspectives. Joint auspices with the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership.
+ December GLOCOM holds the 9th GLOCOM Forum.
Under the theme ‘Consider the informatization from a local area’s perspective - a proposal to post-e-Japan strategy,’ participants examined the merits and demerits of the e-Japan strategy and discussed the way of vitalizing local areas by the informatization to revitalize Japan.
+ January GLOCOM holds an international symposium: “Wireless Broadband Opens a New World.”
Participants discussed various topics from new wireless technologies to policy/regulation issues. Especially speakers pointed out that reallocation of spectrum had not been settled yet in the United States as well as in Japan. Co-hosted by Keio University and Stanford University.
+ December GLOCOM holds the 9th GLOCOM Forum.
Under the theme ‘Consider the informatization from a local area’s perspective - a proposal to post-e-Japan strategy,’ participants examined the merits and demerits of the e-Japan strategy and discussed the way of vitalizing local areas by the informatization to revitalize Japan.
+ October "ised@glocom" (interdisciplinary studies on ethics and the design of the information society) is established.
This is a new type of research activity in which young researchers in their 20s and 30s study and discuss the complimentary issues of ethics and design?critical for forecasting the future of information society?in the Ethics and Design Study Groups. The first phase covers the period to January 2006.