Last July third, the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) called a committee meeting for the prospect of future technology. The ACE acronym stands for Advanced, Convergent, and Expanded. Each word refers to the three categories of excellence that hard-core technology departments aspire to become. To be more specifically,

 ‘A' means ‘Advanced IT’. It is similar to the idea that users can use technology whenever, wherever and with whoever in real life without recharging the battery all day long. 'C' means Convergent IT. A representative example of this field is the individual-made medical installation system. Finally, the 'E' means Expanded IT. Such as technology, that is developed for a telemeter to protect major cities of one’s country, or technology for the preservation or building of social-infrastructures. If these are the standards of technology development, what can the modern IT industry do about creating solutions for our present problems in society?

Below are three example cases of how technology can solve a communities social problems.

First, who will monitor the attendance of Jack in the classroom? The custom of cheating will die in the University. From its second term, Kyoung-hee University will set-up a model system. The system is designed to be ubiquitous, balanced, for both sides of the lecture system. The new system is helpful to education at the university.

For example, for the first time professors will have access to all of the pupil’s personal information, such as picture, grade, department, and name. The student can input questions at a terminal by inserting an ID card. This means that the professor and the student, both sides of the lecture system, have communication. Therefore, the student can actively take part in class. Therefore, as the old saying goes, “as one sows, so shall he reap” will become the hallmark of this new system. The professor will be able to check attendance, tardiness, and give immediate feedback on participation rates. If the student’s attendance were very good, his or her record would show his or her attendance scores correctly.

The system is especially useful if the professor wants to improve student’s degree of understanding with quiz materials by showing the quizzes’ answers immediately after the test or during the test, and also provide students with the opportunity to have bonus scores added. Therefore, a proxy for student exams and attendance are impossible.

Second, IT technology can prevent food poisoning. Some time ago, CJ food products were contaminated and food poising was the result, which lead to confusion all over the country. How did it happen? Experts have been unable to trace the origin of the accident, but many believe there is one very good reason. This is a lack of ingredient management.

Following this situation, let us imagine a similar case. One person says, “IT technology will be useful in preventing food contamination.” Do you believe that? Many people believe that the IT industry is mostly about computers, the Internet, or telephone technology. These concepts are universally accepted.

However, the IT industry is more helpful and convenient in several areas of our daily lives than most normal people realize. For example, ‘RFID’ (Radio Frequency Identification) is still unfamiliar technology to us. This new service will deploy radio frequencies to wireless settings for the first time in history.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) and KFIA (Korea Food Industry Association) are pushing for a food control project with ‘RFID’. Managers will be able to understand the product’s life cycle in a single glace at the attached RFID tag on the box. So, if the wrong raw material is pick-up, it is easy to prevent a food incident.

Moreover, the RFLD is easier to use then compared to the bar code. RFLD technology is better and beyond comparison. For example, a bar code can perceive one product at 10m, while the RFLD can perceive hundreds of goods to 3m by wireless. Therefore, it is expected that this new technology will bring about a revolution in distribution network technologies.

Additionally, the new mobile RFID technology will be able to read a RFLD tags and enable users to receive real-time food information about consumer products. Everyone will be able to receive good information on food materials by phone. The culture of food will be improved.

Third, technology is showing up in ‘Ubiquitous military units’. Last July 4th, the ‘MND” (Ministry of National Defense) and ‘MIC’ (Ministry of Information and Communication) reported on a plan, which it named ‘U-Defense’ at the cabinet council meeting. There were five new technologies identified for consideration.

The first of these new military technologies for ‘U-defense is an IT strategy to marry new technologies with the existing army systems and needs. At the’ Ubiquitous Military Unit’, a commander can send a transmission and have a receipt of a message sent to a military base with ‘WiBro’, so commanders can know information on the state of war. The second military technology identified was a robot in the shape of a dog or horse. Its function is to monitor dangerous regions.

The third IT technology system is ‘USN’ (Ubiquitous Sensor Network). It is useful in offering warning information. For example, let’s say that there is a strategic temperature point that is set at 23°C. The ‘USN’ system will have an alarm set point at 38°C. When the ‘USN’ system alerts the military of the temperature change, they will be alerted to investigate the cause of the error.

The fourth is the Telematique technology. It is used to chase weapons away immediately. Finally, the last technology identified was telemedicine. Telemedicine is a highly developed and useful technology. For example, officers and men of the military, who work at the GOP or, Gyeogoji forces (Military forces located in mountainous area) will have the ability to immediately examine himself and receive treatment.

In conclusion, new IT technology is solving many of our social problems. Moreover, IT is going to play an important part in the development of our higher quality of life issues. Just as RFLD technology was unfamiliar to us for food control, it has now become the keeper of our dining table.

We have inquired into three cases that are examples of IT for solutions to society’s problems. The Chairman of the Future IT Technology Committee, Kim, Su-sam, said that “Lately, China and India are catching up with Korea’s IT technology.” The cause of this is that both government and enterprise took a short-term view of IT politics. IT politics focused on the sale of IT products, rather than research and development.

However, the focus on sales from the long-term point of view was also a good idea. Since the late 1990s, Korea’s information and technology sector has achieved splendid growth, and has been one of the integral industries driving the country’s economic growth. IT sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic production averages at 38.4 percent per year. IT exports took up 36 percent of the country’s total exports, or $102.3 billion in 2005, according to a recent data filed by the Ministry of Information and Communication. In short, today’s Korea IT technology is the strongest in the world, and it is the staple of products in Korea. 

So, the question today is whether Korea’s IT industry will continue to be sustainable? The focus on sales has created and development a powerful market for Korea. However, China and India’s technology knowledge is improving and becoming a competitor of Korea. With the lack of focus on research and development in the past, will Korea be able to remain a market leader in technology? The answer is unclear, whether technology’s future in Korea will be bright or dark.