A Research of Problems to Realize the Local e-government in Japan

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1 A Research of Problems to Realize the Local e-government in Japan Akira Ide, atsuo Yamasaki and Ichiro Takagi Abstract-- The Japanese Government has shown in their E-Japan report that it will begin consulting the foundations of 'an Electronic-Government' (e-government) in However, this report does not provide a clear strategy to address the lower layer of the digital divide. People in the lower layers of the digital divide cannot receive any benefits from e-government and, or local e-government. In this paper, we will discuss the results of interviews conducted with residents in Kumamoto City, Japan. We will also display the current situation of the digital divide in local areas. The purpose of this report is to contribute to an efficient and effective government policy, enabling access to lower layers of the digital divide. 3. A research on local-e government and their problems, in the process of standardization. igure1 is our awareness of the issues. Index Terms-- Digital divide, e-government, local e-government T I. THE PURPOSE O THIS RESEARCH he Japanese government has a plan to make Japan a highly electrical society. This plan is called e-japan. However, the problem is that there are many people who cannot use, or do not use computers. If the government makes progress in e-japan, more and more people who are in the lower layer of the digital divide will become left out of the new cyber society 1. urthermore, they will not be able to enjoy the benefits of local e-government. Based on these issues, Kumamoto City entrusted Kyusyu Tokai University to research the reality of the digital divide among citizens 2. The study entrusted by Kumamoto city is composed of three sections. The contents are as follows. 1. Research and recognition of those people weak on information technology and finding a proper preparation. 2. A research of the mobile computer terminal machines corresponding to the physically handicapped Akira Ide is with the Liberal Arts, Osaka Univ. of Economics and Law, 6-10 Gakuonji Yao-city Osaka-prefecture JAPAN (telephone , akiraide@earth. .ne.jp).. atsuo Yamasaki is with the Department of Information Science, Kyusyu Tokai Univ Toroku Kumamoto-city Kumamoto-prefecture Japan (telephone , yamasaki@tokai.ac.jp). Ichiro Takagi is with the Department of Information Science, Kyusyu Tokai Univ Toroku Kumamoto-city Kumamoto-prefecture Japan (telephone , itakagi@ktmail.ktokai-u.ac.jp). 1 The Japanese government has not conducted research on digital division. This paper is supposed to be the first research about digital divide in this country. 2 Kumamoto city is the capital of Kumamoto Prefecture. The population of Kumamoto city is over 700,000 ig.1.the concept of our research In this research, the section 1 will be parted into two areas. That is, (1) a questionnaire consulting computer literacy and (2) tests for improvement of pointing devices. On this paper, we will explain the part (1) of the number1 at first, because there have been little research about the reality of the digital divide. Then, we will focus on the part (2). II. CONTENTS O A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY ON COPUTER LITERACY In order to research the reality of digital divide, we conducted interviews with people who visited the city hall and three other government facilities at Kumamoto city. These interviews were conducted from August 1st to 9th, We collected over 2000 responses. The results are shown on Table1. ICITA2004 ISBN

2 The number of collected questionaries city hall acility facility facility total grand total Aug. 1st, Aug. 2nd, Aug. 5th, ,177 Aug. 6th, ,414 Aug. 7th, ,633 Aug. 6th, ,849 Aug. 7th, ,050 Total ,050 Table1. The results of the interview Number of subjects Office workers 2.Self-employed 3.House wives 4.Students 5.Unemployed 6.Others 7.No answer ig.4. The number of subjects in terms of profession Number of subjects under 20 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's 70's over 80 ig.2. The number of subjects in terms of the age In Japan, housewives are thought to be in the lower layer of digital divide. Therefore we were fortunate to be able to interview many housewives. Analyzing this category is essential to effective policy making for the lower level of the digital divide. III. RESULTS O A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY The first question was, Can you use a computer? Number of citizens under 20 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's 70's over 80 ig.3. Age groups of citizens who actually live in Kumamoto city 60's 50's 40's 30's 20's under 20 Q1 "Can you use a computer?" (by age group and gender) yes no Comparing these two figures, one may suggest that this research does not represent the actual population of Kumamoto City. But because the aim of this research is to assist the development of local e-government, it is meaningful to study the people who actually come to city hall or other city facilities. over 80 70's 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% ig.5. Which generations are weak at computers. According to this figure, the older people get, the more unlikely it is he or she can operate computers. en seem to be better with computers than women. This tendency is thought to be same for all of Japan.

3 Q1 "Can you use a computer? (by occupation) 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% yes no 1.Office workers 2.Self-employed 3.House wives 4.Students 5.Unemployed 6.Others ig.6. Determining the lower level of digital divide in terms of profession Old people, house wives and the self-employed are in the lower level of digital divide. The Japanese government acknowledges this problem. Therefore, the government held many PC seminars all over the country in attempt to overcome the digital divide. Skills such word processing, database use and using the Internet were taught at these seminars. To examine the appropriateness of the government policies, we asked the people who cannot use computers why. The result is displayed on igure 7.igure 7 shows an interesting tendency. There are many people who have difficulty in using computers or do not have access to computers. On the other hand, there are many people who have no interest in using computers. Therefore, to further understand the reality of the digital division, we looked into the jobs and ages of the people who have no interest in using computers. Looking at igure 8, housewives who are regarded as weak at using computers have the will to learn. If they have a chance to learn, they may become power users in the near future. However, the elderly have little, if any, motivation to use computers. ost seems to believe that there are no benefits in using computers. The same tendency can be observed with the self-employed. Their jobs do not require the use of computers in Japan. Therefore, they feel less inclined to use computers. Surprisingly, the Japanese government has never conducted research on interrelations between the willingness of digital divide and personal attributions like age or occupation. Therefore, the government did not make preparations for the digital divide in different categories respectively. We are the first to find that the concept digital divide has two meanings. ig.7. The reason why people cannot use a computer 1.Office workers 2.Self-employed 3.House wives 4.Students 5.Unemployed 6.Others 7.No answer 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% ig.8. The rate of people who do not want to use computers (by occupation) 1.Under Over 80 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% ig.9. The rate of people who do not want to use computers. The number of subjects over 80 is very small. Therefore, it appears that seems to be no one at over 80 is on the graph. IV. TESTS OR IPROVING POINTING DEVICES In this section, we will explain what kind of people tend to choose what kind of devices. or those who cannot use a computer well, a mouse may not be their tool of choice. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted the following. The content of the experiment is as follows.

4 We made a web site on the closed LAN, which has many check boxes and link buttons. We ask those who cooperated with the test to use this web site by both a mouse and a touch-panel. After the experiment, we asked them which device better suited for them. 28% Unknown 55% 17% ig.13. The rate of the experienced about mouse 1 ig.10. The machines used for the experiment 38% 62% ig.14.the rate of the experienced about mouse 2; (unknown persons removed) ig.11. The scene of experiments In the beginning of this experiment, we did not survey the number of people who were experienced with a computer mouse. But, in order to survey the liability for a mouse or a touch-panel, we thought that it is necessary to check the usability of a computer mouse. igure 13 includes unknown people who are not interviewed whether they used a mouse or not. igure 14 excluded the unknown from the figure 13. Therefore, the number of population in figure 13 is 153, but that of figure 15 is only 69. Next, we will tell you the content of respondents according to gender on igure ig.12. A web sites as an example In this experiment, we collected answers from 153 people. irst, we will show the rate of people who were experienced with using a mouse. en Women ig.15. ouse experienced? (according to gender) When comparing igure 15 with figure 14, it is possible to understand the reality of digital divide in Japan. As we showed in Chapters II&III, women are more likely to be on the lower

5 level of the digital divide. any women did not have experience on using a mouse. oreover, we collected data in terms of the age. But because the population is only 69, the quality of data is low. ouse experienced?(according to age) 53% 43% Not experienced Unknown Under ig.18. Composition of people who selected a mouse subtracting those experienced with a computer mouse 4% % Over 90 ig.16. with the mouse? (by age) 58% 42% Not experienced Unknown Next, we would like to demonstrate the tendency of choices concerning pointing devices. Please turn to igure 16 which is the general view of their choice. ig.19. Composition of people who selected a touch-panel divided by experience of mouse touch panel 35% mouse 65% These graphs show the tendency that those who are experienced in using computers are liable to use a mouse. On the other hand, people who had never used a computer have the tendency to use touch panel. What should we conclude from these result? or a person who has never used a computer, mouse is not a necessarily their favorite item. When we use computers, mouse is a very useful tool because our hands are not so far on using a mouse. In other words, because we use a keyboard, the mouse is useful. If we do not use keyboards, the value of the mouse would be very low. ig.17. Selection of pointing device igure 17 shows that many people tend to choose a mouse rather than a touch-panel. But the core of this result should be observed carefully. Please compare igure 18 and igure 19. V. CONCLUSION The Japanese government held many computer classes in the past two years. Were the classes effective in improving digital divide? The answer is difficult. or people house-wives who possess the will to use computers, seminars will become useful. However, for these who have no will in using computers, seminars would not be useful. or those who do not understand the benefits of computers, the government must first explain those benefits. Besides, we are afraid that Japanese government would like its citizens to use computers to promote e-government. But, as we explained in IV, mouse is not necessarily suited for anyone,

6 especially for those who are weak with computers. In this context, to promote e-government, the Japanese government should consider other options like a touch-panel. The idea of using computers for e-government may not always be the case. The Japanese government has never built policies for the digital divide concerning the respective categories. The policies for digital divide must be divided into the detailed categories to accomplish this issue. The government must conduct research on which people want what kinds of services. Only after this is complete, the government will be able to establish useful policies about digital divide. As a result, local e-government will be promoted.. REERENCES [1] General Policy Division, Information and Communications Policy Bureau; inistry of Public anagement, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, in Japan Information and Communications in Japan White Paper 2002 (2002) pp.65-73,. <