Discussion: Are Computers Going the Way of the Dinosaur in Japan?

When people think of Japan, they frequently associate the country with its technology. After all, Japan spawned the electronics revolution. Therefore, it will probably surprise you and your students to find out that personal computer sales are on the decline in Japan. This is mainly due to lifestyle changes and demand for other products such as large screen TVs, cell phones, and other mobile devices.

Computers can often be bypassed in today's digital world. Many people download music directly to their cell phones, even here in the U.S. And in Japan many more consumers use their cell phones to shop online than they do in the U.S. Often consumers connect digital cameras directly to printers and digital video recorders (DVRs) directly to TVs to view photos or videos, thus eliminating the need for a computer. And downloading movies directly to the TV is also very popular in Japan.

A survey conducted in 2006 by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates that over 50 percent of the Japanese people surveyed used mobile phones to send e-mail and browse the Internet. As might be expected, the survey also reveals that 30 percent of the people using their phones to send e-mail used PC-based e-mail less, with 4 percent indicating that they sent e-mail solely from their cell phones and didn't use their computers for e-mail at all.

But as sales of computers are shrinking in Japan, business is booming in most other parts of Asia. Computer demand is still very strong in developing countries where the percentage of the population owning computers has been low. Check out the full article for more information.

Discussion Questions for Students:
1) How many computing devices do you own? Laptop, desktop, cell phone, iPod, digital camera, camcorder, etc.
2) Do you use your cell phone to check e-mail and surf the web?
3) Have you found that as you use your mobile device more often, you're using your computer less?
4) How will owning mobile devices affect your decision to purchase your next computer?