Third Reality as a vision to be the front runner
I'd like to write about some of my thoughts on the concept of the research institute I founded with Rakuten. I also talked about it as a keynote speech at CCSE 2018 which was the first industrial-R&D organization conference.
CCSE 2018 Keynote
We launched Rakuten Institute of Technology in 2006 as the dedicated R&D organization for the Rakuten Group. Since then, anticipating that the constant scaling up of internet services would result in a shift from simple linear growth to a radically different paradigm, we have proposed a vision called the “Third Reality” to aim at novel research & development for the business. In a sense, our interest in the subject is not merely academic or business either. It is the creative mind-set that drives us to open up an entirely new frontier.
Rakuten Institute of Technology
Rakuten Institute of Technology is now located in Tokyo, Paris, Singapore, Boston, New York, San Mateo, and Bengaluru, engaging in cross-location projects and supporting the globalization of the Rakuten Group. External to the Rakuten network, the Institute is partnered with Prof. Hidehiko Masuhara (Tokyo Institute of Technology), who serves as an advisor, and Yukihiro Matsumoto (creator of the Ruby programming language), who serves as a fellow.
R&D Vision: Third Reality
At Rakuten Institute of Technology, our research is guided by a vision called Third Reality, and we collaborate with various departments in Rakuten, as well as external organizations, in order to maximize our impact. The Third Reality vision is based on three key concepts.
Evolution of society
These days the physical world is becoming increasingly integrated with the digital world. There is no longer a clear border where one world ends and the other begins. As the cyber world evolves and expands to pervade all areas of life, users and physical reality are evolving even more. The border between them is disappearing such that together they are forming a new reality, which we call “Third Reality”.
Overcoming conflict
People may see a dichotomy when a new technology appears. However, the relationship between the real and online worlds can be seen as collaborative and we strive to propose ideas that go beyond the conflict. As such, we believe that a third option will give us power to move further forward.
Users first
Third Reality arises from the interaction of users with the ever expanding virtual world. The ways users can interact with the online world are increasing and internet services can be ever more personalized to the individual. The new reality is created in collaboration with users, so user's seamless experience is always important to us.
Third Reality is not merely academic concept or business concept either. It is the compass to make us going continuously in the fast-changing world with the uncertain future ahead. With that in mind, we would like to keep running.
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