Japan and CS
2 comments
Because they don't have startups they're limited to working on things that the big companies are interested in. That tends to be flashy-but-useless things executives get excited about (Asimo) or money-making things that executives get excited about.
Well, I think that improving IA techniques are a great work related to computer science. Is not a small field, and I think that, among others, it will be the future of CS.
Japan has the fastest super computer right now as far as I know, that says SOMETHING about their intentions for CS but I don't see much else coming from them. My prediction is that they're just not focused on improving it as much as other technologies. Any thoughts?
EDIT: relevant links... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Japan
http://www.economist.com/node/18958643