The 70th Business Show, the largest computer show in Japan, took place in Tokyo this month with the theme New Offices in the 90s – With Enhanced Technology and Amenities. One of the highlights of the show was the try a notebook PC sessions run by many manufacturers. A number of manufacturers now have notebook PCs, including the leader Toshiba with its Dynabook, Epson’s PC286 Note-F, the 98 Note-SX with a 20Mb hard disk, and the latest Sharp with a 20Mb hard disk All-in-Notebook, priced considerably higher than the competition, as well as Sony with its Palmtop electronic notebook which features hand-written character recognition technology. Another notable feature of the show was the emphasis on colour technology, including colour copiers, available from Canon under the name Pixel, Konica’s 8028 and 8010 digital multi-copiers, Minolta’s PPC copier – also using digital technology, and Brother with its Renaissa CC-5500. Colour facsimile machines were also on show. Major system vendors such as Fujitsu and Hitachi displayed their full range of development tools Fujitsu’s software design automation tools such as CASET, YPS/APG, BAGLES II, and planning tools such as EGPII/VP, as well as expert systems tools and applications such as Hitachi’s ESTRK/WS Expert System for Truck Operation Planning. They also touted examples of the latest buzzword in Japanese system language – SIS, or the Strategic use of Information Systems. A recent report by Arthur D Little estimates that aside from manufacturing, Japanese SIS development is five years behind that in the US. This is due in part no doubt to the high cost of communications, which are gradually being reduced in response to more domestic competition. – Anita Byrnes
