Digitalization of Route Buses: Challenges for Japan’s Elderly and IT-Illiterate

Japan is behind other countries in digitalization and remains an analog society. -During a pandemic, people still have to go to work just to stamp documents, and analogue methods are still being used for the elderly. – The usage rate of generated AI is low compared to other countries, and many people are deceived by IT-related scams. ・Many people feel that they are “not good at IT,” but in reality they just “don’t want to do it.” ・This is especially common among the elderly, but it is possible to learn how to use a computer with proper instruction. ・There are cases where even elderly people can become proficient in using a computer in just six months with training. -If we continue to use analog methods to accommodate people who are not good at IT, society as a whole will become inefficient. – It is irrational to continue to respond in an analog manner in the Reiwa era, and there is a need to take the position that those who cannot adapt to IT will have no choice but to suffer losses. – Learning IT reduces the risk of fraud, stimulates the brain, and helps people stay connected to society, so people should acquire IT skills. – The cause of Japan’s digital divide is not IT infrastructure, but a rejection of IT. – We cannot afford to continue with analogue methods, and we need to understand that those who cannot adapt to IT should be the ones to lose out. On the other hand, the author (Toshiki Nishiyama, urban engineer), an expert on route buses, disagrees with this view. The problem of “people who are not good at IT” in the route bus industry is serious, and we will explain in detail why. As digital transformation (DX) progresses, if there is insufficient consideration for bus users who are not good at IT, there is a risk that “inequality in the transportation environment” will increase. In particular, elderly people and those who are unfamiliar with IT face various difficulties in their daily transportation, and resolving these issues is an urgent matter. Digitalization is progressing not only in Japan but around the world, and as labor shortages and cost issues become more serious, there is a need to supplement traditional large-scale infrastructure with efficient, easy-to-use IT services. For example, in public transportation, the number of ticket machines at train stations is being reduced and the use of mobile transportation IC cards is being encouraged. In addition, the company plans to introduce credit card touch payments and code payments in the future. However, the presence of people who are unfamiliar with IT remains a major issue in the bus industry,
and “consideration by society as a whole”
is required. Furthermore, in order to reduce stress for drivers, it is hoped that IT-based payment systems will become more widespread, avoiding the need for currency exchange. Compared to other countries, Japan is lagging behind in digitalization, and analog society remains widespread. For example, although working styles have been reconsidered due to the impact of COVID-19, analogue methods such as coming to the office just to stamp documents are still continuing, which is being ridiculed by other countries. The use of generative AI, which has recently been attracting attention, is also increasing, especially among young people such as university students, but overall its usage rate is low compared to other countries. Furthermore, the reality is that many people are being deceived by IT-related scams. For example, about 60% of on-demand bus reservations are made using IT, but the remaining 40% are made through call centers. Many people feel that they are not good at IT, but in reality, they often feel that they do not want to do it. Elderly people, in particular, are often averse to trying it, but when we hold training sessions on on-demand bus reservation support in the author’s university laboratory, many people become accustomed to using a computer or smartphone within 15 to 20 minutes and start using it right away. It has been shown that with proper training, skills can be learned and put to use. There are also cases where university reskilling programs have enabled older people to become proficient in using computers after six months of training. Continuing to use analog methods to accommodate people who are not good at IT could make society as a whole inefficient. It is irrational to continue to use analog methods in the Reiwa era, and some believe that people who are not good at IT have no choice but to suffer losses. However, the current situation where people who are not good at IT are unable to adapt to society and suffer disadvantages is undesirable. Learning IT provides good stimulation for the brain, and acquiring IT skills is very important for maintaining connections with society. The cause of Japan’s digital divide (the disparity in IT and Internet access) is not a problem with IT infrastructure, but a rejection of IT. The key to solving the problem lies in overcoming this rejection. In order to eliminate the digital divide, efforts are being made to accommodate bus users who are not good at IT. Typical examples of this are paper-based
tickets
route guides
, especially for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people new to IT. *See the quote for the full text.

高齢者置き去り？ 「ITオンチな利用客」が直面する路線バスデジタル化、専門家が警鐘する現実とは | Merkmal（メルクマール）

デジタル化の波が公共交通に押し寄せるなか、高齢者やITに不慣れな人々の移動環境が置き去りにされている。IT導入が進む一方で、デジタルデバイドを解消するためには社会全体での配慮と支援が急務。アナログとデジタルをうまく融合させ、誰もが平等に交通...

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