#Japan #QR Codes #Beppu #SLOC WORKS #NFC Tags

Introduction

In an innovative approach to understanding urban life, SLOC WORKS recently launched the Voice Field project in Beppu city, Oita Prefecture. This groundbreaking initiative aims to capture the often-overlooked sentiments and feedback of local citizens and visitors by employing NFC tags and QR codes placed in various urban and public spaces.

Understanding the Project

Voice Field is designed to collect qualitative data that traditional surveys often miss. Standard questionnaires require participants to actively respond to specific queries, which can lead to a narrow view of public sentiment. In contrast, the Voice Field project gathers spontaneous feedback about emotional responses, discomfort, and observations, focusing on voices that would otherwise go unheard.

The Approach: Collecting Raw Voices

By using NFC and QR codes installed at benches, vacant lots, and other public facilities, the Voice Field platform allows users to capture their immediate thoughts and feelings at specific locations. This is done seamlessly through their smartphones, where they can submit short text responses along with emotional tags to contextualize their feedback. This data is then compiled into a database, ready for AI analysis that aims to uncover behavioral patterns and psychological insights relevant to urban spaces.

Potential Applications

The qualitative data gathered from Voice Field can be instrumental across various sectors:

• - Local Government: These insights can inform public policy and enhance the design and improvement of public spaces.
• - Private Sector: Businesses can leverage the feedback for enhancing customer experiences or developing new products based on customer understanding.
• - Education: Universities and educational institutions may utilize this data for community studies or applicable research in urban development.
• - Research Fields: Researchers can utilize the data as foundational elements to study social capital and changes in communal spaces, such as vacant lots in urban areas.

Unique Features of Voice Field

Voice Field offers distinct advantages:

1. Contextual Data Collection: The project ties qualitative data to distinct times, locations, and contexts, enabling a better understanding of spatial characteristics and changes.
2. User-Friendly Technology: It does not require extensive technical expertise to implement. Instead, it uses existing technology to create a lightweight system.
3. R&D Feedback Loop: The project aims to create a cycle where insights gained from research and societal application inform ongoing business, policy, and educational initiatives.

Future Directions

Looking ahead, SLOC WORKS envisions expanding Voice Field beyond its initial trials. Plans include collaborative projects with local governments, universities, and businesses to further the idea of visualizing data on a municipal or facility level. Ultimately, the goal is for these captured “voices” to become a lasting memory within these spaces, influencing future urban development and business initiatives, thus forming a new urban infrastructure.

Project Details

• - Project Name: Voice Field
• - Implementation Agency: SLOC WORKS LLC
• - Director: Rika Tsubota, Chief Researcher
• - Locations: Beppu City, Oita Prefecture; Bunkyo, Tokyo; Sapporo, Hokkaido; and more
• - Format: Demonstrative experiment utilizing urban spaces (Proof of Concept)
• - Main Technologies: NFC Tags, QR Codes, AI Analysis
• - Website: Voice Field

About SLOC WORKS

• - Company Name: SLOC WORKS LLC
• - President: Yu Miyamoto
• - Location: 9-20 Ekimae Honmachi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, in Office HOOD
• - Business Activities: Research and development, social implementation of the SLOC model, business support, and co-creation projects.
• - Company Website: SLOC Works

Contact Information

For inquiries, please use the contact form on the SLOC WORKS website. A response will be provided within two business days.