Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

科学（かがく）

Science; research and ways of thinking that create new knowledge.

技術（ぎじゅつ）

Technology; methods and tools that apply scientific results in usable forms for daily life.

科学技術（かがくぎじゅつ）

Science and technology as a combined force shaping individuals’ lives and society.

影響（えいきょう）

Impact or influence; how something changes behavior, routines, relationships, or systems.

メリットとデメリット

Pros and cons; explaining both benefits and drawbacks instead of saying something is simply “convenient.”

因果関係（いんがかんけい）

Cause-and-effect relationship; explaining why something happens and what results from it.

個人レベル（こじんレベル）

The individual level (e.g., time use, health, stress, learning, privacy, relationships).

コミュニティレベル

The community level (e.g., schools, workplaces, local safety, public transit, access to healthcare).

社会レベル（しゃかいレベル）

The society level (e.g., economy, aging population, energy, disaster preparedness, information reliability).

既読（きどく）

“Read” indicator in messaging apps (notably LINE) showing a message was opened; helpful but can create pressure to reply.

依存（いぞん）

Dependence/addiction; overuse of online tools that can harm sleep, studying, or mental health.

炎上（えんじょう）

Online “flaming”/public backlash where criticism spreads rapidly and a comment “takes on a life of its own.”

誤情報（ごじょうほう）

Misinformation; unclear or false information that spreads quickly online.

プライバシー

Privacy; concerns about what personal data is shared, stored, tracked, or leaked.

個人情報（こじんじょうほう）

Personal information (e.g., address, school name, purchase/location history) that can identify an individual.

デジタル格差（デジタルかくさ）

Digital divide; gaps between people who can access/use technology well and those who cannot (often by age, region, or income).

キャッシュレス決済

Cashless payment (cards, smartphone payments, transit IC cards); faster and trackable but creates data/privacy concerns.

オンラインショッピング（Eコマース）

Buying goods online (e.g., Amazon, Rakuten, online supermarkets); convenient but increases competition for local stores.

省エネ（しょうえね）

Energy saving; technology or habits that reduce energy use (e.g., efficient appliances, automation, better insulation).

公共交通（こうきょうこうつう）

Public transportation (trains, subways, etc.); supports everyday life and affects cost, congestion, and the environment.

定時性（ていじせい）

Punctuality of transit schedules; makes planning school, work, and appointments easier.

新幹線（しんかんせん）

Japan’s high-speed rail system (in operation since 1964), reaching about 320 km/h (~199 mph) and shortening travel time.

Japan Rail Pass

Travel pass for visitors that allows near-unlimited rides on many JR trains (often including many high-speed services).

モノレール

A transit system running on a single rail/beam (including suspended types), used in some urban areas.

地図アプリ

Map/navigation apps that give routes, arrival times, and congestion info; reduce uncertainty but can lead to overreliance.

トラベルテック（Travel Tech）

Technology that supports travel planning, booking, payments, transit info, lodging, and local information (accelerated by COVID-19).

インスタ映え

“Instagrammable” experiences; social media visuals can influence where people travel and can also create crowding/manners issues.

自動運転（じどううんてん）

Self-driving technology; may reduce accidents but raises questions about system limits and responsibility when problems occur.

遠隔医療（えんかくいりょう）

Telemedicine; receiving medical consultation online and sharing health data—improves access but cannot replace all in-person exams.

ウェアラブル端末（たんまつ）

Wearable devices (often watch-like) that track steps, sleep, heart rate, etc., supporting prevention and health awareness.

予防（よぼう）

Prevention; focusing on avoiding illness before it happens, supported by health apps and continuous data tracking.

介護（かいご）

Elder care; includes physical assistance and emotional support, and faces major labor/effort shortages in an aging society.

尊厳（そんげん）

Dignity; an important value in care settings—technology should support, not undermine, a person’s dignity.

人型ロボット（ひとがたロボット）

Humanoid robot; a robot shaped like a human, often used to discuss interaction, acceptance, and assistance roles.

AIBO（アイボ）

Sony’s robot dog; name relates to “aibō” (partner/companion) and imitates pet-like behavior.

ASIMO（アシモ）

Honda’s humanoid robot announced in 2000; recognizes faces/sounds/gestures and is often linked with Japan’s Miraikan museum.

自動化（じどうか）

Automation; makes simple tasks faster and more accurate (e.g., self-checkout, factory machines), but can reshape jobs rather than only “remove” them.

リモートワーク

Working remotely; reduces commuting time but can blur boundaries between work and personal life and make it harder to “switch off.”

デジタルリテラシー

Digital literacy; skills needed for modern life/work such as online meetings, data handling, and security awareness.

電気自動車（でんきじどうしゃ／EV）

Electric vehicle powered by a battery; often presented as environmentally friendly, though impact depends on production and electricity sources.

ハイブリッド車

Vehicle combining a gasoline engine and electric propulsion (e.g., Toyota Prius); known for improved fuel efficiency.

緊急地震速報（きんきゅうじしんそくほう）

Earthquake early warning system; even seconds of warning can enable protective actions, but effectiveness depends on education and trust.

持続可能（じぞくかのう）

Sustainable; meeting needs without placing excessive burden on the environment and considering future generations.

科学技術振興機構（JST）

Japan Science and Technology Agency; founded in 1996 to support basic research and promote practical/commercial application.

文部科学省（MEXT）

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; established in 2001 and involved in science policy and disaster-prevention planning for facilities.

日本学術振興会（JSPS）

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; founded in 1932 to support grants, develop young researchers, and promote international academic exchange.

宇宙航空研究開発機構（JAXA）

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency; formed in 2003, partners with the ISS and collaborates internationally (e.g., with NASA on Artemis).

きぼう（Kibo）

Japan’s experiment module on the International Space Station (ISS).

はやぶさ（Hayabusa）

Asteroid probe known for returning samples to Earth in 2010; a key example of Japan’s space technology achievements.

改善（かいぜん／Kaizen）

Continuous improvement mindset often linked to Japanese manufacturing and quality; used to explain competitiveness and reliability.