Matsunaga EMW Laboratory

Today's discussion focuses on IT technology, specifically questioning the relevance of blogs, often considered a Web 1.0 feature, in the Web 3.0 era.

Lately, I have pondered why I still disseminate information via a blog, a medium commonly associated with Web 1.0, even as Web 3.0 gains traction. Anyone familiar with me will know that generational factors are not a valid explanation. So, why do I, someone who enjoys employing the latest technology in a personally satisfying manner, continue to use a blog for communication? This essay will provide some insights.

Chat Bots in Customer Service and Inquiries

As of October 2023, numerous companies rely on chat bots to handle customer service and inquiries. Many of these bots are currently limited to predefined responses, struggling with unexpected queries. However, the advent of ChatGPT promises to increasingly shift customer service to language-generating AI chat bots.

Today, I had no choice but to contact a company about an issue. I dialed the toll-free number provided, only to be greeted by an automated message and a single-option menu: "May we send you a short message? Press 1 for yes." I tried entering other numbers and even ignoring the request, but after a few repetitions, the system announced it would terminate the call due to an invalid response. At that point, I couldn't help but mutter that they should have simply provided a URL via QR code or similar means. Perhaps this is a transitional issue.

Reluctantly, I pressed 1 and was directed to a URL via a short message. I clicked the link and found myself in a chat queue, a rather typical experience these days. When it was my turn, I was greeted by what appeared to be a scripted message and a prompt to select my issue from a list.

Feeling slightly uneasy, I made my selection. Another templated message followed, asking for confirmation. I agreed, and it concluded with, "Your request has been received. Please click the end chat button." I complied, but the promised action was never taken.

The next day, I returned to the same URL with a resolve to rigorously test the chat bot's capabilities. The conversation was identical to the previous day's, only the agent's name was different. I typed that I had the same issue unresolved from yesterday. The bot took its time to reply. Finally, it asked to confirm my phone number for a call from a representative. I agreed, but instead of proceeding to the call, it merely concluded with the same "Your request has been received" message. I questioned this discrepancy, and after a delay, received an apology and assurance that a representative would contact me. When I criticized the misleading instruction to end the chat, it simply repeated the apology.

Finally, I asked if I was speaking to an AI chat bot, to which the reply was, "No, this is a manned chat."

It turned out it was not an AI chat bot, but merely a scripted chat with human intervention, a rather amusing realization.

The Superiority of Chat Bots in Conveying Messages over Humans with Low Foundational Skills

Over the past decade, I have increasingly found that chat bots are more effective at conveying messages than humans. Whether the communication medium is telephone or email, I have had numerous experiences that have led me to this conclusion. For instance, while teaching at Tokyo Univerisity of Technology, I introduced myself over the phone, only to receive a bewildered response. Despite explaining myself carefully, the individual on the other end of the line was unable to grasp basic terminology. Such experiences have led me to believe that chat bots are far superior for relaying straightforward messages.

However, isn't it ironic that human-operated, scripted chat services are prevalent? Many of these human operators are likely managing multiple chat windows simultaneously. Given that the chat scripts are generally standardized and that responses often take time to read and type, one competent operator could handle multiple chats at once.

The Inevitable Automation of Certain Jobs

It is often said that various generative AI systems are taking over jobs, and it seems evident that this particular job will also soon be overtaken by language-generating AI.

The Collapse of Educational Trajectories

I have noticed a decline in foundational educational skills among contemporary students. Their ability to comprehend written text is considerably weakened. It's unlikely that they can even make sense of a lengthy blog post like this one. Furthermore, they lack the ability to think critically. After completing a university exam, they promptly forget everything they've learned, failing to apply this knowledge later.

The Redefining of Ease in Work

There is a phrase that I find particularly aggravating when people offer me work: "It's an easy and simple job." What does that even mean? The same sentiment seems to be prevalent among my students, who appear to desire ease in their work. However, the definition of "ease" varies among individuals.

Conclusion

I employ generative AI and IT tools to make my tasks more efficient, but these are merely means to amplify my abilities. I wish for others to remember that my way of life is to ardently continue doing what only I can do.

The reason why I disseminate information through Web 1.0 blogs is apparent to those who have managed to read and understand this far, I presume.

1. Encountering the Demon of Superficiality

Superficiality is defined as the state of being shallow in thought, as delineated in the sixth edition of the Kōjien dictionary.

Truthfully, I had minimal direct experiences of struggling with superficial people up to this point. This might have been due to a lack of deep engagement on my part, or perhaps such individuals were unable to adapt to my specialized academic environment. Consequently, I was genuinely shocked to discover the profound impact that superficiality can wield. I have come to realize that the underestimation of superficiality can also evolve into a societal issue, prompting me to pen these observations.

2. Societal Distortions Caused by the Demon of Superficiality

A quick search about superficiality reveals discussions on “groupthink” and the escalating trend of slanderous activities on modern social media platforms. From this, one can ascertain that superficiality is a contributing factor to societal distortions and that there are individuals raising alarm bells concerning this phenomenon.

From my personal experience, regardless of the nature of my relationship with superficial individuals, collaborating with them on any endeavor poses significant challenges. If their deficiency were merely a lack of problem-solving abilities, then it could conceivably be addressed with support from more experienced colleagues. However, the reality is far more daunting. These individuals often dismiss advice from their seniors and peers, act unethically or immorally with little forethought, fail to consider the feelings of others, and persist in such behaviors even when corrected, making interactions with them exceptionally difficult.

Childish superficiality may be amendable through persistent education. Adult superficiality, however, is exceedingly difficult to recognize by the individual themselves. Furthermore, such people do not consider their superficiality as a shortcoming but rather as a merit, making them akin to demons for those who interact with them.

3. Lack of Critical Thinking and Convenient Interpretations

Various characteristics of superficial people can be discovered through research. The search might yield more accurate results with keywords like "individuals with shallow and frivolous thoughts."

Essentially, their traits stem from a "deficiency in critical thinking." Thus, these individuals exhibit multiple characteristics that are akin to those of narcissistic personality disorder. My research indicates that it is not superficiality that leads to personality disorders such as narcissism; rather, superficiality is one of the features commonly found in people who already have a personality disorder. Even without a diagnosed personality disorder, various factors can make an individual superficial, leading them to engage in socially disruptive behaviors.

4. Providing Concrete Examples

One characteristic that seems prevalent is the disregard for morals and ethics. For instance, they may hold the view that "it's fine to break rules as long as you're not caught by the police," and therefore easily violate rules and regulations. There's also a lack of empathy and a tendency for self-centered comments. Even when you explain to them that breaking a rule causes inconvenience to others, they do not show empathy. Hence, no matter how many times you explain, they keep repeating the same mistakes. Moreover, they do not admit their faults or offer apologies, seemingly under the impression that they are in the right.

They also do not consult with appropriate individuals and completely ignore advice. For example, if they are in a subordinate position and act thoughtlessly, they consistently neglect to consult or report to their superiors. On top of that, they disclose internal company information to outsiders without permission and act on advice from those outsiders. Even when the superior offers heartfelt advice out of concern, it is wholly disregarded. Unsurprisingly, they do not respond to any questioning about their improper actions, probably because they never consider that they may be at fault.

Why Does This Happen?

Such behaviors occur due to their characteristics of being unrealistically optimistic and misinterpreting others' words to affirm themselves. They also shut out any advice from their surroundings.

5. The Pitfalls of Extreme Optimism

Though being extremely optimistic might seem like a good thing at first glance, it actually leads to severe problems and conflicts. For instance, they act cheerfully even in critical situations and readily make promises without thinking. Their perpetual smile may give the impression that they are pleasant individuals, but this is merely superficial. They do not take responsibility for their actions, nor do they consider the long-term consequences. Even when their actions result in problems, they neither acknowledge their role nor even remember what they did.

6. Failing to Analyze the Causes of Mistakes

Whether due to their optimism, forgetfulness, or impulsivity, they never consider the causes when failures or troubles occur. Thus, they are unable to answer when questioned about the reasons. If pressed for an answer, they resort to making thoughtless comments on the spot.

Upon thorough consideration, one realizes the frightening implications of their thoughtlessness. Initially, it may not have been clear why such a lack of reflective thinking leads to self-serving interpretations, ignoring advice, and breaking rules.

7. How to Deal with Such Individuals

Regrettably, the best course of action is to avoid involvement. However, if that's not possible, those who interact with such people should minimize their own losses and manage situations cautiously. Trying to give good advice or urging improvement is futile. The key is to control the situation so that the losses remain confined to the thoughtless individual.

My Opinion Based on Experience

Unfortunately, I have come to realize that improvement is not to be expected from people whose behavior has worsened to the point of resembling a personality disorder.

8. The Harm of Uniform, Creativity-Lacking Education

The "thoughtlessness" discussed today is also a byproduct of an educational system that prioritizes university entrance exams, emphasizes rote memorization, and neglects to encourage critical thinking. Indeed, efforts are underway to make entrance exams more thought-provoking. However, it is unfortunate that years of memorization-based education have produced individuals who can clear both university entrance and coursework exams without critical thinking.

As language-generating AI and other generative AIs continue to evolve, the only ability that allows humans to demonstrate their unique qualities might be their ability to think.

Since the introduction of ChatGPT in Japan, its prominence in daily conversations has been unflagging. My experience aligns with this trend; I find that interactions with ChatGPT often yield intellectually stimulating dialogue, superior to forced conversations with humans. Sources indicate that the GPT-4 model, the architecture behind ChatGPT, possesses a knowledge base robust enough to place in the top 10% of legal examinations. This revelation substantiates my sense that conversations with ChatGPT are not only balanced but also conducive to mutual understanding based on equitable and well-reasoned perspectives.

Recognizing its utility at the level equivalent to that of an executive assistant, I have integrated ChatGPT into my workflow as if I have employed an assistant. This technological adoption, I assert, has positively impacted work efficiency compared to traditional human employment.

Today marks the commencement of a new project: the creation of Matsunaga Lab's logo. This initiative will be an ongoing endeavor.

ChatGPT comes equipped with an enhanced feature, DALL-E-3, which I utilized to design the logo for Matsunaga Lab. This emblem was meticulously crafted to encapsulate various unique attributes of Matsunaga Lab.

In the forthcoming period, I intend to disseminate this logo broadly and am keenly interested in gauging public reaction.

I'm pleased to report on my participation in IEEE AP-S 2023, which stands as the most significant and highly esteemed international conference in antennas and propagation research.

Presentation Overview

The research, "A Novel Loop Antenna Easily Matching with Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Chips," was presented at the 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and the USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA.

T. Kanamori and M. Matsunaga, "A Novel Loop Antenna Easily Matching with Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Chips," 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (USNC-URSI), Portland, OR, USA, 2023, pp. 1499-1500, doi: 10.1109/USNC-URSI52151.2023.10237905.

For reprints, please reach out to me via ResearchGate.

This paper represents a milestone in the ongoing collaborative effort within Shizuoka University to develop high-efficiency rectennas. A rectenna—a term coined from "Rectifying Antenna"—is a single unit that incorporates both a rectifying circuit and an antenna.

Tanizawa Lab, specializing in LSI design, is leading the rectifier circuit aspect, while Matsunaga Lab focuses on the antenna component. Our study centers on optimizing the rectifier circuit's efficiency by carefully considering its input impedance and aligning it with the antenna's impedance.

RFID tag chips inherently possess a complex impedance due to their structural constraints, necessitating a matching antenna impedance. Previously, efforts were concentrated solely on this impedance matching. However, considerations for optimizing the rectifying efficiency, accounting for the entire rectenna circuit, have been lacking. This gap partly exists because of limitations in the achievable complex impedance values for antennas.

The antenna discussed in this presentation distinguishes itself by easily matching with LSI chips, while maintaining radiation characteristics akin to conventional dipole antennas.

Although initially concerned about the limited attendance, I was pleasantly surprised when the audience swelled considerably just prior to my talk, allowing for a fruitful exchange of ideas through numerous questions.

However, I was astonished to encounter a lingering belief that "an antenna's input impedance should be 50Ω," despite two decades of RFID applications. Moreover, there appears to be a noticeable gap in expertise regarding the measurement methodologies for antennas with non-standard input impedances.

This experience has reinforced my commitment to produce research that not only resonates with, but is also practically beneficial to, a broad audience.

Photo Captions: Left - A signboard at the venue entrance. Right - A panoramic shot of the venue taken from a neighboring high-rise, capturing the lively atmosphere of the opening plaza where attendees mingled.

Dear All,

Thank you for your ongoing support of both the Matsunaga Research Lab and myself.

We have recently experienced a surge in inquiries. I've come to realize that a number of people are finding it challenging to get in touch with me due to recent organizational changes. For a variety of reasons, my personal email and phone number are not publicly listed on either the university or the Matsunaga Research Lab websites. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. To reach out, please use the "Contact Us" section on this website. All inquiries submitted here will be forwarded directly to me, and after reviewing the content, I will respond accordingly.

If you have questions or need to contact either the Matsunaga Research Lab or myself, please use the following Inquiry Form.

Note: While this Inquiry Form uses a comment function and is thus labeled as "comment section," rest assured that your submission will not be made public and serves only as a means to contact me.

Your understanding and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Best regards,
Mayumi Matsunaga