Photolithography equipment used in the manufacture of semiconductors has been predicted to hit a technological limit based on the Rayleigh criterion in terms of resolution. In actuality, however, the predicted limits of resolution are exceeded and increased microfabrication of photolithography equipment is achieved because of a change in the architecture from {mirror system, equal magnification, batch exposure} to {lens system, reduction, divided exposure}. Instead of using the Rayleigh criterion to make such predictions, experts use it to repeatedly generate “a set of recurrent and quasi-standard illustrations” as methods to improve resolution. The Rayleigh criterion itself is a typical example of what Kuhn (1962) termed a “community paradigm,” by which improvements to resolution were achieved by (a) increasing numerical aperture, (b) shortening wavelength, and (c) reducing the k₁ factor.

Predictions of a coming age of digital convergence bring to mind a convergence of the information devices used by consumers. In actuality, information devices are becoming more diversified. This study surveys and analyzes smartphone users (N = 1000) of the video-sharing service YouTube, with results showing that (1) users of a variety of information devices tend to more actively post and view videos than those that do not and (2) users are divided into two camps—those who have a variety of information devices and therefore tend to post videos and those who only use a smartphone intensively. In other words, we show that users with multiple information devices make more active use of these devices.

A questionnaire distributed to domestic factories belonging to Japan’s electric and electronics industry revealed three results: (1) regardless of the significant shift of production functions to sites outside Japan, approximately 90% of domestic locations are able to complete production functions to a high degree; (2) approximately 54% of locations are able to complete design functions to a high degree, whereas 24% are able to do so to a low degree; and (3) domestic production sites that are able to completely fulfill multiple functions (design/production engineering/production) have the following traits: 1) they are superior to their rivals at delivery accuracy and speed and better at responding to market needs and 2) they are superior to their transplants in China/ASEAN countries at making proposals and developing new products. This suggests that multi-functional factories are superior to their transplants in the area of new product proposal and development.

In the first quarter century after World War II, small- and medium-sized businesses were discussed in Japan with no relation to discussions about startups in other countries. For some time after the war, a two-tiered structure theory with a pessimistic approach toward small- and medium-sized businesses was at the fore, and later discussions of medium-sized companies never really focused on startups. However, from the 1970s, with the influence of the U.S., the Japanese-English term “venture businesses” began to take off. Venture capital began to be provided to startups, and these businesses came to be discussed with great expectations.