...and what we learn from it

What kinds of possibilities will open up for our world 50 years from now, by the midpoint of the 21st century? Personally speaking, I envision a number of possibilities for the growth and expansion of development in photonics technology:First, we will come to understand the essential nature of photon, which plays a crucial role as the substance that ties electrons and atomic nuclei together. This, in turn, will lead us to a deeper understanding of matter and of life itself, by allowing us to manipulate atoms and molecules in any way we like. The result will be new advances in medical treatment and care, enabling mankind to achieve a state of complete health. Eventually we will hold mastery over our life span itself. Also, through advances in energy development, it will become possible to provide a virtually inexhaustible supply of energy at extremely low cost.

In working towards health for all mankind and everlasting peace worldwide, photonics technology can make a significant contribution in a broad spectrum of fields such as communications and information processing, measuring, biotechnology, medical care, psychology and other mind-brain sciences, energy, robotics, cosmology, physics, and many others. Still, there remain vast areas of the world around us not yet explored or understood. When we consider the uncertainty caused in our lives by the unknown and by problems for which we have not yet found answers, we begin to sense the scope of the task that lies before us. And yet, the call of the unknown is what stimulates our curiosity and urges us to try harder.