Consideration of tacit knowledge sharing by automation for reinforcement of human abilities: Empirical comparison of conservation techniques between Japan and Denmark

It is vital for cultural properties to be passed down between generations. Therefore, this study focuses on conservation techniques and discusses a system that provides appropriate automation to prevent the destruction of the value of cultural properties and conservation techniques. Manufacturing companies have improved productivity by rapidly replacing humans with machines. Because of this, the techniques of skilled persons who have gained experience with products over time by maintaining and repairing them are not being inherited by their successors. This has resulted in many manufacturers ceasing production or going out of business. Cultural properties are strongly associated with tradition and tacit knowledge. This makes it more difficult to maintain and reproduce them than common products. Thus, rather than a simple replacement of people and machines, support through applying automation that enhances human abilities is required. This study investigates Japan and a developed country, Denmark, in terms of conservation. On the basis of mutual understanding gained by investigating the state of mutual conservation in the two countries, we summarize the problems and efforts related to tacit knowledge sharing. We used a qualitative research method called ethnographical inquiry to find tacit knowledge underlying the techniques and influences of culture in Japan and Denmark. This study features empirical findings on the appropriate use of both automation that replaces humans with machines and automation that enhances human abilities.