INFORMATION SPOTTING
  1. British or American ?
    The Guardian, a British newspaper
    materialise (UK) / materialize (US)
    favourite (UK) / favorite (US)
    privatised (UK) / privatized (US)

  2. What? (the topic)
    a one-day-a-week ban on the use of computers, a computer-free day

  3. Where?
    in Hitara City, in Japan (a small sea-side town 100 km North of Hiroshima)

  4. When?
    in July 2000

  5. Who?
    Mitsuyatsu Ota, the mayor of Hitara

  6. Why? (the causes)
    Some employees wrongly think that they are working just because they are sitting in front of their computers.
    Technology may do more harm than good.
    Some employees lose human contact.

  7. What for? (the aim)
    Employees must become aware of the computer's limits and dangers.

  8. Positive impact?
    Becoming aware of the technology's flaws.

  9. Negative impact?
    Less work done, inefficiency, waste of paper, self-inflicted torture

  10. Conclusion :
    Technology is a mixed blessing