Japan’s government has finally eliminated the use of floppy disks.
The country has removed the technology from all its systems, two decades since their heyday, reaching a long-awaited milestone in a campaign to modernize the bureaucracy.
By the middle of last month, the Digital Agency had scrapped all 1,034 regulations governing their use, except for one environmental stricture related to vehicle recycling.
Japan’s digitization effort has run into numerous snags, however, despite its hi-tech image. A contact-tracing app flopped during the pandemic, and adoption of the government’s My Number digital identification card has been slower than expected.
In 2020 Japan’s health ministry finally allowed health centers to report coronavirus cases online, instead of by handwritten faxes, after a doctor criticized the outdated requirement.
In a significant move, Japan has eradicated the use of floppy disks, marking a pivotal moment in its quest for modernization. The Digital Agency successfully removed over a thousand regulations related to floppy disk use, with the exception of one concerning vehicle recycling. Despite Japan’s reputation for technological advancement, challenges such as failed digital initiatives during the pandemic have surfaced.
The elimination of floppy disks signifies Japan’s commitment to embracing digital transformation and leaving analog technologies behind. As the country continues its journey towards a more tech-savvy future, overcoming obstacles like slow adoption of digital identification cards and reliance on fax machines remains crucial for progress. The shift away from outdated practices highlights the importance of leveraging modern technology in combating challenges effectively.\