(3)Multimediazation of Printing Industry

It was not long ago that the word 'multimedia' was used. When we first heard the word 'multimedia', we thought that this was a kind of dream and might come true long time later. But nowadays, such a dream is coming true.

Relatively earlier, printing industry has applied computers for editing and layo ut including input, processing and output of manuscript. DTP was one of the syst ems equipped with the high computer technology. As such a phenomenon was one of the streams in printing field which was new and totally irrelevant with other fi elds, all the printed materials can be accepted even at high cost. But in 1980s, highly advanced computer technology, economical word processor and DTP system made electronic editing and layout common. Especially, multimedia became a terminology to determine the survival of printing industry. Printing industry is facing a challenge from a new media besides paper rather than from computerization as a result of the supply of computers and DTP system.

A firmly secured position of the printing industry for printing business until now is getting weaker and weaker because of the document digitalization. Printing works are now performed in the printing-irrelevant field.
However, if we successfully move to multimedia industry by making use of the printing industry's technology and knowhow on electronic editing and layout, which were acquired earlier by using the advanced computer, current modest printing industry can be developed to prospective information processing industry. Whether fortunate or unfortunate, it makes us feel that the word `multimedia' or `internet' is something to change printing in the future.

In advanced countries, it is already reality that most of printing orders have b een shifted from the traditional printing windows to multimedia or internet elec tronic printing windows. In order to develop printing industry to future-oriente d information processing industry, vital is the effective application of PDF fil e which is needed to distribute and read, through internet without any loss of i nformation, the printing materials or multimedia documents made by previous DTP technology. The introduction of such a new technology can be realized through education.

It can be said that one of the priorities that printing companies have to do in order to introduce a new technology is eduction. In printing-related newspapers or magazines, we often see the titles "the Education Subject at which Printing Industry is aiming ", "the Project for Multimedia Education ", "Digital Education Practice " and the like. But education has the role of side support and in certain cases education can be regarded even unnecessary. The better the quality of human resources, the less the importance of education. Especially in computer-related field, it is more effective to employ skilled persons from the beginning rather than to employ the persons without any knowkedge on the computer and therefore they have to learn how to use keyboard. It is because qualified persons can acquire new skills through self-education, even without education on new field.

There are substantial number of qualified persons who can acquire new skills thr ough self-education, and the persons in lack of self-education cannot become goo d technicians in any place and in any period. Therefore, employing qualified per sons can be more economical and efficient than enforcing education and investing money into education.

In general, it is understood that education is for employees, but nowadays top m anagement should be the first one to receive education in printing industry beca use company's fate can be decided by top management's capability. Definitely an excellent company has an excellent top management. For printing companies, we can say that the war to survive the wave of informati on and the difficult situation in IMF management period has started. Top management must develop the company with the same ambition and effort as they had at the time of foundation. It is quite natural that they should study and make efforts, but, in fact, there are not many institutions where top management can study. Furthermore, differently from students, top management without good knowledge on computer has no time to study step by step.
Like a maxim that a scholar cannot become a good entrepreneur in spite of effort but a good entrepreneur can become a scholar, the only way to education for top management is self-education. For employees, theoretically education may not be necessary in case they are excellent. But the reality is different. Education is definitely needed.
If education is needed for a company, the company has to find out and decide wha t subject of education is necessary for them. As printing companies have differe nt goals to pursue, the subjects of education required are as much various as th e number of companies.

At this point, I think that it is easier approach to arrange the subjest of education by raising the question like "What is the condition to move to the information processing industry from the previous type of printing industry?" Out of the printing companies which are doing simply computer-related work, let' s take a few examples of questions for the companies who are pursing information processing business in addition to the traditional type of printing business.

1. The trend is changing from the period of ."Printing materials are kept" to that of "Data base ". Do we have the technology to catch up with such trend?
   
2. Do we have the technology not only to print the DTP format documents but also to perform on-line print through CD ROM or internet?
3. Do we know the concept of multimedia and make efforts by taking advantage of multimedia technology?
4. Are we ready to introduce a new technology which is required by the company?
5. It is considered that persons who can not utilize computer or have no interestin it are irrelevant to information processing industry. Do we have an efficient employment program in that view?
6. Do management members hold entrepreneurship of foundation spirit?
7. Top management often has to make crucial decisions. Is it sometimes too early or too late?