I was actually with that DECODE pilot project.

Then another person came. She’s the CEO of Ideas For Change, Mara Balestrini. She’s well-known in Barcelona, and she’s been doing some project like DECODE.

I was not there yet, but the team was providing sensors. The funny thing is a couple of people, they also design all these sensors with the idea of, “We like to help the citizens,” blah, blah, but they didn’t know how. At the end, they’re technologists. They really never ...

Exactly.

We are providing open-source sensors to the neighbors who have been suffering from the noise in this plaza square for such a long time. The city government was like, “Ah, it’s just your perception. It’s just a noise that you hear, but it’s nothing.”

Exactly. We talk a lot about how to democratize the technology and how to use those things. For instance, one of the activities – I was also part of it – is called the Making Sense Project. Have you heard about it?

…the programmers, but I try to understand. I’ve been following and researching about Fab City Movement and Fab Lab. Fab Lab is not only about gentrification, but it’s about distributing technology to the people.

That’s why I join IAAC Institute. I learned emergent technologies like digital publication, AI, coding. Still, I’m practicing it, and I’m nowhere close to…

I was in a traditional university where I was doing just research. Research is still one of my favorite activities, but I felt like, “I’m young. Maybe I should change something.” I thought, “OK, maybe I need to learn different discipline to make something happen,” which was design for me.

A lot of social movement happened as well, so I was basically following all these movement. I was thinking how to put this energy of those people who’s been protesting for ages to make change. That’s when I decided to go to design field.

Exactly. My background is human geography. Then I moved to more of urban design, but I was also doing a researcher for a long time in the University of Barcelona, specifically housing issues like gentrification. Barcelona has massive issues with because it’s such a touristy city.

Exactly. Anyway, both things are defined by both. The human is decided by the geography of the place where they live. Geography is kind of also defined by people to use the geography as well.

Definitely.

It is.

Cultural anthropology you said?

Sorry?

I’d like to explain a little bit about what I’ve done maybe to give more context. Basically, I’m originally from Japan, but my background in human geography.

I will check it out later.

When was founded, sorry?

If you could spell it.

The micro-institution are not necessarily the public institutions, but also can emerge from online communities or…

Yeah, probably. I’m specifically interested in what kind of thing’s happening with the social sectors or micro-institutions in Taiwan, in general.

A topic that we’ve been talking a lot recently is what we call micro-institutions. We think to promote a community-based, like community treatment in economy, and circular economy even, we need a small micro-institution in each area.

How many people are you?

OK. [laughs] I get it. It’s cool.

You do like…

I understand your general work as digital minister, but recently, for instance last year, especially do you focus on some specific areas?

Very cool.

[laughs]

Tech part, yeah, I am. I also, when I consider for the magazine, probably I like to know about the physical space innovation as well, which I guess is happening in Tainan.

Sure. I personally interested in digital innovation.

[laughs] He didn’t explain to me what things.

He told me that there are many interesting things happening.

I don’t know why. Recently I talked to the editor-in-chief of a publication in Japan, and he didn’t explain way, but he mention Tainan is quite interesting place.

Taiwan is pretty big again. I think now everything is happening here in Taipei, but other parts of Taiwan as well.

OK. [laughs]

If I understood well, you provide tools and opportunities for those…

I’m processing the information. [laughs]

Yeah, and other platforms where been actively engaging with social innovation here in Taiwan. I’m especially interested at those online communities which have engaged in off-line as well, in physical, in real life. Do you know any interesting entities in Taiwan?

I’ve also heard something from ShuYan and from other re:public colleagues, and I’m very interested in online community scene in Taiwan, especially g0v.

Wow, that’s interesting. How long have you been in charge?

Here they have this innovation scene of Taiwan, I understand.

Open…What’s that again?

That space?

I think first if you don’t mind, could you explain me briefly about the PDIS and general structures?

Probably not this time. Actually, this is like a second topic I like to speak, but we’re also thinking of doing a second edition here in Taiwan. Maybe I will explain to you later about this second edition things.

Yeah. It’s all the same. There we talk about this Fab city movement by Tomas Diez and also Green FabLab, where they try to experiment with the technology in the environment, nature. Also, we have interviewed to several people in Amsterdam as well, like Mattijs in Hackable City.

The main title is Able City, so cities where it enables many things to happen. That’s why we have collected many cases from basically around the world. The main content is mainly about Barcelona, also because I was there. The small book is in English, but the main one is…

Today, I first, wanted to bring you our magazine. It’s for the moment. We just published it probably two…no, three months ago. By the way, do you mind recording?

Exactly. Actually, by accident, I brought this one today. It’s from IAM, and the founder is one of our friends as well.