HITACHI : Welfare Equipment Support Program


	Instructor: Mr. Kuniaki Ozawa, General Manager of the Accessibility Business Development Office, Hitachi, Ltd.

In its first round, the program provided support to the Japan Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, which has been actively endorsing the use of this technology, by concentrating on the communications device for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) sufferers called "Den-no-Shin," which was designed and manufactured by the Hitachi Group.

Den-no-shin is a product that was steadily developed over the course of roughly 10 years, and employs technologies and expertise exclusive to the Hitachi Group. Within the course of its development, a strong bond of trust has been formed between the Hitachi Group and ALS sufferers. As an initiative that reflects the Hitachi Group's objectives of contributing to building a better society and enriching the quality of life, support for the Japan ALS Association was approved after determining that the need for support was great among ALS sufferers and this association, and that the Hitachi Group's involvement could have considerable significance. Hitachi donated 10 of these systems (Hitachi computers with installed system software), and has also provided financial assistance to the Japan ALS Association for the "Den-no-Shin" operating workshop.

In total, around 20 ALS sufferers and their families and friends attended the workshop, which was held on September 10 in a conference room at the well-known Tokyo Big Sight at Ariake,Tokyo. The instructor was Mr. Kuniaki Ozawa, General Manager of the Accessibility Business Development Office, Hitachi, Ltd., with five Hitachi Group employees also in attendance as volunteers to lend support.

Hitachi plans to search out a new technology support candidate among the numerous types of welfare equipment available within the Hitachi Group for use in the coming fiscal year's scheduled program.


Participants attending the workshop

First round of Support for Japan ALS Association (fiscal 2002)