アメリカ農業におけるマイクロ・コンピューターの利用と大学の研究・普及活動 : テキサスA&M大学協同普及事業の検討を中心に

Abstract

In this paper an investigation of the roles and areas of Extension Activities using micro-computers is done, taking TAEX of Texas A & M University as a case. As indicated in the process of this investigation, the Extension Activities, as a public sector, has emphasized the eduction of computer users and people who work with computer, development of softwares that are usable only by the public sector, and evaluation of many relevant softwares, keeping cooperative interrelations with the private sector. In this activities, researchers in the Department of Agricultural Economics and the scientists in technology fields at Texas A & M University have performed important roles in theoretical and technological fields. Currently, an important trend in the development of softwares that help farm management activities Extension Activities is the emphasis on the development of softwares which substitute decision making processes and on the development of expert system softwares which approximate as close as possible the decision making of the high level experts. In order to develop these softwares, it is not only necessary to utilize higher level theory and knowledge in specialized fields, but also to organize interdisciplinary teams of scientists and to ask participation of farmers, banks, accoutants, etc. In this trend, the importance of the role of the University researchers will increase more and more.