Chapter 2-7 Electronic Devices / Sustainable Society Prout Village Third Edition

 

○Personal ID Authentication System


When staying at accommodation facilities or using vehicles in various Municipalities, users must input their personal ID to access services. This ID is managed by the user's home Municipality. Once the ID is entered, the terminal in the destination Municipality checks with the database of the user's home Municipality, and a response is returned indicating whether usage is permitted (OK) or denied (NG). If the person has a history of problematic behavior, access may be denied.

Additionally, in the case of a solo traveler dying in an accident, those present at the scene can report the incident by inputting the personal ID found on the individual’s device or written memo. This system allows the information to be sent directly to the home Municipality of the deceased. The personal information linked to the ID also includes medical history, among other data. The following table outlines the details of this system.


Personal ID Authentication System

Item

Description / Specification

Purpose

To manage individuals' movements and access rights across Municipalities worldwide, while preventing nuisance behavior and ensuring fair resource distribution. Authentication is required when using accommodations or vehicles, and restrictions may apply.

Information Content

Name, date of birth, address, blood relationships, medical records, Duty Share, possession of train/ferry operator licenses, ferry boarding records, presence or absence of Living Restriction Measures, accommodation and vehicle usage restrictions, etc.

ID Issuance

Each individual is issued one personal ID by their home Municipality. The ID is stored on a personal device or in written form. Personal data is protected by encryption.

Authentication Method

- Personal device automatically transmits and authenticates ID via a reader. - If no device is available, manual input is required. If forgotten, access may be denied.

Information Management

- The home Municipality manages behavioral history and restriction information. - A shared information network allows coordination of restrictions between Municipalities. - Nuisance reports can be sent from nearby devices (location and direction-based identification).

Privacy Protection

- Access to personal information is managed by permission level; different terminals show different levels of detail. - Individuals can set access permissions from their personal device.

Response to Nuisance Behavior

- IDs of individuals engaging in nuisance behavior are reported to their home Municipality. - Restrictions on usage and resource access can be imposed at the Municipality level.

Technical Specifications

- Devices are designed without rare metals, using primarily iron, copper, and aluminum. - Communication uses low-power wireless (e.g., LoRa) + mesh networks. - Authentication terminals are built with minimal electronic parts, durable and repairable. - Encryption is designed to be minimal and efficient.

Operational Framework

- Each Municipality installs relay/management PCs. - PCs synchronize data across regions. - Local workshops handle repairs and updates. - Mass production is possible annually with minimal environmental impact.

Scope of Restrictions

- Authentication is required for accommodations and vehicles. - Trains can be freely used (no restrictions). - Problematic individuals are naturally limited in movement through restrictions on lodging and transport.

Convenience

- Personal devices can be used for emergency identification and displaying medical history. - Also serves as infrastructure for emergency communications and confirming safety during disasters.

Sustainability

- Devices are resource-circulating and rare-metal-free. - Modular components allow easy repair and replacement. - Designed for long-term operation (centuries), maintained locally.




Water Quality Management

In Prout Village, the goal is to manage drinking water quality through a hybrid approach that minimizes the use of rare metals, combining community-led efforts with supplemental water treatment facilities when necessary.

Method / Equipment

Description & Features

Role / Effect

Rare Metal Dependency

Feasibility of Community-Based Operation

Appropriate Collection of Mountain Spring Water

Protect upstream environments to secure clean natural water. Managing pollution sources is crucial.

Securing a stable water source. The foundation for better raw water quality.

None

Possible (Managed by residents)

Gravel & Sand Filter

Removes coarse debris and suspended solids. Simple and easy to maintain.

First-stage physical filtration for water quality improvement.

None

Possible (Easy to make and repair)

Biosand Filter

Uses a biological layer to naturally break down bacteria and some pathogens. Proper maintenance ensures high purification capacity.

Reduces bacteria and pathogens. Enhances safety.

None

Possible (Can be made and maintained with local materials)

Boiling / Solar Disinfection (SODIS Method)

Sterilizes pathogens by boiling or solar exposure. Requires energy/time but is effective.

Reliable sterilization of pathogens.

None

Possible (Done by individuals or households)

Small-Scale Chlorination Unit

At the Municipality level, a simple chlorine injection device is used when needed. With proper management, secondary contamination from residual chlorine can be prevented.

Chemical disinfection supplement. Enhances water safety.

Slight usage

Requires moderately specialized parts, but manageable

Underground Infiltration Filtration Pond

Water is filtered through soil and sand layers for additional physical and biological purification. Sustainable and relatively easy to maintain.

Secondary water purification. Complements microbial removal.

None

Possible (Requires basic civil engineering skills)

Education & Community Participation Programs

Educates residents on water quality management and equipment maintenance. Promotes proper water handling and hygiene habits.

Ensures sustainable operation and safety.

None

Possible (Depends on community cooperation)


Supplementary Notes

⚫︎Advanced water treatment plants and piping infrastructure are minimized to reduce rare metal dependency.

⚫︎Sustainability is enhanced by relying on simple technologies and community-based maintenance at the Municipality level.

⚫︎When needed, specialized equipment or periodic inspections by expert technicians shared among Municipalities may be employed.


○Printing


In Prout Village, due to the depletion issues surrounding rare metals, electronic devices such as PCs are not used for document creation—even for education or other purposes. Instead, typewriters are employed. For duplicating printed documents, mimeograph roller printing and letterpress printing are used.

Mimeograph roller printing involves spraying ink over a stencil—for example, one cut out with the word "STOP"—much like printing letters onto a wall using a stencil.
Letterpress printing uses stamps with individual carved letters, which are arranged, inked, and pressed onto paper. All inks used are made from natural materials.


List of Natural Inks

Type of Ink

Main Ingredients

Characteristics / Applications

Sumi Ink

Pine soot (wood smoke) + plant oil + animal glue

Black. A traditional ink in Japan and East Asia. Safe, long-lasting. Suitable for calligraphy/printing.

Charcoal Ink

Charcoal powder + plant oil or water + starch paste

Black. Easy to make and renewable. Ideal for mimeograph printing.

Iron Gall Ink

Galls (natural resin) + iron salts + gum arabic

Black. Durable and suited for document printing. Small-scale production possible in Prout.

Earth/Mineral Pigment Ink

Red ochre, yellow ochre, ultramarine (azurite), etc.

Makes use of natural pigments. Suitable for letterpress and stamp printing.

Plant-Based Dye Ink

Indigo, safflower, logwood, etc.

Natural tones (blue, red, etc.). Color may fade—best for decoration and posters.



Medical Care


MRI machines, CT scanners, ECG monitors, blood analyzers, and endoscopy systems all rely on rare metals. Continuing a global healthcare system dependent on such materials may lead to future usage restrictions. Therefore, Prout Village adopts the following medical policy.

Medical Policy

Policy

Specific Content

Purpose / Significance

① Traditional and Preventive Medicine as the Foundation

- Introduce natural therapies, dietary treatments, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and meditation into daily life- Inherit and apply local traditional knowledge

- Prevent illness before it occurs- Reduce dependence on rare-metal-based equipment

② Minimize Use of Advanced Medical Equipment

- MRI and CT machines are shared- Limited to one unit per Municipality- Prioritize diagnostic/testing equipment with low rare-metal usage

- Conserve resource consumption- Maintain sustainability with the minimum necessary infrastructure

③ Promote Development of Rare-Metal-Free Equipment

- Collaborate with universities and engineers to research alternatives using ferrite magnets, organic semiconductors, and new materials

- Overcome future resource limitations- Build a sustainable medical system


Multiple PCs are installed in research labs specifically for the development of rare-metal-free medical equipment. Reasons are as follows:

Aspect

Explanation

1. Long-Term Investment Value

Developing medical equipment that conserves rare metals can significantly reduce the resource burden of healthcare over the coming decades.

2. Cost Effectiveness

A few research-use PCs consume far fewer resources than even one MRI machine, making them a resource-efficient form of intellectual investment.

3. Ripple Effect of Technology

Mid-tech medical equipment developed here can be implemented in other Municipalities and nations, creating widespread social benefit.

4. Applicability Across Fields

Research using PCs can also contribute to water management, agriculture, and education—making PC lab facilities highly versatile.


The training of doctors in Prout Village is based on a mentor-disciple relationship, where a medically and personally trustworthy physician is appointed as the medical Leader, who then trains new doctors. With the Leader’s recommendation, new doctors become independent, and if they continue to receive positive evaluations from residents and show no personal issues, they are requested by the Municipality to become Leaders who train junior doctors. This system aims to establish a sustainable and highly reliable medical system.


○Factory Equipment List


Here is a summary of the factory equipment needed in Prout Village. All equipment is manufactured using rare-metal-free Mid-tech, which keeps the technological barrier quite low. This makes sharing and deployment easy across diverse regions worldwide and lowers the hurdles for human resource development.

The following table lists factory equipment for manufacturing, repairing, and recycling home appliances and heavy machinery.


●Home Appliance Factory Equipment

Phase

Facility / Equipment Name

Role / Features (Concise Summary)

1. Raw Material Extraction

Iron ore & copper ore mines

Small-scale, decentralized mining of iron and copper ore with local production for local consumption (local resource use).


Lumber harvesting & processing site

Processing building materials and casings using thinning wood and recycled wood.


Natural rubber & plant fiber collection center

Collection of bio-based rubber and fibers for vibration damping and insulation materials.


Corrosion-resistant natural salt harvesting site

Collection of corrosion inhibitors to improve metal and wood seawater resistance.


Biomass crop farm

Cultivation of high-fiber plants to supply raw materials for biocomposites.


Urban mine recovery center

Recycling copper, iron, and other metals from discarded smartphones and home appliances.

2. Raw Material Refining & Preprocessing

Iron & copper smelting plant

High-efficiency smelting of metal ingots from ore and scrap materials.


Wood processing factory

Cutting, drying, and molding wood for heavy machinery and home appliances.


Natural material processing facilities

Preprocessing rubber and bamboo fibers to manufacture insulating and vibration-damping materials.


Bioplastic raw material fermentation facility

Producing environmentally friendly resin from starch and sugars.


Silicon refining plant

Manufacturing high-purity silicon and glass substrates from sand.


Glass & ceramic factory

Produces window glass, tempered glass, glass substrates, ceramic filtration membranes; also heat-resistant and insulating parts for water management devices, terminals, and home appliances.

3. Parts Processing

Forging & press factory

1500-ton press molding frames for heavy machinery and home appliances.


Mechanical processing factory

Processing shafts and precision metal parts with easy maintenance design.


Woodworking machine factory

Processing casings for home appliances and terminals using local wood.


Injection molding & extrusion line

Molding terminal cases and others with bioplastics.


PCB & wiring harness processing center

Processing copper boards and wiring with lead-free solder; standardization of parts.


Ceramic membrane & filtration tank molding site

Molding replaceable modules for water purification devices.

4. Electronic & Control Parts Manufacturing

Low-power analog IC factory

Manufacturing rare-metal-minimized ICs for ATO (automatic train operation), instruments, and appliance control.


Mechanical control parts factory

Manufacturing durable and repair-friendly switches and levers.


HF transceiver & LoRa mesh factory

Manufacturing low-frequency radios and communication modules with safe operation.


Nickel-iron & Na-ion battery assembly factory

Producing long-life alternative batteries for heavy machinery and terminals.


Incandescent bulb / LCD display module assembly factory

Producing indium-free LCD displays and incandescent bulbs for terminals and appliances.

5. Assembly & Inspection

Assembly line (terminals, appliances, heavy machinery)

Assembling modular parts; on-site construction also possible.


Functional inspection equipment

Multi-functional testing for power, communication, and control.

6. Trial Operation & Adjustment

Trial operation field

Verifying operation of heavy machinery and terminals; adjusting to local conditions.


Radio communication test site

Checking interference, range, and reliability of HF mesh communication.

7. Maintenance & Repair

Repair workshop (terminals, communication devices)

Board replacement, firmware updates, and technician training.


Heavy machinery & appliance repair factory

Repair using standardized parts; also supports painting and refurbishment.

8. Recycling & Waste Disposal

E-waste dismantling line

Crushing terminal boards and efficiently separating and recovering copper and glass.


Appliance material sorting factory

Recovering over 90% of steel, wood, and bioplastics.


Compost maturation facility

Organic processing of bio-toilet and food residues; returning nutrients to farmland.


Recycled material stockyard

Storage and supply of recycled metals, resins, and wood for optimized inventory management.


Factories for trains and ferries basically use similar equipment to home appliance factories. However, their scale, number, and locations differ.


●Comparison of three types of factory equipment

Item

Mid-tech Factory(terminals, home appliances, heavy machinery, etc.)

Train Factory

Electric Ferry Factory

Location guideline

One factory per municipality (about 55,000 people)

One factory per five municipalities (each about 55,000 people)

One factory per port

Approximate factory size

About 10,000 m² (approximately 100m × 100m)

About 50,000 m² (approximately 224m × 224m)

About 18,500 m² (135m × 135m)

Scale / Weight

Small to medium machinery and electronic parts mainly

Large structural material processing, many long parts

Ship hull structural materials plus seawater-resistant processing required

Main materials

Mainly copper, silicon, etc.

Large steel materials, alloys, wood

Hull steel materials + anti-corrosion treatment, wood

Processing technology

Precision electronics, pressing, injection molding

Large welding, machining, forging

Ship hull welding, waterproof inspection, buoyancy testing

Testing equipment

Electronic and mechanical durability testing (medium-scale indoor)

Track trial run area (several hundred meters scale)

Waterway trial run and buoyancy test tank (tens to 100 meters scale)

Control / Communication

Terminal and home appliance communication devices

ATO control, vehicle communication

Ship communication and safety control devices

Maintenance / Repair

Mainly small part replacements (workshop scale)

Large repairs of bogies and bodies (medium to large docks)

Hull bottom and propulsion repairs mainly (large docks / shipyard level)


Clothing factories will also be built within municipalities.

●Clothing Factory

Process Phase

Equipment Name

Main Role / Features

Remarks

① Raw Material Procurement & Initial Processing

Cotton gin / Hemp fiber extraction device

Remove seeds from cotton / Extract fibers from hemp and bamboo

Electric or foot-operated. Rotating parts can be made from iron, copper, wood, etc.


Degumming / Softening tank (hemp, bamboo)

Soften fibers and prepare them for spinning

Heating can utilize biomass, electricity, or solar heat


Washing & drying unit

Remove foreign matter and sanitize, blow-dry

Solar drying or natural ventilation can also be used

② Fiber Processing (to yarn)

Electric carding machine (cotton beater)

Align fibers, pre-treat yarn

Manual operation can be used in combination


Small electric spinning machine

Produce uniform yarn at high speed (ring or rotor type)

Can be designed for low power consumption without torque requirement

③ Dyeing

Dyeing vat for natural dyes

Dye yarn or cloth using indigo, iron, plant-based dyes

Electric heating and fermentation dyeing also possible

④ Weaving (cloth production)

Small electric shuttle loom

Weave cloth from yarn (up to about 1m width)

Foot pedal can be used to save power


Winding & tension control mechanism

Wind cloth evenly with consistent tension

Can be made from wood, iron, and springs

⑤ Finishing process

Electric roller finishing machine

Remove wrinkles, perform shrink-proofing and softening

Functions like an iron / Low temperature heating possible


Cutting machine / edge processing machine

Cut cloth to required size and finish edges (burn, roll, etc.)

Manual versions also available

⑥ Sewing & Stitching

Electric straight stitch and zigzag sewing machines

Sew clothes, bags, and fabric products

Operates on 100V power; motors can be iron or copper


Manual button attaching / decoration equipment

Attach buttons and parts, simple embroidery

Can be combined with hand sewing

⑦ Repair & Recycling

Re-dyeing vat and cutting machine for repair

Re-dye faded cloth, reuse old fabric for patchwork

Part of circular workshop


Small re-spinning machine (old cloth → yarn)

Break down old cloth and reprocess into yarn

Yarn recycling improves sustainability



The following table shows examples of plants cultivated for clothing use.


●List of Plants for Clothing

Plant Name

Usage

Characteristics

Remarks

Cotton

Yarn, fabric

Soft texture, warmth and moisture absorption

Requires large amounts of water; cultivation mainly in rainy season or drought-resistant varieties preferred

Hemp (Cannabis, Ramie, Flax)

Yarn, fabric

Durable, breathable, quick-drying

Degumming process required; grows in humid climates

Bamboo

Fiber (bamboo fiber cloth)

Antibacterial, very fast growth

Hard, requires processing to make fibers

Japanese ramie (Karamushi)

Yarn, fabric

Traditional Japanese fiber plant; lightweight, breathable

Grows in mountainous or semi-wild areas; a type of ramie

Ramie

Yarn, fabric

High-strength fiber with crisp texture

Environmental impact reduced if used unbleached

Industrial hemp

Yarn, fabric, rope

Durable, insect-resistant, also improves soil

Subject to legal regulations (research cultivation and permits required in Japan)

Sisal hemp

Rope, bag fabric

High strength, coarse fiber; moisture resistant

Difficult in cold climates but promising in warm areas

Pineapple leaf fiber (Piña)

Fabric (Piñatex)

Lightweight, glossy; also used as leather alternative

Effective use of leaves after fruit harvest (byproduct)

Nettle (Urtica species)

Yarn

Traditional European fiber; grows with low maintenance

Low environmental impact but processing is somewhat difficult

Cotton vine (Cottonbine)

Yarn

Tropical origin; can substitute for cotton

Experimental cultivation in some areas


For heating and cooling in residences, ammonia is used, which is recovered from human urine. Urine is collected in tanks and heated to evaporate ammonia gas. The evaporated ammonia gas is cooled and absorbed into water to become ammonia water, which is used as a refrigerant or fertilizer. Therefore, the toilet facilities in the municipality center directly collect urine into the tanks. Residents take ammonia water home as needed.

●Ammonia Production Facilities

Block

Content

Approximate Area

Urine Collection Tank

Temporary storage + stirring

About 5–10 m³ × 2 tanks (alternate operation)

Heating Tank + pH Adjustment

Add ash and lime to urine, heat (50–70℃)

About 10 m²

Stripping Tower

Ammonia vaporization and separation (vertical tower, several meters high)

Absorption Tank

Dissolve ammonia gas in water (ammonia water production)

Sealed tank type (500L–1,000L)

Refill & Distribution Station

Users bring containers for filling; simple roofed handover station

Rainwater & Wash Water Treatment

Drainage management, reuse or fertilizer conversion; simple water treatment or direct field delivery

Others

Solar heat collectors / wood-fired boilers / insulation

Installed around facility

Notes

- Installed outdoors with natural ventilation to prevent ammonia gas concentration reaching dangerous levels.- Consider resistance to rain, wind, and temperature fluctuations.- Safety measures around the site (fence installation, restricted area signs).- Odor control for nearby residents.


●Ammonia Processing and Recovery Amounts

Item

Value / Content

Remarks

Estimated number of users

About 13,750 people/day

25% of Municipality center toilet users

Number of toilets around urine tank

40 (20 male, 20 female)

Urine volume per urination

About 0.3 L

Assumed 2 toilet visits per day

Daily urine volume per person

About 0.6 L (0.3 L × 2 visits)

Total urine volume

About 8,250 L/day (about 8.3 m³)

13,750 people × 0.6 L

Ammonia concentration in urine

About 5 g/L

Total ammonia content

About 41.3 kg/day

8,250 L × 5 g

Ammonia recovery efficiency

About 70%

Estimated recovery ratio

Recovered ammonia amount

About 29 kg/day

41.3 kg × 0.7

Ammonia water equivalent (25% concentration)

About 116 L/day

29 kg ÷ 0.25

Manufactured ammonia water volume

About 120 L/day

Rounded

Amount taken home per trip

3 L/trip

Assumed portable container size

Number of people taking ammonia water home per day

About 40 people/day

120 L ÷ 3 L

Supplement


If equipment capacity is insufficient, additional units can be installed.


●Ammonia Water Distribution and Operation (Assumptions)

Item

Content

Distribution Volume

Users take home 1–5 L per time depending on application (agriculture, refrigerant, etc.)

Estimated Number of Users

Operable with 20–50 users per day (annual supply for about 20,000 people)

Containers

User-provided or reusable containers (municipality can collect and clean)

Explanation

Simple safety education before use (posters + about 10-minute video)

Distribution Time

About twice during daytime (morning and evening), handled by staff or volunteer shifts



Rubber used for car tires is extracted from the Pará rubber tree in the Southern Hemisphere, and from Russian dandelion in the Northern Hemisphere. Russian dandelion is still under research and development, so Japan relies almost 100% on imported rubber from Pará rubber trees, which only grow in tropical regions. However, these tires do not biodegrade and have become a waste problem.


Russian dandelion has been reported to be cultivated in Hokkaido and Tohoku, and can be grown over a wider range than Pará rubber tree. It can be harvested within a year, while Pará rubber trees start tapping only from the 7th year. Prout Village plans to produce additive-free, non-vulcanized natural rubber tires derived from Russian dandelion that biodegrade naturally within several months to years, assuming an annual replacement cycle.


●Russian Dandelion-Derived Rubber Production Facilities List (Small to Medium Scale Assumed)

Block

Equipment Description

Scale / Capacity Estimate

Main Role / Remarks

Raw Material Processing

Russian dandelion harvesting, washing, drying equipment

Variable according to harvest volume

Pretreatment to facilitate extraction of latex, the raw rubber

Latex Extraction

Press or steam extraction device

Several hundred kg/day to several tons/day

Extract latex emulsion containing rubber components

Natural Rubber Purification

Centrifuge and settling tanks

Several hundred liters/day

Separate rubber from emulsion and remove impurities

Rubber Preparation

Kneading machine (no additives)

Several hundred kg/batch

Knead with natural fibers (hemp, flax, etc.) as reinforcing agents

Molding

Tire molding machine (press molding)

Tens to hundreds of tires per batch

Form tires; only heat molding, no vulcanization

Drying & Hardening

Low-temperature drying oven (about 50–70℃)

Several hundred tires/day

Promote natural hardening without vulcanization; low heat load, energy-saving

Inspection & Finishing

Visual and physical inspection equipment

Several hundred tires/day

Size, strength, and appearance inspection

Packaging & Shipping

Simple packaging equipment

Match daily production volume

Environmentally conscious packaging (paper, biodegradable materials)


Operating all these factory groups (home appliances, trains, clothing, ammonia, rubber) at full capacity requires at least 329 full-time staff. As workers become accustomed and some can cover multiple phases, further efficiency improvements are possible.


Overview of Personnel Composition

Factory Category

Number of Personnel (people)

Home Appliance Factory (8 phases) including raw material procurement

200

Train & Ferry Factory

70

Clothing Factory (7 phases)

43

Ammonia Facilities

6

Natural Rubber (Russian Dandelion) Factory

10

Total

329


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