iN.Sector

Asia’s first Interactive Digital Centre is launched in Singapore

Asia’s first Interactive Digital Centre (IDC) was launched in Singapore on 1 November. Set up in Temasek Polytechnic’s (TP) Engineering School, the 3D visualisation centre – IDC Asia - is the result of a collaboration between TP, EON Reality and IM Innovations, and is in line with TP’s aim to further develop competencies in 3D computer graphics
and applications.

Mr Chan (left) and Ms Tham Ai Chyn, IDA’s Assistant Chief Executive (Industry and Cluster Development), check out the interactive facilities at the centre.

Guest of honour at the opening, IDA’s then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Chan Yeng Kit, hailed the Interactive Digital Centre as “another excellent example of successful collaboration between industry and academia in Singapore”.

Educational institutions can use the 3D interactive applications to teach complex concepts. IDC Asia can also join other educational as well as research and development organisations to work on pioneering projects in areas such as simulation-based learning and interactive 3D web conferencing. Besides its role in education, the centre’s facilities can also give businesses a boost. IDC Asia’s sophisticated visualisation equipment can help companies showcase products via “smart” digital replicas, revolutionising product launches and sales toolkits.

Being chosen as the location for Asia’s first IDC was a thumbs up for Singapore’s infocomm infrastructure, said Mr Chan. “It is also a strong vote of confidence in Singapore’s digital media sector.”

He noted that digital business revenues have grown from S$1.8 billion in 2005 to S$2.1 billion last year. “The digital media sector has successfully leveraged Singapore’s high-speed connectivity, which allows seamless transfers of digital goods and services from and through Singapore, to the rest of the world,”
he said.

Looking forward, with the rollout of Singapore’s Next-Generation National Broadband Network, businesses will be able to tap on a new gigabit-class network to create even more innovations, and realise greater growth opportunities, than are possible today, he added.

TP took the first step into the digital media arena in September 2005, when it partnered IM Innovations to create the 3D Media Studio. In October 2006, TP, interactive 3D software provider EON Reality, and software tools and services provider IM Innovations decided to establish the new centre with state-of-the-art 3D technologies and laboratories for training and research, as well as industry project development.

“The increasing use of interactive digital media will also open new doors that will enable us to rethink how familiar products and services can be better presented or conveyed, how designs can be conceptualised to bring about further improvement and how digital assets can be reused in different ways,” said TP’s Principal and CEO, Mr Boo Kheng Hua.