innovationation - Celebrating the Possibilities and Excitement that Infocomm Can Bring to our Lives

Come Play, Touch and Learn! Visitors to Innovationation - Singapore's largest display of Infocomm - were greeted with an interactive experience that showcased the pioneering efforts that made Singapore a leading user of Infocomm Technology over the past 25 years.

The free public exhibition held at the Singapore Expo between 11 to 15 October occupied a show space of 10,000sq m (about 160 three-room HDB flats or 2.47 acres). It showcased the pioneers of the Infocomm industry and how technology has progressed since Singapore's first national IT plan, the Civil Service Computerisation Programme in 1981.

The hands-on interactive experience began the moment a visitor received his complimentary personalised Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) badge at the entrance. Using this badge, visitors - students, working professionals and industry folks - explored innovationation's many interactive zones. For instance, they faced some thought-provoking questions like "When everyone was talking about the Y2K bug, did you feel?" which they answered with a swipe of their RFID badge. Their answers were then tabulated at the end of the exhibition, along with other visitors' response, on a large wall. That showed how they scored compared with the rest of Singapore.

Visitors journeyed back in time as well at innovationation, as they came face to face with devices from yesterday such as computers that were the size of refrigerators, disk players the size of washing machines and mobile phones that were lugged around in suitcases. With just a skip between zones,visitors could zip from the past, into "future". In the iN2015 zone, they explored a virtual landscape with a 'Minority Report' sensor screen. Each time their hand moved over a part of that screen, it activated hotspots that revealed technologies of the future. Like magic, they got to experience life in Singapore in 2015 with a wave of their hands.

Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said, "We have come a long way in our Infocomm journey. Many technology pioneers have worked tirelessly in the last 25 years to make Infocomm technology work for everyone in Singapore, whether at work, learn or play."

Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said, "The aim was to educate Singaporeans on the possibilities and excitement that Infocomm can bring to their lives. We wanted an experiential exhibition, where technology is used to present Infocomm's past, present and future in a fun and interactive manner, unlike any other trade and consumer Infocomm exhibitions. This includes telling the stories of our technology pioneers whom have worked tirelessly in the last 25 years to make Infocomm work for everyone, in an engaging way. In conceptualising the exhibition, we also took into account that the public can continue to enjoy Innovationation at the Singapore Science Centre after the initial launch at Singapore Expo."

In addition to the public exhibition, seminars and talks which featured distinguished Infocomm speakers like Ms Mary Ann Davidson, Chief Security Officer at Oracle Corp and Dr Bernard Meyerson, Chief Technologist at IBM Technology Group were also organised for Infocomm professionals.

For the public, there were a host of fringe activities too:- including of workshops on podcasting, video productions, and even talks on how one can set up an online business.

Four books were also written to document Singapore's 25-Year Infocomm journey. Collectively entitled "Innovationation: 25 Years of Infocomm in Singapore", the books trace the journey from when computerisation started in 1981, to how convergence led to Infocomm as you know it today. Lively illustrations, anecdotes and interviews with Infocomm pioneers fill this definitive encyclopaedia of Singapore's Infocomm legacy. The books, which are not for sale are available at all public libraries.

PM Lee reveals details of Wireless@SG, Singapore's free wireless connectivity during the innovationation gala dinner

A High Five To Two Years of Free WI-FI
Details of Singapore's free wireless connectivity were revealed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Innovationation, a public exhibition that celebrates 25 years of Infocomm development in Singapore. Part of the Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure (Next Gen NII), the wireless service, callled Wireless@SG, will be launched in 2007.

From January 2007, free wireless broadband connectivity will be available island wide in areas of high human traffic such as the Central Business District, Orchard Road and HDB Town Centres (town centres of public housing estates).

Singaporean can look forward to the launch of Wireless@SG in January 2007

Wireless@SG, a broadband programme developed and run by three local wireless operators (iCELL Network Pte Ltd, QMAX Communications and SingTel Ltd) will provide connectivity at speeds of 512 kilobits per second (kbps). With this, Singaporeans will get to enjoy Internet-based services like email, instant messages, online games and VoIP (Voice Over IP) beyond their homes or offices.

Although each operator will be covering a specific area of the island, subscribers can access the Wireless@SG network from any of the designated hotspots regardless of who they sign up with. They will also be able to switch seamlessly between networks as they move around.

Those looking for connectivity beyond the standard 512 kpbs can can also tap on the premium services provided by the three operators at a fee. These paid services will offer access to other premium contents such as video streaming, online gaming, location-based services etc.

The government hopes to reach out to more Singaporeans and equip everyone to take full advantage of the digital opportunities that are opening up

Wireless@SG will stay for at least two years, after which access is still expected to remain "highly affordable", PM Lee disclosed during the innovationation gala dinner.

iCELL, QMAX and SingTel will jointly invest about S$100 million to deploy Wireless@SG over the next two years, of which up to S$30 million will be defrayed by the Government. The government hopes this will grow the broadband market from the current 50,000 users to about 250,000 users in two years as well as prompt businesses to roll out more services that can be delivered over such broadband networks.

Infocomm as a Powerful Enabler For Everyone
Mr Lee also painted a vision in which IT businesses can grow and jobs are created as Singaporeans get wired island-wide while ensuring that no one misses out on these opportunities. To this end, the government is reaching out to needy Singaporeans who may otherwise be left behind in the digital revolution. According to the Prime Minister, money is going to be set aside to help three groups of potential users -- needy students, the disabled and the elderly.

Older Singaporeans and the disabled community will not be left behind in the digital revolution

The "NEU PC" scheme that offers needy families PCs (Personal Computers) at affordable rates will be expanded and the "NEU PC Plus" scheme will include a new PC with 3 years of unlimited broadband access for less than S$300 to students from low income families.

Older Singaporeans and the disabled community will also not be left out as the IDA will work closely with grassroots organizations, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and industry partners to provide Infocomm training and employment opportunities.

By working with different government agencies and the industry, PM Lee said that the government hopes to reach out to more Singaporeans and equip everyone to take full advantage of the digital opportunities that are opening up.

Four companies walked away as big winners in the biannual National Infocomm Awards (NIA) at a gala dinner hosted by the Prime Minister of Singapore Mr Lee Hsien Loong held in Singapore in recently.

Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said that the winners were chosen based on the level of innovation shown in the development of the Infocomm products and services and that awards like the NIA help showcase the potential and talent that Singapore has to offer to the world.

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) who won the Most Innovative Use of Infocomm Technology (Public Sector) for its 'Enhanced Immigration Automated Clearance System' (eICACS) says that it grew out of their original Immigration Automated Clearance System in an attempt to speed up the original process and free up manpower. For example, officers, who used to man the immigration counters are now free to conduct other checks on immigration arrivals. According to the ICA, eICACS will be deployed at all immigration and checkpoints in Singapore by the end of the year.

The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) was the winner of the Most Innovative Use of Infocomm Technology (Private) category is looking forward to seeing its Collaborative Port Community Solution provide more efficient tracking of goods and work flow management with ultimate cost savings of more than $100m for the shipping industry over three years.

Mr Eddie Teh, Group CEO, PSA International, said, "The Collaborative Port Community Solution developed by PSA is helping to transform the Port of Singapore into an iHub. By providing a collaborative suite of solutions, we hope to enable the entire port, shipping and logistics community to optimise their resources by providing them with interactive access to real-time information."

Notable about this year's awards was the fact that winners of the Most Innovative Product/Service category were not from large companies with hefty IT resources and budgets but rather from smaller companies that came up with innovative and winning technology in-house. This year also saw some impressive nominations, especially from the Digital Media and Entertainment space where companies such as Actiavte Interactive and XiD Technologies showed innovation at its finest. The award marks the culmination of an exciting period for Activate Interactive Pte Ltd and XID Technologies Pte Ltd.

Activate Interactive's Activate XGame cross-platform allows gamers to interact and play together over different platforms like mobile phones and a PC

Homegrown company Activate Interactive's Activate XGame cross-platform is the world's first multiplayer game system which allows gamers to interact and play together over different platforms like mobile phones and a PC. It currently supports five games with three new ones to be launched next year and CEO Mr Leslie Wou says that the company has plans to launch the games in eight countries in Asia. Mr Wou also said that for a company like Activate, the win is symbolic and encouraging,

"Activate is thrilled to win the award and are grateful forthe encouragement given us by the government and industry veterans. This award will help us in gaining recognition among global industry players, and will assist us in gaining market share exponentially. We are confident that our innovations will help to plant a flag for the Singapore gaming industry in the international market."

XID's VideoPersonalizer allows users to animate an uploaded image of themselves or insert their picture into a movie trailer

XID's VideoPersonalizer is seeing interest from a number of companies interested in providing Internet users access to technology that allows users to animate an uploaded image of themselves or insert their picture into a movie trailer. CEO and founder Dr Roberto Mariani says the one of the most important things for NIA aspirants is to fully understand the market that their products or services address. Without this knowledge, they will have no starting point and will be unable to address their market well. "Clearly presenting your products/services in a manner that demonstrates their innovative nature, their uniqueness and the impact and benefits they bring to the market is key. Highlighting a business model that enables scalability and ease of adoption of your offerings is also very important. Additionally, presenting with passion, enthusiasm and confidence always reflects well on you and your company," Dr Mariani added.

The National Infocomm Awards (NIA) is a biennial event which started in 2002

The NIA is into its third year and is the Infocomm industry's highest accolade for Infocomm innovation in Singapore. It is jointly organised by the IDA and the Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF). Winners from previous years have seen interest in their innovative technology increasing after their wins.

For example Security solutions specialist e-COP was contacted by Sri Lankan company Keells Business Systems Limited after the 2004 Awards was aired on television. "The very next day they got in touch with us and we formed a successful partnership that has lasted to this day," says Mr Eddie Chau, President and Group CEO.

As for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions provider Savi Technology, their winning 2004 NIA nomination, the Transport Security System (TSS), has allowed the company to forge a $US 50 million dollar partnership with Hutchison Port Holdings called Savi Networks - a RFID enabled supply chain asset tracking network.

According to Mr Michael Dell, Chairman of the Board at Dell Inc, the Singapore Government is doing the right thing in preparing the country and citizens for widespread Infocomm adoption.

According to Mr Dell, there are three things that are needed to spur growth in Infocomm adoption in a country. "And the Singapore Government and IDA are laying the right groundwork for all of this to be in place," he said.

Mr Michael Dell in Singapore as IDA's Distinguished Speaker

Second, there needs to be proper investment into building an IT infrastructure. Governments also need to ensure that the relevant infrastructure for current and future technologies is in place, for instance HSDPA(High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) and Wi-Max. He also praised the initiatives to open up the telecommunications market: "The more broadband connectivity a nation has, the better it is ready to take advantage of the Internet."

Third, governments must set ambitious goals. Whether for Infocomm infrastructure or preparing the people, governments have to be bold and ready to harness changes. The goal of granting digital access to all people within Singapore was one such example of an ambitious goal.

Through its Infocomm masterplan for Singapore, the government ensures that a roadmap is in place to lead the county into the future. Digital access is growing, and being ready to take advantage of it is important for a country's success, Mr Dell said.

All this development and growth means new opportunities for companies and new jobs for people, which would translate into higher living standards that will put Singapore on the road to making its mark in the global arena. The potential is only beginning to be felt. But, he said, with the level of support and initiative shown by the Singapore Government, "there is no better time to choose Infocomm as a career."

The Third International Conference on Educational Technology held in Singapore in September 2006 heard how the Singapore government plans to leverage on Infocomm technology to drive enthusiasm in learning among students and to bring about engaged learning.

This plan was revealed by guest of honour LG (NS) Lim Chuan Poh, Permanent Secretary (Education), who also unveiled initiatives by the Singapore Government to help drive such programmes. To support the use of Infocomm adoption in schools, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to provide central IT infrastructure and services for all schools. This amounts to close to S$700,000 per school for a three-year period.

This same amount is also provided to each school by the MOE to encourage the continuous innovation in the use of ICT within the school. In addition, from this year onwards, under the Lead@Schools scheme, schools with the potential - and plan - to achieve higher levels of Infocomm usage will have funding of up to S$100,000.

Celebrating the signing of the iLAB 2015 partnership

LG Lim said the teachers and the government have to continue to experiment, innovate and keep trying to discover how to best use Infocomm in learning. "Not all attempts will be successful, but not trying is not an option," he said.

The MOE is also tying up with industry vendors to reward teachers who are able to harness the use of Infocomm in education. For example, the Lenovo Innovation Award recognises and encourages teachers to continue their efforts in innovation and experimentation and is worth S$50,000 annually from 2007 to 2009.

IDA also announced a two year partnership to work with British company Futurelab to develop cutting-edge technology that will support new approaches to teaching and learning. Called iLAB 2015, the two parties will work together as well as with industry partners to develop prototypes which could be available in Singapore by the end of this year.

Mr Chan Yeng Kit sharing on how Infocomm can bring about engaged learning

Mr Chan Yeng Kit, CEO, IDA, said that he hopes this partnership with Futurelab will help transform the way students and teachers in Singapore approach education and usher in a new age of learning in the country. "Where there are good ideas, we will bring the industry in to develop the applications and try it in the schools. We hope that this will lead to a much improved teaching learning environment for our kids and for teachers," he added.