Science & Technology

1. Communications- Computers, Entertainment, Information Technology,

Surveillance/Security, Information Revolution
COMPUTERS
Most businesses in Singapore have computerised systems to facilitate transactions. The larger the firm
in general, the more sophisticated the equipment (eg. Citibank, BHP-Biliton).
- Still a number of traditional businesses like provision shops and small bakeries which see no need to
use computers.
- Schools have also jumped on the bandwagon with IT labs and computers and Internet access made
available to students. (under IT Master Plan instituted by MOE)
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ENTERTAINMENT
Online gaming has taken off in Singapore, with Internet cafes sprouting up all over the island and free
broad-band access in many places.
- IDA (Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore) has been supporting the annual World Cyber
Games since it first started in Singapore in 2001. Another e-sports tournament, the Asia-Pacific
REPLAY 2010 Dawn of War II Tournament was held in Singapore in Jan 2010. It featured
competitors from Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
- Blogging is also part of the online entertainment scene.
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Video-conferencing and Skype are regularly used in business communications or even on a personal
level. Most households have access to a personal computer, which facilitate these.
SURVEILLANCE/ SECURITY
Virtual world technologies are used in military training by the U.S. military. Companies like
Forterra Systems work with military groups to develop training simulations.
Other developments in military technology include GPS guided missiles, robotic military technology
and more sophisticated and powerful weaponry.
For surveillance, technology is used in video surveillance, GPS tracking, satellite surveillance. These
can be adapted for commercial or home use to safeguard homes, offices and protected zones.
- Singapore's strategy to secure the infocomm environment is encapsulated in the two Infocomm
Security Masterplans managed by IDA.
The Infocomm Security Masterplan 2 (MP2), launched in 2008, is a five-year roadmap which aims to
build upon the achievements of the first Masterplan by enhancing the tenacity of our economy against
cyber-attacks, thereby boosting the confidence of investors in choosing Singapore as a strategic and
secure location for their investment. The Infocomm Security Masterplan (ISMP), launched in Feb
2005, was a three-year strategic roadmap that focuses on developing infocomm security capabilities to
enhance Singapore's national level efforts to protect the country against external and internal cyber
threats.
- Singapore was among the first nations in South East Asia to establish the Singapore Computer
Emergency Response Team. As part of IDA's effort in creating a conducive, innovative, and
competitive infocomm environment, SingCERT is a one-stop centre for security incident response in
Singapore. It was set up to facilitate the detection, resolution and prevention of security-related
incidents on the Internet.

INFORMATION REVOLUTION
Information Revolution describes current economic, social and technological trends beyond the
Industrial Revolution.
It includes the use of technology in areas such as e-commerce and building an information database
for knowledge-based economies.
The IR has implications for employment (fewer highly-skilled workers are needed, as opposed to
many lowly-skilled ones) and workplaces (working from home or anywhere where one has Internet
access is now possible).
It also has great psychological and social impact; computer skills are more valued- generation gap
between the young who are adept at it and the elderly who are not has developed.
Just as the Industrial Revolution transformed the world two centuries ago, the Information
Revolution will transform our lives in the next millennium. The challenge for us in education is to
exploit the exciting possibilities that Information Technology offers to prepare our people for this
information revolution. (RAdm (NS) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education, Singapore and
SEAMEO Council President, 2000).
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Singapore has transformed itself in the education, business and military sectors through the use of the
IR. Its youths are mostly computer-literate, through emphasis on IT in schools, and many adults are,
too. This has positioned Singapore to be an IT and business hub, attracting foreign investments with
its high-tech infrastructure and computer-savvy workforce.