The Nielsen Company has announced a survey that reveals four in 10 netizens in Singapore - who claim they do not own a smartphone - said they are likely to buy a smartphone in 2011.
Almost half of the netizens surveyed in Singapore already own a smartphone, with those in the age group of 35 to 39, forming the largest majority. The percentage of smartphone ownership has risen by 8 per cent over 2010, the survey showed.
While male and female netizens are equally likely to purchase a smartphone, consumers aged between 45 to 49 and those under 20, have been found most likely to own a smartphone in future.
Though Nokia is most commonly used in countries like Indonesia and Philippines, Apple's OS is a preferred choice for netizens in Singapore - leading with 68 per cent of users among those surveyed. One in three online consumers in Singapore said they have downloaded an app in the past 30 days.
Although short messaging services (SMS) still remains a popular activity on a mobile phone, mobile internet usage can be anticipated to grow in 2011 as 59 per cent of consumers plan to access the mobile Internet in the next 12 months.
These findings were presented by The Nielsen Company, a global information and measurement company with a presence in about 100 countires and has its headquarters in New York, USA.
Reference: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_672057.html
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Singapore to stress on technology in new education masterplan - Future Gov - 14 April 2011
According to Singapore’s Educational Technology Division (ETD) in the Ministry of Education (MOE), the digital divide related to technology access is fading. What the nation faces now is a digital divide about students with ICT skill sets, and those without, said Tham Yoke Chun, Deputy Director of the Professional Development & Consultancy, ETD.
Hence, the ETD is now on its third education masterplan, looking to strengthen and scale education technology use in schools and to develop a new curriculum—a Curriculum 2015 Vision (C2015) meant to build 21st century competencies in students.
Tham explained at today’s 3D Learning Symposium, “If we want to make sure technology use is sound, the starting point must always be sound pedagogy and curriculum”.
“Technology in itself cannot transform learning,” Tham said.
In which case the C2015 hopes to create students who are:
Anchored in strong moral values;
Possess social and emotional competencies;
Have ICT skills, civic literacy, cross cultural skills and critical and inventive thinking.
The department is also looking to introduce “new modes of pedagogy using social media to enable participation, negotiation of meaning, dialogue, and co-construction of knowledge”.
The MOE’s first masterplan started in 1997 to build a strong ICT foundation in Singapore’s schools; and the second one in 2003 birthed FutureSchools in a bid to seed innovation. The current masterplan started in 2009 with a vision of “harnessing technology to transform learners”.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/apr/14/building-21st-century-competencies-students/
Hence, the ETD is now on its third education masterplan, looking to strengthen and scale education technology use in schools and to develop a new curriculum—a Curriculum 2015 Vision (C2015) meant to build 21st century competencies in students.
Tham explained at today’s 3D Learning Symposium, “If we want to make sure technology use is sound, the starting point must always be sound pedagogy and curriculum”.
“Technology in itself cannot transform learning,” Tham said.
In which case the C2015 hopes to create students who are:
Anchored in strong moral values;
Possess social and emotional competencies;
Have ICT skills, civic literacy, cross cultural skills and critical and inventive thinking.
The department is also looking to introduce “new modes of pedagogy using social media to enable participation, negotiation of meaning, dialogue, and co-construction of knowledge”.
The MOE’s first masterplan started in 1997 to build a strong ICT foundation in Singapore’s schools; and the second one in 2003 birthed FutureSchools in a bid to seed innovation. The current masterplan started in 2009 with a vision of “harnessing technology to transform learners”.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/apr/14/building-21st-century-competencies-students/
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Korea relaunches government networking website in English - Future Gov | 1 April 2011
Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the English version of we-gov.org for social networking of the World e-Governments Organisation of Cities and Local Governments (WeGO).
The website is designed to enable cities to share and exchange exemplary cases of e-governments and to communicate with citizens who have an interest in building e-governments.
WeGO is an international organization that was established under Seoul City’s initiative - the first such initiative among Korea’s autonomous governments - with the goal of sharing exemplary cases of e-governments between international cities and closing the information gap.
The newly launched WeGo English website is a social networking homepage designed to expedite communication with the leaders of e-governments in cities worldwide. Cities and organisations worldwide can benchmark the latest information and contents in the e-government field at a single location through the WeGO website. They can upload and share diverse information and contents in real time and exchange opinions through social media services (Twitter, etc).
By overcoming a management method focused on site manager, the WeGo website has been created as social network homepage based on blogs, and can be accessed through diverse browsers, and smart mobile devices. As such, it will serve as a venue of information sharing based on the smart concept, where people can communicate in real time through social media services.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/apr/01/korea-relaunches-government-networking-website-eng/
More info: Visit WeGO website at http://www.we-gov.org/
The website is designed to enable cities to share and exchange exemplary cases of e-governments and to communicate with citizens who have an interest in building e-governments.
WeGO is an international organization that was established under Seoul City’s initiative - the first such initiative among Korea’s autonomous governments - with the goal of sharing exemplary cases of e-governments between international cities and closing the information gap.
The newly launched WeGo English website is a social networking homepage designed to expedite communication with the leaders of e-governments in cities worldwide. Cities and organisations worldwide can benchmark the latest information and contents in the e-government field at a single location through the WeGO website. They can upload and share diverse information and contents in real time and exchange opinions through social media services (Twitter, etc).
By overcoming a management method focused on site manager, the WeGo website has been created as social network homepage based on blogs, and can be accessed through diverse browsers, and smart mobile devices. As such, it will serve as a venue of information sharing based on the smart concept, where people can communicate in real time through social media services.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/apr/01/korea-relaunches-government-networking-website-eng/
More info: Visit WeGO website at http://www.we-gov.org/
Portal to connect people in Commonwealth countries to be launched - Future Gov | 9 May 2011
The Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 countries across six continents, will launch a portal which allows individuals, organizations and governments to share information network and collaborate online.
The Commonwealth Secretariat, the main intergovernmental organisation which executes plans agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government announced the creation of the portal called Commonwealth Connect developed by OpenText company.
Kamalesh Sharma , Commonwealth Secretary General said the web initiative aims to foster better cooperation and communication across the entire Commonweath community.
“Commonwealth countries are diverse, home to two billion people and span six continents, so the use of modern Web technologies to connect people and strengthen cooperation across the entire community is vitally important,” he said.
“Commonwealth countries are diverse, home to two billion people and span six continents, so the use of modern Web technologies to connect people and strengthen cooperation across the entire community is vitally important,” he said.
He also said the web platform will build a stronger Commonwealth in the 21st century and sustain its work far into the future.
Commonwealth Connects will be introduced gradually in each country through national strategies for ICT adoption and use, strategies that OpenText and the Commonwealth Secretariat have also agreed to support jointly.
The portal is expected to launch take place during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011.
Commonwealth member states include Australia, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, among others.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/09/online-platform-connect-two-billion-people/
The Commonwealth Secretariat, the main intergovernmental organisation which executes plans agreed by Commonwealth Heads of Government announced the creation of the portal called Commonwealth Connect developed by OpenText company.
Kamalesh Sharma , Commonwealth Secretary General said the web initiative aims to foster better cooperation and communication across the entire Commonweath community.
“Commonwealth countries are diverse, home to two billion people and span six continents, so the use of modern Web technologies to connect people and strengthen cooperation across the entire community is vitally important,” he said.
“Commonwealth countries are diverse, home to two billion people and span six continents, so the use of modern Web technologies to connect people and strengthen cooperation across the entire community is vitally important,” he said.
He also said the web platform will build a stronger Commonwealth in the 21st century and sustain its work far into the future.
Commonwealth Connects will be introduced gradually in each country through national strategies for ICT adoption and use, strategies that OpenText and the Commonwealth Secretariat have also agreed to support jointly.
The portal is expected to launch take place during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011.
Commonwealth member states include Australia, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, among others.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/09/online-platform-connect-two-billion-people/
Accessible digital content for the disabled - Future Gov | 22 March 2011
While we exploit technology and work on interoperability to share digital contents over multiple platforms, what we don’t realise is that we might inadvertently leave behind a group of individuals who may have difficulty accessing these digital content, said Chia Woon Yee, Director of Technology & Vocational Training at the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD).
While countries aim for a knowledge workforce and government moves digital, individuals with visual impairment, physical disabilities, hearing impairment and learning disabilities may have been neglected. These people may not be able to interact with digital contents unless the contents are made accessible, explained Chia to FutureGov Asia Pacific.
“As more and more information is transferred electronically, making digital content accessible becomes a social responsibility, especially if the content is meant for the public,” she said.
Hence, SPD has made a formal advocacy appeal to the Government to reinstate a direction on accessible ICT and web accessibility in the Intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015) Masterplan, and to take the lead by making all government and e-government portals conform the international standards of web accessibility by 2015.
Making digital content accessible is neither a difficult nor expensive task. “Most common software applications like Adobe PDF maker and Microsoft Office have built-in tools for making documents accessible,” said Chia.
While providing accessibility benefits people with disabilities who are deemed a minority group, Chia said that it should not be forgotten that these same accessible features are also useful for non-disabled people—such as older persons who are slower, people with low literacy, people who have low Internet bandwidth, and individuals accessing content through mobile devices.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) outlines the following four basic principles in making websites accessible:
Perceivable— Information and user interface components must be presentable to users such that they can perceive the presented information, i.e. it can’t be invisible to all their senses
Operable— Users must be able to operate interface components and navigate. The interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform
Understandable— Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface
Robust— Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. Users must be able to access the content even as technologies advance
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/mar/22/accessible-digital-content-disabled/
While countries aim for a knowledge workforce and government moves digital, individuals with visual impairment, physical disabilities, hearing impairment and learning disabilities may have been neglected. These people may not be able to interact with digital contents unless the contents are made accessible, explained Chia to FutureGov Asia Pacific.
“As more and more information is transferred electronically, making digital content accessible becomes a social responsibility, especially if the content is meant for the public,” she said.
Hence, SPD has made a formal advocacy appeal to the Government to reinstate a direction on accessible ICT and web accessibility in the Intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015) Masterplan, and to take the lead by making all government and e-government portals conform the international standards of web accessibility by 2015.
Making digital content accessible is neither a difficult nor expensive task. “Most common software applications like Adobe PDF maker and Microsoft Office have built-in tools for making documents accessible,” said Chia.
While providing accessibility benefits people with disabilities who are deemed a minority group, Chia said that it should not be forgotten that these same accessible features are also useful for non-disabled people—such as older persons who are slower, people with low literacy, people who have low Internet bandwidth, and individuals accessing content through mobile devices.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) outlines the following four basic principles in making websites accessible:
Perceivable— Information and user interface components must be presentable to users such that they can perceive the presented information, i.e. it can’t be invisible to all their senses
Operable— Users must be able to operate interface components and navigate. The interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform
Understandable— Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface
Robust— Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. Users must be able to access the content even as technologies advance
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/mar/22/accessible-digital-content-disabled/
Taiwan creates digital opportunities - Future Gov | 11 May 2011
The government’s efforts on providing internet access across the country over the years make the digital divide no longer a big challenge thus paving the way for the government to create more digital opportunities, Sung Yu-hsieh, Deputy Minister of Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (RDEC) told FutureGov Asia Pacific Magazine.
To promote internet usage in the country, RDEC has deployed 535 laptops to 16 public libraries and elementary schools around Taiwan including Chiayi, Nantou, Pintung, Yilan and Yunlin counties.
“It does not mean that people cannot afford computers,” says Sung.
“But the goal is that if your computer is broken or you are somewhere without bringing your computer, you can always go to the nearest library to borrow a laptop for your current information needs, ” he added.
The key objective is to make the people continuously connected to the government through the internet, he stressed.
The laptops that has been delivered carried 35 government-published e-books that could access National Taichung Library’s more than 10,000 catalogues. RDEC statistics reveal that 7,132 individuals used the service for an average rate of 89 per cent.
“Increased access to the Internet in these areas is raising the profile of e-government services and improving local residents’ computer skills,” said RDEC Minister Chu Chin-peng.
Chu said the initiative is also playing a vital role in reviving and improving the value of public libraries through dramatically increased visit numbers.
“The commission will continue working with other agencies to bridge the digital divide,” said Chu. Echoing the minister’s remarks, Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hwa-kuan said a broad spectrum of residents, from school children to the elderly, are now seizing the opportunity to go online and experience the internet.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/11/taiwan-creates-more-digital-opportunities/
To promote internet usage in the country, RDEC has deployed 535 laptops to 16 public libraries and elementary schools around Taiwan including Chiayi, Nantou, Pintung, Yilan and Yunlin counties.
“It does not mean that people cannot afford computers,” says Sung.
“But the goal is that if your computer is broken or you are somewhere without bringing your computer, you can always go to the nearest library to borrow a laptop for your current information needs, ” he added.
The key objective is to make the people continuously connected to the government through the internet, he stressed.
The laptops that has been delivered carried 35 government-published e-books that could access National Taichung Library’s more than 10,000 catalogues. RDEC statistics reveal that 7,132 individuals used the service for an average rate of 89 per cent.
“Increased access to the Internet in these areas is raising the profile of e-government services and improving local residents’ computer skills,” said RDEC Minister Chu Chin-peng.
Chu said the initiative is also playing a vital role in reviving and improving the value of public libraries through dramatically increased visit numbers.
“The commission will continue working with other agencies to bridge the digital divide,” said Chu. Echoing the minister’s remarks, Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hwa-kuan said a broad spectrum of residents, from school children to the elderly, are now seizing the opportunity to go online and experience the internet.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/11/taiwan-creates-more-digital-opportunities/
UAE aims for 100 per cent broadband connectivity by 2012 - Future Gov | 19 May 2011
By Pia Rufino
The United Arab Emirates is striving to be the first country in the world to have 100 per cent broadband penetration by 2012, Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansoori has said.
An ambitious fibre-to-home technology currently being implemented by Etisalat, a Telecoms company in the UAE, is said to be capable to achieve the country’s aim.
”Mobile penetration rate in the UAE has crossed 200 per cent and broadband penetration among households stood at 40 per cent in 2010,” Al Mansoori said.
He also said during the Abu Dhabi Telecoms CEO Summit that the UAE is placed in the top 10 globally for the quality of its broadband service.
In 2009-2010, the UAE, he said, ranked the first among the Arab states in the Networked Readiness Index of the World Economic Forum, and 23rd among all 133 countries assessed.
The NRI measures the capacity of an economy to fully leverage ICT for increased competitiveness and development.
‘’The UAE is also implementing an e-government initiative aimed at faster and efficient delivery of services and eventually the accomplishment of a technologically competent,’ Al Mansoori said.
According to the Internet World Stats, web penetration rate during the last one decade was 79.1 per cent in Germany, 82.5 per cent in UK, 68.9 per cent in France, 77.3 per cent in United States and in Asian countries such as 31.6 per cent in China, 81.1 per cent in South Korea, 78.2 per cent in Japan, 6.9 per cent in India.
In the Gulf countries during the last decade, web penetration rate was 38.1 per cent in Saudi Arabia, 51.8 per cent in Qatar, 39.4 per cent in Kuwait and 88 per cent in Bahrain.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/19/uae-aims-100-cent-broadband-connectivity/
The United Arab Emirates is striving to be the first country in the world to have 100 per cent broadband penetration by 2012, Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansoori has said.
An ambitious fibre-to-home technology currently being implemented by Etisalat, a Telecoms company in the UAE, is said to be capable to achieve the country’s aim.
”Mobile penetration rate in the UAE has crossed 200 per cent and broadband penetration among households stood at 40 per cent in 2010,” Al Mansoori said.
He also said during the Abu Dhabi Telecoms CEO Summit that the UAE is placed in the top 10 globally for the quality of its broadband service.
In 2009-2010, the UAE, he said, ranked the first among the Arab states in the Networked Readiness Index of the World Economic Forum, and 23rd among all 133 countries assessed.
The NRI measures the capacity of an economy to fully leverage ICT for increased competitiveness and development.
‘’The UAE is also implementing an e-government initiative aimed at faster and efficient delivery of services and eventually the accomplishment of a technologically competent,’ Al Mansoori said.
According to the Internet World Stats, web penetration rate during the last one decade was 79.1 per cent in Germany, 82.5 per cent in UK, 68.9 per cent in France, 77.3 per cent in United States and in Asian countries such as 31.6 per cent in China, 81.1 per cent in South Korea, 78.2 per cent in Japan, 6.9 per cent in India.
In the Gulf countries during the last decade, web penetration rate was 38.1 per cent in Saudi Arabia, 51.8 per cent in Qatar, 39.4 per cent in Kuwait and 88 per cent in Bahrain.
Reference: http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/may/19/uae-aims-100-cent-broadband-connectivity/
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