IDA Technology Showcase for IMF/WB Delegates

They get first-hand look at emerging infocomm technologies for the financial sector.

Delegates in Singapore for the IMF-World Bank meetings will catch a glimpse of the future workplace in the financial industry here.

They will have a tantalising first-hand look at how emerging infocomm technologies will change the office and home environment, and enhance the working processes in the financial sector.

To promote and demonstrate the nation's strong technological infrastructure and focus, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) will unveil the Government Executives in the New Information and Knowledge Era" (Genie) showcase to the IMF and World Bank delegates.

Head of Civil Service, Mr Peter Ho said: "Infocomm will continue to be a key enabler for all sectors of the economy, including the public sector. The Genie showcase represents how infocomm can be exploited to transform the way public officers work, and to create solutions that will enhance operational efficiency and productivity for the public sector."

On display at the showcase are prototype technologies aimed at the public sector, and which would be made commercially available in three to five years. Although tagged for future development, such efforts reflect the myriad of digital possibilities that would revolutionise the workplace in years to come.

In August this year, IDA announced its dedicated investment in a "technology-enabled work environment". Challenging Singaporeans to imagine a nation in 2010 where civil servants thrive within integrated communications and sophisticated systems that are a staple of the workplace, IDA went on to sketch out plans to realise these possibilities.

And thus was conceived Genie. Launched last month, it marked the first time three major multi-national corporations - Microsoft, Intel and Fujitsu - came together with the government to put together a showcase, utilising technologies in research and development.

Mr Leong Keng Thai, Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General of Telcoms, says: "This further attests Singapore's position as a leader in infocomm technology exploitation and a global infocomm hub."

Some key highlights of the showcase are provided below:

HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY TECHNOLOGIES IN THE GENIE SHOWCASE

Technology to better manage infocomm security

• “Contact-Less” Palm-Vein Biometrics Security System checks the unique pattern of a person’s blood veins in the palm to establish identity to gain access to the office premises and desktop.

• Information Rights Management ensures documents circulated are kept confidential.

• Active Management Technology allows IT departments to better discover, diagnose and protect networked computing assets remotely even those that are unregistered or turned off.

• Virtualisation Technology allows the IT department of an organisation to perform security patches, and/or update virus definitions without interrupting the user.

• Steganography technology embeds digital information within an image, and the information will only be revealed upon authentication.

Technology to enhance productivity cum efficiency of government executives

• Microsoft Intelligent Integrated Dashboard and Universal Unified Communications Panel simplify the productivity, collaboration and knowledge sharing capabilities of users. One universal integrated interface enables access to all information such as emails, live key performance indicators data feed, project documents, calendar and notes.

• Tight integration between Operating System, Office Productivity Suite and Collaboration Tools to improve productivity and efficiency.

• Predictive Collaboration Workspace automatically generates documents and templates relating to specific tasks or projects. For example, when a workspace is generated for a budgeting exercise, the workspace automatically extracts relevant information, forms, templates, subject matter experts, policies and guidelines.

• Cross Media Retrieval Solution searches for information on the internet or within an organisation using search keys in the form of text, image or video.

Technology to enhance the mobility of government executives

• Intelligent Communications application is integrated with the user's calendar, and messages are routed to the user accordingly. For example, if the user is not at his desk, an email arriving at the desktop will be converted to a voicemail and forwarded to the user's mobile phone.

• Colour Electronic Paper stores and displays digital information such as documents and current news. It is handy and you can use it anywhere and anytime.