Immersive Media

Immersive media refers to technologies like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. From sectors like engineering, media, healthcare, education, and retail, immersive media is expected to play a key role in the development of the digital economy in Singapore. It is projected to reach US$209.2 billion by 2022 and is one of the four technology frontiers that IMDA is focusing on.

New techniques using VR technology systems are being pioneered for advanced clinical training to help trainees improve their performance in real-life situations.

"This is a synergistic partnership between the healthcare and technology industries to innovate something that is potentially useful, new, and exciting. We believe this is the way forward in the future of medical training."

Dr Matthew Yeo
Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Tan Tock Seng Hospital

VR-powered simulations provide participants with a safe learning environment, especially in situations that are dangerous or too costly to replicate in the physical world. Below are some training solutions offered by ST Electronics.

Immersive media can enable architects and designers to visualise the design of a site before its construction, saving costs and producing better outcomes.

Data-driven Visualisation

Fraunhofer’s virtual reality headset allows users to experience different spaces in the proposed design of buildings, expanding residential and environment design possibilities. It enhances the precision of decision-making processes for planners and future home-owners, and aids the understanding of interactions between public and private spaces.

By changing the way stories are created and consumed, immersive media opens new doors to how stories can be told.

Abandoned: Hashima Island

IMDA works with international media partners such as Discovery Channel’s new virtual reality network, Discovery VR. Together with Hiverlab, a Singapore-based pioneer in ICT innovation and creative content producer, they created a Discovery VR app, which transports viewers to the long-lost home of Mr Kinoshita, located on the abandoned coal mining Hashima Island, in Japan.

This is Discovery’s first-ever production out of Southeast Asia, and provides opportunities for local talent to develop frontier tech skills and produce content for a global audience.