The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) today unveiled its fifth and most significant Infocomm Technology Roadmap (ITR5) to date. This inaugural 10 year Technology Roadmap discusses the next era technologies such as sensor technology, biocomputing, nanotechnology and other emerging technologies and provides insights into how these major revolutions and evolutions in infocomm will help to grow the infocomm sector and build a well-connected society.
Singapore, 8 March 2005 | Press Release
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) today unveiled its fifth and most significant Infocomm Technology Roadmap (ITR5) to date. This inaugural 10 year Technology Roadmap discusses the next era technologies such as sensor technology, biocomputing, nanotechnology and other emerging technologies and provides insights into how these major revolutions and evolutions in infocomm will help to grow the infocomm sector and build a well-connected society.
The fifth Roadmap focuses on envisaged significant changes in the infocomm landscape. The Computing and Communication Waves will be revolutionised by innovations in nano and bio-technologies and will herald the arrival of a new Sentient Era. In this forecasted era of people-centric technologies, context-aware sensors and intelligent agents will automate, analyse, synthesise and present personalised information to us in a proactive way. The result will be the creation of a world of things that think, transforming the way in which we live, learn, work and play.
Launched at the Singapore Infocomm Foresight 2015 Symposium, the Roadmap includes extensive research involving thought leaders,visionaries, industry players, research academia and the government and will provide insights into how the changing global ICT environment and next era technologies can propel Singapore into the ICT forefront and ensure continued international competitiveness leading to 2015.
The Symposium heard how the next era technology will make an important contribution to the realisation of the vision outlined in iN2015, the Government's newly announced ICT master plan. Industry partners have been invited to work with IDA, which is leading the national effort, to co-create and realise the vision of an Intelligent Nation.
The Symposium brings together thought leadership from leading luminaries, world visionaries, top technology experts, academia and research, as well as policy and decision makers. It was opened by Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Chief Executive Officer, IDA Singapore and included a keynote address by Dr Tan Geok Leng, Chief Technology Officer, IDA Singapore whose presentation focused on the major technologies set to revolutionise the infocomm landscape.
The Roadmap highlights how major technologies can be deployed to help Singapore address the key challenges of economic growth, national security and population demographics in the next decade and indications suggest that the opportunity for the creation of new value through IT is greater than ever before.
The next 10 years are expected to witness the confluence of innovations which hold the potential to dramatically change the way we live our lives. To many the possibilities will seem unimaginable. For instance, sentient technologies will enhance the quality of life for both young and old. Smart systems will be routinely deployed to advance eldercare, such as to sense and remind elderly patients at home to take their medication or multiple pills at different times. Preventative healthcare can reduce costs and provide peace-of-mind to caregivers too. Monitoring of the elderly at home and detection of abnormal behavioural changes will be achieved through telematic systems enabled by communication technologies, sensor networks, tracking systems, biosensors and wearables.
Sentient technologies will also create more exciting lifestyles in smart homes and entertainment applications for the masses. Sentient technologies will transform the Internet from one that is passive to an intelligent agent that analyses and delivers personalised information. This means that the Net will intelligently sift through information to deliver exactly the information requested.
The Symposium garnered strong industry participation, with local and international industry experts sharing visions on how changes in technology will affect industries, businesses and the wider community. Notable keynote speakers addressing the symposium included John Seely Brown (Distinguished Fellow, The Idea Factory / Former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corporation / Director Emeritus, Xerox PARC), Dr David Tennenhouse (Vice President & Director, Intel) and Mike A. Horton (President & Chief Executive Offier, Crossbow Technology).
Highlights from Infocomm Technology Roadmap 5 (ITR5)
The Computing Wave
By 2015, the PC as we know it today will 'disappear' and computer mainframes will be accessible via revolutionised devices infused with nanotechnology. Computers will be so small that they will be embedded in everyday devices, and computing will be further revolutionised by innovations including Grid Computing, Peer-to-Peer technology, Service-Orientated Architecture such as Web Services, and software agent technologies.
The Communications Wave
Experts anticipate that the world will be covered by optical fiber providing an almost unlimited capacity to transport data anywhere around the world. Its low-cost deployment will result in unlimited bandwidth subscription, and this fabric of network connectivity will mean broadband will be available everywhere where the service is needed. It is also predicted that Internet Protocol (IP) will become the unifying platform, providing high levels of end-to-end quality of service and security.
The Sentient Wave
The confluence of the first two waves will result in intelligent devices that can sense and interact with one another. Countries will exploit these to build nationwide sensor networks, like chemical and biosensors, to operate around the clock, detecting a wide range of potential homeland threats. Smart systems will also be deployed for various purposes - For example, smart systems will be set up to advance eldercare, to sense and remind elderly patients at home to take their medication.
The Infocomm Technology Roadmap 5 can be found in the "Technology Development" section of the IDA website at https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
About IDA
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) is committed to growing Singapore into a dynamic global infocomm hub. IDA uses an integrated approach to developing info-communications in Singapore. This involves nurturing a competitive telecoms market as well as a conducive business environment with programmes and schemes for both local and international companies.For more information, visit https://www.imda.gov.sg/.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Counsell / Janice Lee
Burson-Marsteller
Mobile: 9021 1284 / 9183 1406
Email: sarah_counsell@sg.bm.com/janice_lee@sg.bm.com
Ms Constance Tan
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
Mobile: 9276 6200
Email: constance_tan@imda.gov.sg
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