THE SOCIETY
MCI (P) 198/07/2015
THE SHARING ECONOMY: HYPE VS REALITY 02 “Cloud” and “Crowd” – More than Buzzwords?
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
03 ‘Uber for X’: Model for Business Success?
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Issue
01 2016
Contents Vision To be the leading infocomm and digital media professional society in Singapore
EDITOR’S MESSAGE
#LATEST@SCS
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17
The Sharing Economy: Beat the Crowd or Join the Cloud
18 SCS Chapters – All Set for the Next Lap
THE BIG IDEA 02
“Cloud” and “Crowd” – More than Buzzwords?
03
‘Uber for X’: The Way to Business Success?
Mission SPOTLIGHT
Lead the Way To lead and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of Singapore’s infocomm and digital media industry
New SCS Executive Council Assumes Office
20 Hacks to Manage Your Virtual Life 21
Great Turnout at SCS Gala Dinner and IT Leader Awards 2016
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Chak is Now a SCS Honorary Fellow
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AR/VR SIG Launched
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SCS Events 2016
06 The Tech Business: Real Solutions. Real Impact. 08 Honouring IT Leader Awards 2016 Winners
GEEK SPEAK 24 Software Updates: For Better or Worse
Add Value To add value to the infocomm and digital media professional’s career and personal development
Be the Voice
POWER BOOST 13 COMIT – Elevating Outsourcing Capabilities 16
How to find Information that Matters?
To engage and be the voice of the infocomm and digital media community
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EDITOR’S MESSAGE
9:41 AM
The Sharing Economy: If You can’t Beat the Crowd, Join the Cloud
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t a time when the general economy is lacklustre, the sharing economy is exactly facing an opposite predicament. Since the emergence of companies such as Uber, Airbnb, Grab, etc, there has been much talk about the topic. The significance of their almost instant success is huge not only for traditional asset owning companies but also for individuals and/or groups who can now leverage these platforms to provide services. Underpinning the vibrancy of the sharing economy is the network of social media platforms, including Facebook and Google+. They put the marketing power in the hands of individuals who can rate and review their satisfaction of the products and services received, as well as share and recommend products and services to their network of friends. What’s more? Thanks to readily available access to Internet connection – both wired and wireless – and the increasing repertoire of smart gadgets and devices, the sharing economy now permeates almost every aspect of our lives. From the way we collaborate to the way we work, do research, and even conduct business (as shared by Myungjo in our interview with him), technology has empowered us. Cloud services drive greater
EDITOR Tan Teng Cheong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Vladyslav Koshelyev Bernard Leong Epi Ludvik Nekaj Sam Mauris Yong EDITORIAL SUPPORT Leong Hoi Lan Claudia Lim
ADVERTISING SALES & ADMIN Claudia Lim For ad sales enquiries, Tel: 6226 2567 ext 12 Email: claudia.lim@scs.org.sg Mailing Address 53 Neil Road Singapore 088891 EMAIL scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg EDITORIAL & DESIGN Lancer Design Pte Ltd
productivity while ‘Uber for X’ set-ups match demand to supply seamlessly. What is the implication of these developments to us – the ICT professionals? Will the sharing economy be sustainable? Or are we in the midst of another tech bubble? Only time will tell. It is certain, however, that the technology industry is thriving and moving at an unprecedented rate now. And, at SCS, we help you to stay on top of your game through our COMIT certification and Infopier portal. Joining the bandwagon of the digital sharing movement, we will post three articles from The IT Society on Infopier. We invite you to read the articles online, and participate in the discussions. But, gentle reminder, don’t do it when you’re at work! Happy Reading!
TAN TENG CHEONG Editor Fellow, SCS tengcheong.tan@scs.org.sg
FEEDBACK We value your feedback on this magazine. Simply email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg with your comments to help us produce an even more interesting and relevant magazine for you in subsequent issues. You are welcome to submit articles for inclusion consideration. For advertising enquiries, please call 6226 2567 or email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg. The IT Society is the official publication of the Singapore Computer Society. Any part of this publication may be reproduced as long as credit is given to the publisher, Singapore Computer Society. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society.
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THE BIG IDEA
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
Why “Cloud” and “Crowd” are More than Buzzwords
EPI LUDVIK NEKAJ Founder & CEO, Crowdsourcing Week
W
hile the cloud removes physical limitations that hold us back; the crowd provides exponential innovation. When cloud meets crowd, social productivity is enhanced and infinite opportunities arise.
A slew of statistics tells us that the cloud would be worth $107 billion by 2017; by that time, the world’s population would reach approximately 7.4 billion people and the Internet population would reach 3.6 billion, nearly half will be connected to the Internet, setting high expectations for what we call the crowd economy – a new paradigm defined by connected individuals cooperating over the Internet. WORK TOOLS ARE UNDERGOING A REVOLUTION Far from the days of traditional handwritten notes, cloud and crowd have given birth to a new generation of
Cloud and crowd. Are they simply buzzwords? They surely are when they are casually thrown into conversations, but a deeper thought brings about the realisation that these two – a technological advancement and a new mindset – are proving to set the infrastructure for business and social development in this decade.
tools that enhance productivity. Evernote had its humble beginning as a mobile note taker, and now it supports note syncing which permits users to save their work in the cloud and collaborate remotely with colleagues – bringing efficiency and productivity. Categorised as SaaS (software-as-aservice) in the cloud stack, Google’s Apps for Work – a service primarily targeting corporate and business users – provides storage, spreadsheets, documents, and presentations, aside from email hosting service. Teleworkers (the crowd) are maximising these tools to enjoy enhanced productivity and operational cost savings from expensive on-premise software licenses. CLOUD AND CROWD WILL DISRUPT US ALL AT SOME POINT If you’re not in it, cloud and crowd will disrupt you unexpectedly, one
way or another, at some point. That’s why Google, despite constantly morphing its flagship services, is active on other fronts too. For one, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Google have forged an alliance that marries PwC’s corporate reach with Google’s cloud expertise. One of their first ventures involves an $11 billion tender bid to tackle one of the U.S. government’s thorniest problems: coordinate the sharing of military health records for 9.6 million active and retired personnel worldwide. THE SHARING ECONOMY IS HERE TO STAY There is much to be excited about where platforms and the cloud economy are concerned. After all, we saw the sharing economy, gig and the on-demand economy blossoming out of this infrastructure. That is not to invalidate the arguments of cloud
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But, we have to remember that this new practice and ideology is still in its infancy. My friend and associate, Sangeet Paul Choudary, nails the issues on sharing risk and rewards. These imperfections suggest that we will soon see version 2 of the new economy, which not only offers technological benefits, but also true well-being.
THE PAYMENT LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED The financial industry is seeing the most disruption in this new economy. Mobile payments and the rise of cryptocurrencies are impacting the future of work. Samsung’s NFC’s payment via smartphones, Apple Pay’s entry to the market through its flagship devices change the way we pay merchants; and PayPal’s continued platform development predicts how the future will look like as payments become more efficient in online transactions.
Angel investor and friend, Lisa Gansky, confirms this belief. She has benefitted from the first wave of sharing economy platforms but thinks a reconfiguration is overdue and “the time has come to make sure that the value created by these companies is shared with the people who make them viable.”
And the avatars are changing too. Mobbr, a crowd payment solution, helps companies disperse prize money or salary to many collaborators while Transpay allows businesses to transfer cross-border payment to global freelancers via direct bank transfer at much lower fees – all possible as cloud and crowd collide.
and crowd naysayers. For example, in Richard Eskow’s article: “The sharing economy is a lie”, there were many notable pointers.
THE BIG IDEA
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SO, WHAT’S NEXT? We are moving into a new phase where keywords like sharing economy or gig economy won’t matter, platforms reach an age of maturity, and the crowd becomes more empowered and knowledgeable. Platforms that offer periphery services for true well-being will distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack. From a political and civic point of view, governments should also prepare for the rise of this new economy. Singapore’s quest to become a smart nation and Dubai’s initiative to adopt open innovation for its city infrastructure are precursors of what is to come, opening doors for cloud and crowd to improve the lives of citizens. Cloud and crowd are not simply buzzwords but pathways to infinite opportunities.
‘Uber for X’:
A Sure-fire Way to Business Success? ‘Uber for X’ companies are the latest talk of the town. Are their high valuations justifiable compared to Uber and its clones in Asia? How scalable is their business model? And, last but not least, what is their survival rate?
BERNARD LEONG Member, SCS Head of Digital Services, Singapore Post
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THE BIG IDEA
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hile there are no simple answers to these questions, the signs are deifinitely there for anyone who cares to look closely. SIGN 1: RECURRING TRANSACTIONS? To decide whether an ‘Uber for X’ company can survive, examine if the service is a recurring need or a one-off want. This will hint at their capability to generate recurring transactions. For example, all of us need to eat, and hence, the on-demand food delivery service becomes essential during certain times of the day. Comparatively, dry cleaning of suits in laundry is not really a high recurring need.
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
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SIGN 2: TRANSACTION VOLUME? The ability to control cost per transaction based on demand is pivotal to profits maximisation. And high volume and high demand allude to ‘Uber for X’ companies’ potential to scale. It is therefore a misconception that a niche service with a high customer lifetime value can be successful. Truth is, without the volume, the companies lose the ability to scale. SIGN 3: SCALING UP CAPABILITY? Typically, ‘Uber for X’ companies conflate the consumer to consumer market with the business to business market. And they, including Uber, are unable to scale to the enterprise
market. Reason being, to meet required enterprise level service levels neccessitate these companies to own their own supply – totally decimating their asset light advantage against traditional companies. It is challenging to scale up a two-sided marketplace till such time a critical mass is achieved. However, if successfully executed, the ‘Uber for X’ company can stem off potential clones and competitors. That is why there can only be one Uber in the U.S. That said, ‘Uber for X’ companies can take advantage of geographical localisation, which explains why Uber is challenged by Kuaidi-Didi, Olacabs and Grab.
Know a ‘Uber for X’ Company when You See One!
FACT 1
FACT 2
FACT 3
FACT 4
They are more than an online booking tool
They have three common features
They have a similar business model
They have low operating costs
A ‘Uber for X’ start-up creates a two-sided marketplace which matches a customer to a service provider on demand. Services can be rendered in the real world.
• Discovery – They link a customer to a service provider within a certain period of time, geo-fenced within a specific location.
They generate revenue through taking a fee from each transaction. During times of high demand, they activate surge pricing to make money on arbitrage.
‘Uber for X’ start-ups own the network, but not the assets. They do not own the service providers nor the tools used to fulfil the service.
• Curation – An example is the driver rating in Uber. Uber will remove the driver from the platform if his score is less than four. • Incentive Scheme – Service providers are incentivised to stay on the network (e.g. petrol subsidies) instead of going directly to the customers.
‘UBER FOR X’ VS TRADITIONAL LOGISTICS Many predict ‘Uber for X’ companies can replace FedEx, UPS and DHL without realising that they offer a very different service promise. While the logistics companies offer same day, next day or optimised delivery across borders or within cities, the start-up companies (whether on demand or not) tend to either go after same day or next day delivery – rarely both. This is because they are market efficient but not cost optimised. The order sizes they fill cannot compare to what logistics
companies are doing from fulfilment centres with an optimised fleet. Logistics companies have accumulated data about demand and supply; and they leverage on major contracts to keep costs low. Hence, it makes sense for them to have optimised fleets and not depend on supply and demand. For ‘Uber for X’ companies to compete in the same space, they will perhaps have to build their own fleet of self-driving cars? On the other hand, logistics
companies can easily convert their same day delivery services to Uberlike services. But, there is value to Uber and its clones. They are solving the real need for same day deliveries – not an area logistics companies are interested in. Simply ask any logistics company, “Will you deliver the goods from point A to B at the lowest cost, and as and when the customer wants it?”
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SPOTLIGHT
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
The Tech Business:
Real Solutions. Real Impact. CHOI MYUNG-JO
Executive Council Member, SCS Age: 42 Experience: 19 years Current: Head of e-commerce, Asia Pacific, Facebook Earliest Tech Experience: Intel 286 PC with 2 floppy disk drives Currently Reading: ‘Zero to One’ by Peter Thiel
We all know we can connect with friends, family and colleagues, using Facebook. But did you know Facebook is also a platform that businesses and brands use to reach their customers? In this issue, The IT Society chats with Choi Myung-Jo, Facebook’s Asia Pacific Head of e-commerce, to gain insights on Facebook, e-commerce trends, and his passion for work and life. Q: Question, MJ: Myung-Jo WORK AT FACEBOOK Q: Could you share a little about what you do at Facebook? MJ: I lead Facebook’s e-commerce business across Asia Pacific. I work closely with teams in each market to build strategy, and initiate projects with our e-commerce partners to help them reach their audiences and achieve their ultimate business goals. Q: In your opinion, what makes Facebook unique? MJ: There are a few things which are ingrained into our general culture, guiding our behaviours and driving our every action here at Facebook. And I would like to think they make us unique. For one, we put people first
at Facebook. We place a great deal of focus on creating great experiences for people, offering them new ways to connect and share. Building valuable experiences for people who use our products and services everyday is at the core of everything we do.
On the other, regardless whether we are in the leadership team or not, each of us is deemed as a leader and represents Facebook in taking the lead to grow partnerships with clients.
Consistent with our mission is our open and transparent culture. Our leadership team encourages us to ask them and each other hard questions. In this aspect, our CEO, Mark Zuckerberg leads by example by hosting a Q&A with employees each week. Another interesting phenomenon is that our work environment is highly collaborative and autonomous all at once. On one hand, we work closely within teams and across functions to deliver solutions.
Q: What should we know about e-commerce today? MJ: Mobile is changing the e-commerce landscape. People spend more than three hours each day on their mobile device globally; and mobile accounts for more than 30% of e-commerce and actual purchase today. Mobile has gone beyond the days of being a pre-purchase research and discovery tool to becoming a platform where actual transactions take place.
THE E-COMMERCE LANDSCAPE
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Mobile commerce, or m-commerce, is a trend that will only get bigger. Already many of our e-commerce customers in the region share that almost 50% of their e-commerce transactions came from mobile. Q: What do you see are other trends in the e-commerce landscape? MJ: More and more businesses are turning to Facebook to help them grow, better target their audience, and consequently drive more sales. We also see e-commerce companies putting more emphasis on brand building to differentiate themselves in the highly competitive environment. e-Commerce is on the rise among small businesses. Once upon a time, small businesses couldn’t achieve the reach of larger players. Today, online tools and solutions have allowed them to
SPOTLIGHT
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extend their reach globally. A majority of the over three million active Facebook advertisers are small and medium businesses. Q: What do you think is next for e-commerce? MJ: With growing interest and exciting developments in virtual reality and artificial intelligence, the days of virtual e-commerce may not be so far away. TAKE ON WORK LIFE Q: What is the meaning of work to you on a personal level? MJ: In the digital industry, things are moving very fast and everyone wants to be more innovative than others. I consider myself fortunate to be working with one of the leading companies when it comes to innovation, and one that’s committed to making the world more open and connected.
Q: What keeps you going at work? MJ: When I first joined the industry, and was young and hungry for business, a key motivator was being able to close big deals. These days, I get a kick out of helping our partners solve their business challenges and achieve their goals! Q: What are important qualities to be successful in the tech industry? MJ: It is important to be adaptable. Some people prefer to follow than lead. To do well in this industry, one should be open to explore different possibilities and not just settle for being a follower. Learning to work and collaborate well with others is equally critical. We are living in a complex world where no one man can solve all the problems alone. In any case, it is satisfying to get ahead together with your team.
“The tech industry is fascinating. It offers opportunities for you to grow in breadth and depth, solve real problems and impact people, businesses and the world.”
What is one feature in Facebook that you cannot live without?
You love Singapore because…
Everyone should consider an infocomm career because…
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Which is your favourite Facebook emoticon?
Who is a role model for you?
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SPOTLIGHT
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Leaders of Our Times – Honouring IT Leader Awards 2016 Winners
The infocomm and digital meda industry is unquestionably one of the fastest evolving industries in Singapore and, possibly, the whole world. Underpinning this dynamism is a team of strong leaders who are visionary and committed. During our recent annual IT Leader Awards 2016 ceremony, we honoured seven of such distinguished IT professionals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to Singapore’s infocomm and digital media landscape.
IT Leader of the Year
• Facilitated industry collaborations, enabling the set-up of Cyber Security and Solutions Centre (2015) and the Ambient Intelligence Computing Centre (2015).
Jessica Tan Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore
I joined the industry because of the potential impact technology has on the world we live today, more so perhaps than other industries. Technology allows us to uncover new opportunities – opportunities that will help realise not just a smarter Singapore, but also a better and more inclusive Singapore. To be able to actively participate in the opportunities presented to us, we need to be empowered with the right skills. This is why I am passionate about equipping our youths and citizens with the skills that will not only allow us to innovate and create, but to be able to build on ideation. We must also not lose sight on what matters and that at the core of all that we do is people. The values that guide our actions will either bring the best out of technology… or the worst.
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
Contributions to the Infocomm and Digital Media Industry • Initiated the Code for Change programme, a tie-up between IDA and Microsoft, to bring computational thinking capabilities to youths. • Started Microsoft BizSpark programme that has benefitted close to 1,300 startups in Singapore. • Supported Microsoft’s engagement with the LaunchPad@one-north, which hosts 500 startups and 35 incubators. • Challenged her team to mentor startups through the BizSpark Residency Programme, where Microsoft offers 1,200 square feet of complimentary co-working space at the revamped Microsoft Innovation Centre to promising local start-ups. • Guided the School of Information Technology (SIT) to chart new directions and ensure that course offerings better prepare students for the industry.
• Empowered people with disabilities through education and technology, including setting up the YouthSpark Scholarship which has helped 27 youths with disabilities pursue tertiary education in IT-related fields. • Helped active seniors under the Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) upgrade their skills and, in some cases, secure a second career. Leadership Style As a business leader, Jessica rallies for inclusive growth within Microsoft. Seeing diversity as a business and national imperative, Jessica commits to gender diversity at Microsoft Singapore by encouraging greater female participation in the company. This has resulted in a vote of confidence from her team members who described their careers with Microsoft as “proud”, “excited”, “passionate”, “great”, and “empowered”. This collective positivity also earned the team the SCS Best Tech Employer and Aon Hewitt Best Employers Singapore awards in 2015.
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SPOTLIGHT
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Hall of Fame Robert Chew Angel Investor and Managing Partner, Stream Global
It felt like just yesterday that I was fiddling with Radio Shack’s TRS-80 microcomputer using the BASIC language. Today, I continue to be intrigued by what technology can do and the possibilities it brings. It is my hope to share this passion with everyone through championing knowledge transfer within the industry, promoting a better work environment for all and advancing the industry standards in alignment with global developments. The future is exciting and I hope to contribute positively to it!
Significant Professional Achievements • Led the Communications and High Tech practice in Singapore and the Strategy practice in Southeast Asia during his 15-year stint with Accenture. Among many challenging projects Robert took on, he fondly remembers the time when he managed the project to develop more than one million lines of code for a telecommunications service provider (telco) in Singapore. • Served as council member of the Singapore IT Federation (SITF) and as Chairman of its Wireless Chapter from 2004 to 2006. Besides organising programming and application development initiatives to promote mobile computing as part of the telcos’ efforts to introduce data and 3G services, he also facilitated and formulated SITF’s recommendations for the iN2015 vision and strategy, serving as a member of the iN2015 Infocomm
Infrastructure, Services and Technology Sub-Committee. • Chaired the IT Standards Committee (ITSC) for six years from 2005 where he led ITSC to develop the Singapore Standards for the Contactless E-Purse Application, and the Smart Card ID and Reader Application Interface. Since 2011, he also chaired the ITSC Cloud Computing Standards Coordinating Task Force, working with the National Cloud Computing Office, to develop standards for cloud computing service levels and security. He also introduced the codeXtreme Apps programming competition, a 24-hour programming competition, in collaboration with Google. • Served as an Executive Council member of SCS from 2010 to 2013, during which time he initiated the SCS Infocomm Survey and the Best Tech Company To Work For Award.
Professional of the Year Adjunct Professor Foong Sew Bun IBM Distinguished Engineer and Lead Cloud Advisor (ASEAN, Korea, Japan)
From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply honoured to have enjoyed a successful career. The industry has given me much. Not only have I had the privilege to collaborate with great people and great companies, I’ve also had the opportunities to be involved in many interesting projects. Given a chance to choose again, would I still choose to build my career in the technology industry? Without a doubt, yes! continue on next page
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SPOTLIGHT
Significant Professional Achievements • Helped to establish the first IBM Singapore Research Collaboratory in 2009. Under which, research was successfully conducted with the Land Transport Authority of Singapore and the National Environment Agency to design a suite of predictive solutions that benefited the community. • Collaborated with DBS Bank to explore the use of Cognitive Computing. This led to a collaboration on the design of Watson Wealth Management, a world’s first wealth management advisory, which innovatively engages high net worth clients through learning from a massive amount of
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unstructured and structured data. • Played a key role in projects such as the Smarter Cities for Singapore and Global Cities of the Future, which include the Jurong Lake District in the Smarter Cities Challenge, Smarter Water and Traffic for Vietnam (Danang, Ho Chi Minh cities) and Smarter Safety for Davao (Philippines). Sew Bun also teamed up with Dr Lui Thai Ker for the smarter city planning and consultancy for the Kazan IT Village of Tatarstan in Russia. • Served as Chairman and Senior Advisor of the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) Steering Committee where he
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
spearheaded Service Science Management Engineering (SSME) – an initiative that helps Singaporeans develop T-shaped skills and Service Science for the knowledge-based service economy – between 2007 to 2013. To date, more than 2,500 students have graduated from the T-shaped Service Science trainings. • Chaired the former IBM Growth Market Unit (of more than 140 countries) Distinguished Engineer Board and successfully nurtured over 20 new IBM Distinguished Engineers. He also personally mentored Chief Technology Officers of IBM ASEAN, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and China Software Group, among others.
Entrepreneur of the Year Chong Chee Wah Founder and Chief Executive Officer, TreeBox Solutions
To me, entrepreneurship is about discovering one’s potential and creating value for stakeholders, customers, partners and employees. I am passionate about this whole concept and takes it upon myself to guide other start-up companies and conduct motivational talks in community events. It is my hope to inspire Singapore youths to pursue their passion, be bold and dream big.
Significant Professional Achievements • Bootstrapped TreeBox Solutions from “ground zero” and transformed the company into a leading secure mobile communications solution provider in the Asia Pacific region.
• Co-founded more than 11 start-up companies across biomedical, medical technology, information security and advanced materials industries including Clearbridge Accelerator – a Singapore-based translational medical technology incubator and accelerator.
ABOUT TREEBOX SOLUTIONS TreeBox Solutions is a leading secure mobile communications solution provider in Asia Pacific. Generating revenue from strategic partnerships fostered in the Middle East, Japan and Singapore, TreeBox solutions has also successfully secured partnerships and trials in Hong Kong, Australia, US, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei. TreeBox Solutions won the SITF’s Gold Award for Mobile Category in 2013. Recently, the company was also awarded the inaugural “Best Tech Company to Work for Award”, the prestigious “Red Herring Top 100 Global Companies” and the “Top 100 Asia Companies” award. It was also recognised as one of the 25 Most Promising Cloud Solution Providers by APAC CIO Outlook.
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Entrepreneur of the Year Royston Tay Vice President and General Manager of Messaging, Zendesk
I have established close ties with budding and experienced entrepreneurs within the regional start-up ecosystem over the past 10 years. Sometimes I am a mentor; other times I am an angel investor. Today, I count many of them as friends. Looking ahead, it is my agenda to help grow the regional tech ecosystem to new heights in the region.
SPOTLIGHT
Significant Professional Achievements • Co-founded Zopim, a Live Chat software company based in Singapore during his last year of study at National University of Singapore (NUS). Royston led the development of the businessfacing dashboard in its early years, taking the reins as CEO and growing the company until its acquisition by USbased Zendesk in 2014. • Invested in start-ups including 99.co (an online real estate company), MoneySmart (a fintech company) and Koobits (an edutech company).
ABOUT ZOPIM Zopim is a Live Chat software company which was co-founded by Royston and his friends during their last year of study at NUS. Incubated by NUS, Zopim received a $55,000 grant from the Media Development Authority’s i.JAM scheme, and was located at NUS’ on-campus co-working space. Zopim eventually grew into a team of 40, serving some 18,000 paying customers in more than 150 countries. By emphasising the importance of product and customer-centricity, the company became profitable within a year. In 2012, Zopim recorded more than US$1 million in sales revenue. In 2014, Zopim was acquired by Zendesk, a leading cloud-based customer service platform that helps bring organisations and their customers closer together.
IT Youth Girish Kumar Graduate, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
I am positively charged about what lies ahead. I enjoy every bit of what I am doing now and it is great to be recognised for doing something I love. Notable Achievements • Took part in the Science Mentorship Programme organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) at A*STAR where under the tutelage of Dr Donny Soh and Dr Cheu Eng Yeow, Girish and classmates came up with the “Dynamic Time Warping Algorithm” which won them the Bronze award at Singapore Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) 2013. • Selected by MOE for “Research Science Institute” in 2014, which
involved visiting Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and interning at the MIT Media Lab, working on Transient Imaging. • Working as a research intern at A*STAR under Dr Rafael Banchs and Dr Luis F. D’Haro, he published four peer-reviewed conference papers in areas ranging from deep-learning to the integration of computer sciences in classroom learning. • Worked on a project entitled “RevUP”, a software that automatically generates quiz questions for students and teachers by leveraging cutting edge AI algorithms under the tutelage of Dr Rafael E. Banchs and Dr Luis F. D’Haro at A*STAR.
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• Led his peers in supporting community work through IT. Working with Brackets4Change, Girish ran workshops to teach high school students how to code. Together with his team, he designed teaching materials and made use of open source software to lead workshops on web development in JavaScript and Python. • Won the Google Technologist Award in 2015. • A member of the winning team for Pre-Tertiary category for SCS Splash Awards 2015. • A participant in the IdeasInc 2015 accelerator.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
IT Youth Raniel Lee Founder, Jobook Singapore
I envision a future where people live happy and fulfilled lives by leveraging on technology. To achieve that, we need to keep learning, never stop believing and motivate others to not give up on their goals. I believe in getting my hands dirty to help and set a good example for others. There are many people with big dreams but the question is, ‘how can these dreams be turned into tangible goals, executed and realised?’ I look forward to the day when the infocomm media community will bridge education and businesses together using technology – Pay It Forward.
RSA leads Gartner Magic Quadrant for BCM. For more info, contact RSASouthEastAsia@rsa.com
Notable Achievements • Founded INSPIREARTS LLP (www.inspirearts.net), a company that specialises in online business development and training, website development, still and motion graphic design, film production, print material design, and mobile application development. As the Chief Executive Officer of INSPIREARTS, Raniel continually inspires and motivates his staff and drives positive change within the organisation. • Founded Jobook Singapore (www.jobook.sg), an easyto-use platform that provides smart connection between employers and jobseekers to ensure the best fit in the shortest time.
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COMIT – Elevate Your Outsourcing Capabilities
Ang Mui Kim, COMIT (Senior), CITPM (Senior) Cluster Director Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
POWER BOOST
S
CS’ 10-year-old Certification in Outsourcing Management of IT (COMIT) programme has trained close to 1,100 outsourcing professionals and certified close to 900 IT outsourcing professionals. It is recognised by major IT players and government agencies as the de-facto standard for IT outsourcing professionals to acquire in order to carry out an outsourced IT project successfully. Hear what our industry leaders have to say about COMIT.
“COMIT is the standard used to evaluate IT professionals’ level of outsourcing management skills. The stringent requirements of certification and recertification encourage the IT professionals to remain relevant by continually keeping abreast of the changes in process, methodology, technology and human capital management.”
“COMIT is a coveted certification for IT professionals, who have attained outsourcing competencies, to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving IT landscape and to create new business values in the digital economy.”
Vivian Tay, COMIT (Senior), CITPM (Senior) Deputy Managing Director NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
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“Many industries recognise the importance of certification for individuals, organisations, etc. And achieving certification and recertification under COMIT signals to your employers and customers that you have achieved professional standard and competency in IT Outsourcing Management. Make a difference to your career. Get certified.”
Ng Chin Kong, COMIT (Senior) Deputy Director Complex Processing Systems, Innovation & InfoComm Technology Group Land Transport Authority
To gain the professional recognition in the marketplace, enrol for the COMIT (Associate) course and examination or submit the Service Competency Report to SCS today!
COMIT Course & Examination Schedule
Course Date
Examination Date
Contact Details
13 April to 15 April 2016
28 May 2016
3 October to 5 October 2016
14 November 2016
Ms Ten Yun Bee Tel: 6516 2096 isstyb@nus.edu.sg
Contact the Certification Secretariat at 6226 2567 or email to scs. secretariat@scs.org.sg for the nomination package. Enrolment for SCS certifications opens in May and closes on 15 June 2016.
SKILLSFUTURE
EARN AND LEARN PROGRAMME An initiative under SkillsFuture, the Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for Infocomm Technology (ICT) sector is a work-study programme designed to give fresh graduates like you a head-start in careers related to your field of study. Future-proof yourself in the competitive ICT landscape with a range of specialisation tracks under ELP that will lead to an industry-recognised certification.
HOW CAN I BENEFIT?
WHO IS IT FOR? The SkillsFuture ELP for ICT sector is opened to Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents who are fresh polytechnic graduates in ICT-related fields, i.e. those within a year of graduation or Operational Ready Date for National Servicemen.
Fresh polytechnic graduates under the ELP for ICT sector can enjoy the following benefits: A sign-on incentive of $5,000 (For Singapore Citizens only) Competitive starting salaries
Skills deepening through productivity improvement project and facilitated/e-learning
HOW DOES IT WORK? You will undergo a 12-month structured training programme which includes:
Industry-recognised certification(s)
Wage increments upon successful programme completion
Offered by Temasek Polytechnic
Facilitated learning
E-learning
On-the-job training
Work-based projects
Offered by Singapore Polytechnic
Smart Solutions
Offered by Nanyang Polytechnic
TRACKS U N FOR ICT S DER THE ELP ECTOR
Software Development
Contact Nanyang Polytechnic School of Information Technology Call Kee Li Ren at 6550 1654 or send an email to: KEE_Li_Ren@nyp.edu.sg
Cyber Security
Contact Singapore Polytechnic School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology Call Eileen Yeo at 6870 4729 or send an email to: yeoel@sp.edu.sg
For more information, please visit www.skillsfuture.sg
Big Data & Analytics
Contact Temasek Polytechnic School of Informatics & IT Call Eng Pin Kwang at 6780 5158 or send an email to: iit@tp.edu.sg
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POWER BOOST
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Needle in a Haystack: Finding Information that Matters
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
VLADYSLAV KOSHELYEV Member, SCS Client Solutions Manager, Facebook
The Internet offers a multitude of content of varying quality. The amount of available data is staggering and will only expand exponentially. But do faster processors and larger hard drives always make it easier to find what we really need?
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s societies develop, our idea of precious resources changes. Centuries ago, people valued metals – with gold being the most craved. Prosperity of nations was measured by the amount of coins stored in their coffers. Then, as economies industrialised, energy became even more precious. RISE OF THE INFORMATION AGE These days, however, commodity traders can hardly do their work without the Internet and their ubiquitous smartphones. Good data helps companies make millions while their less informed competitors go bust. Superior knowledge can overhaul entire industries and even change the geopolitical layout. All these are signs that we are entering a new age – the Age of Information.
Information is abundant, but it is the quality rather than the quantity that will present true value. Insights rooted in solid facts, hard data, strong research and meticulous investigation are the lifeblood of every society in the 21st century. There is a new gold rush, and those who have the ability to filter out gems from the dust of digital noise will prosper. SEPARATING WHEAT FROM CHAFF This presents individuals like us with a whole array of tough questions. If anyone can edit Wikipedia, self-publish a blog or have thousands of fans on social media, which publications and websites
can we really trust? Which sources do we base our decisions on when we develop business strategies, build state policies or make personal life choices? A few signs can help to spot a quality resource: • The publication is patronised by a reputable university or institution such as MIT, NUS, McKinsey, BCG, etc. • The articles are produced by professionals with established credentials and achievements. • The content is peer-reviewed, offers references to other works and is used by other authors. • The publication has a long tradition of fact checks. When mistakes do happen, corrections and apologies quickly follow. With these rules of thumb, it is possible to adapt to the new technologies and get better at harnessing the information flow to our benefit. BEYOND INFORMATION: NETWORKING Notably, the Internet possesses a neverbefore-seen ability to connect people. We only took a short while after the web appeared to start forming groups and making networks that closely resemble actual social relationships built around various purposes and objectives. Services such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter
dominate social interactions in the digital domain. There is also another kind of boutique networks that tackle the needs of small groups of highly skilled professionals. Reflecting our natural behaviour of turning to experts, professional associations and societies for advice, insights or resources, professional digital platforms enable us to seek advice from experienced peers in our field, discover insights supported by solid research and contribute to the body of knowledge in the field. One example of such a platform is the Infopier portal. It connects people who are passionate about computers, media, telecommunications and emerging technologies to useful resources such as certifications, job postings, as well as quality curated articles, insights and perspectives from industry thought leaders. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Technology is an enabler, which we can use to partner with like-minded people in our search for knowledge. However, akin to drilling oil and mining metal, we will need to learn to filter and refine the data flow. Finding information is a skill that requires a lot of practice, but with hard work and perseverance, we can always find that needle in the haystack.
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
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Newly Minted SCS Executive Council to Focus on Talent Development and Industry Collaborations Technology is evolving faster than upskilling can catch up. Amidst the push by the Singapore Government to build the world’s first Smart Nation, the infocomm industry is facing a manpower crunch. And as the largest body for Singapore’s infocomm and digital media professionals, SCS has a role to play to help bridge the talent gaps. We are doing our bit to keep the infocomm industry strong and vibrant through our certifications, chapters, SIGs and collaborations with industry players. Looking ahead, we will continue to add value and facilitate the development of ICT talent in Singapore, while serving as a growth catalyst for the industry. - Howie Lau, SCS President
SCS Executive Council 2016/17 President Howie Lau, FSCS StarHub
Honorary Secretary Dr Timothy Chan, FSCS Singapore Institute of Management
Vice-Presidents Dr Chong Yoke Sin, FSCS Integrated Health Information Systems
Honorary Treasurer Tan Teng Cheong, FSCS DISYS Singapore
Ong Whee Teck, SMSCS PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting
Council Members Dennis Ang, SMSCS Nanyang Polytechnic
Yap Chee Yuen, FSCS Genting Singapore
Myungjo Choi, SMSCS Facebook
Chong Chee Wah, MSCS Treebox Solutions
Lum Seow Khun, SMSCS IBM Singapore
Adrian Chye, MSCS Mediafreaks
Leslie Ong, SMSCS VMware Singapore
Philip Kwa, SMSCS ST Electronics (Info-Security)
Joshua Soh, SMSCS HealthStats International
Dr Kwong Yuk Wah, FSCS National Trades Union Congress
Yeo Teck Guan, SMSCS Singapore Pools
Lau Shih Hor, SMSCS Elixir Technology
Honorary Legal Advisors Dr Toh See Kiat, FSCS Goodwins Law Corporation
Andrew Lim, SMSCS Singapore Telecommunications
Gilbert Leong, MSCS Rodyk & Davidson LLP
New leadership sworn in at the SCS Annual General Meeting on 24 March at the Hilton Hotel. Back row (from left): Myungjo Choi, Chong Chee Wah, Lau Shih Hor, Yeo Teck Guan, Gilbert Leong, Andrew Lim, Philip Kwa, Dennis Ang, Adrian Chye, Leslie Ong; front row (from left): Joshua Soh, Dr Timothy Chan, Tan Teng Cheong, Yap Chee Yuen, Howie Lau, Dr Chong Yoke Sin, Ong Whee Teck, Dr Kwong Yuk Wah, Lum Seow Khun; absent: Dr Toh See Kiat
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#LATEST@SCS
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
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All Set for the Next Lap The Business Analytics Chapter will continue on our journey to increase awareness of Analytics in Singapore in 2016/17. Apart from continuing with the IDEAS series which has seen strong participation since inception, we will host an information sharing event for key Singapore governmental agencies – enabling them to share their strategy and road map for Analytics. Concurrently, we will begin work on a Singapore Analytics Training Directory. With so many exciting plans in place, we invite you to join us and stay current with the latest developments in Analytics!
2015 was a fruitful year where we saw many initiatives spearheaded by our Chapters gaining ground. Gearing ourselves for the way forward, we recently renewed the leadership of the SCS Chapters. We are confident that these Executive Committees are well poised to lead SCS and our members into exciting times ahead. Business Analytics (BA) President Simon Thomas, SMSCS IBM Global Business Services
Committee Members Ang Kian Keong, MSCS StarHub
Vice Presidents Kelly Choo, MSCS Neeuro
Shridar Jayakumar, MSCS Oracle
Manik Bhandari, MSCS Accenture Honorary Secretary Swaminathan Rajamanickam, MSCS EMC International
Lim Ai Huey, MSCS Nanyang Polytechnic Oh Chin Lock, MSCS Temasek Polytechnic Jonah Ong, MSCS Land Transport Authority
Honorary Treasurer Kwa Siew Kuan, MSCS Nanyang Polytechnic
Simon Thomas, SMSCS IBM Global Business Services
Business Continuity Chapter (BCC) President Paul Lee, SMSCS DC Connect
Committee Members Carolynn Lock, SMSCS Hitachi Data Systems
Vice Presidents Thomas Kok, MSCS DBS Bank
Lok Ee Choon, MSCS Arete Consultancy
Micah Tan, SMSCS Horizon Resiliency Honorary Secretary Lim Pei Xin, MSCS Honorary Treasurer Alex Siow, MSCS Pantropic Online
Jasper Tan, SMSCS IBM Singapore Roland Teo, MSCS Eastern Health Alliance Wong Tew Kiat, FSCS Organisation Resilience Management Yong Foo Onn, MSCS UBS
In 2016/17, the Cloud Computing Chapter will focus on knowledge transfer in the industry, and in so doing, facilitate greater adoption of Cloud Computing. Notably, members can look forward to scheduled seminars, workshops and training programmes as well as the forthcoming launch of the Body of Knowledge at CloudAsia 2016. The Chapter welcomes SCS members and ICT professionals to participate in these activities – in support of the advancement and adoption of Cloud Computing as a Smart Nation initiative of Singapore. Be a co-driver in our Cloud Computing movement.
Dr Anton Ravindran, SMSCS Rapidstart
Business continuity management (BCM) is gaining importance in this increasingly complex world. It is of little wonder why the Business Continuity Chapter (BCC), formerly known as BCG, is as vibrant as ever even as it crosses its 20th anniversary this year. We are particularly heartened by the positive feedback received for the BCM Conference 2016. The continued support and endorsement of all members and industry partners drive our myriad of activities in this new term. We welcome you to join us and contribute to the Chapter’s vibrancy.
Paul Lee, SMSCS DC Connect
Cloud Computing Chapter President Dr Anton Ravindran, SMSCS Rapidstart
Committee Members Gunasekharan Chellapan, MSCS IBM Singapore
Immediate Past President Martin Yates, SMSCS Dell
Chris Chin, MSCS Microsoft
Vice Presidents Dr Lee Hing Yan, FSCS Infocomm Development Authority Dr Paul Wu, MSCS SIM University Honorary Secretary Raju Chellam, SMSCS Dell Honorary Treasurer Gary Lim Choong Wu, MSCS Microsoft
Koh Chin Kiong Richard, MSCS Singapore Telecommunications Lee Kok Yong, MSCS Accenture Loke Siew Yeng, MSCS StarHub Prof Venky Shankararaman, MSCS Singapore Management University
The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society
Interactive Digital Media Chapter President Nicholas Aaron Khoo, MSCS Singapore Cybersports & Online Games Association (SCOGA) Vice Presidents Daniel Tan, FSCS Nanyang Polytechnic Olivier de Rotalier, SMSCS Ubisoft Singapore Honorary Secretary Eric Lam, MSCS Amdon Consulting Honorary Treasurer Bryan Tan, MSCS Pinsent Masons
#LATEST@SCS
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Committee Members Samantha Fok, SMSCS Infocomm Development Authority Dr Koh Wee Lit, MSCS Red Hare Studios Low Aik Lim, SMSCS Green Thumb Consultancy Ng Weng Choh, MSCS Ngee Ann Polytechnic Jonathan Pillai, MSCS Temasek Polytechnic
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Building on our successful past track records, it is our intention to continue championing events and workshops that are popular among our members while keeping a look out on the latest trends. In addition to the Splash Awards which we have been co-organising with the Student Chapter and the Ministry of Education, we aim to explore collaborations with other SCS Chapters and Interest Groups to deepen industry engagement and attract more talents to the digital media sector. We are actively developing meaningful programmes for our younger talents.
Alvin Tang, MSCS Singapore Polytechnic
Nicholas Aaron Khoo, MSCS Singapore Cybersports & Online Games Association (SCOGA)
Dr Tham Jo Yew, MSCS A*STAR
Mobile & Wireless Chapter At the Mobile and Wireless Chapter, we are excited to explore how technology disrupts and redefines job roles within various industries. We are especially intrigued by the increased efforts in training and educating the workforce to prepare them for the future. We seek to examine implications and outcomes arising from the race between technology evolution and skills development. If you, like us, are keen to gain awareness and better understand the impact of the relentlessly accelerating and disruptive technologies available, be sure to join our Chapter.
President Loh Mun Yew, MSCS TapTalents
Committee Members Charu Mahajan, MSCS Accenture
Vice Presidents Koo Seng Meng, MSCS Kooideas.co
Andy Ho, MSCS MOH Holdings
Richard Oh, MSCS NTUitive Honorary Secretary Melvyn Suan, MSCS Nanyang Polytechnic Honorary Treasurer Jennifer Huang, SMSCS M1
Loh Mun Yew, MSCS TapTalents
Michael Lim, MSCS JamiQ Ng Chin Kong, MSCS Land Transport Authority Tan Kok Peng, MSCS M1 Tan Shui Min, MSCS Integrated Health Information Systems Yeo Law Learn, MSCS M1
Project Management Chapter President Jonathan Tay, MSCS SATS
Committee Members Chin Keng Cheong, MSCS HP Enterprise Services
Immediate Past President Thomas Lai, SMSCS ST Electronics (Info-Software Systems)
Gan Keng Swee, MSCS Central Provident Fund
Vice Presidents Edwin Chew, SMSCS Integrated Health Information Systems Wu Chun Wei, MSCS Accenture Honorary Secretary Jeffrey Ng, MSCS Honorary Treasurer Tan Seng Chong, SMSCS IBM Global Services
See Han Seng, MSCS Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Teh Sim Seng, MSCS Infocomm Development Authority Teng Tat Wee, MSCS Singapore Post
As we extend our heartfelt appreciation for the support shown to our professional talks and project management clinics in the past year, we look forward to 2016/17 with renewed commitment. Spotting a new name “Project Management Chapter”, we are confident that we will become even more relevant to our CITPMs and COMITs members as well as inspire stronger affiliation with the Chapter. For 2016/17, the Chapter will continue to generate networking opportunities and champion knowledge sharing through educational site visits, inspiring talks and enriching professional seminars.
Wong Wai Hong, MSCS A*STAR Francis Yee, MSCS NCS
The QA Chapter had a successful year in 2015, thanks to our dedicated Executive Committee and our members’ support. In 2015, various industry speakers shared insights on specialised topics, including Geospatial and Internet of Things; our members also exchanged knowledge and experiences on these topics. In 2016/17, the Executive Committee will continue to organise events that promote QA as a fundamental IT professional skill set and value-add to local QA community. We will also collaborate with other Chapters to advocate QA principles in other IT fields.
Quek Ser Choon, SMSCS Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Jonathan Tay, MSCS SATS
Quality Assurance Chapter President Quek Ser Choon, SMSCS Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Honorary Treasurer Santheep Singh, MSCS Accellion
Immediate Past President Francis Mahendran, SMSCS EasyWorks
Committee Members Chong Fung Tshu, MSCS Integrated Health Information Systems
Vice Presidents Balaji Balasubramanian, MSCS Great Eastern Life Assurance
Cheong Yin Yin, MSCS Integrated Health Information Systems
James Tey, MSCS Nanyang Polytechnic Honorary Secretary Corinna Toh Yee Ling, MSCS G&W Group
Kulkarni Asawari Jaydeep, MSCS Integrated Health Information Systems Peck Siew Kang Elene, MSCS Singapore Management University Jan Setyawan, MSCS Singapore Management University
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#LATEST@SCS
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
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The IT Society – #Latest@SCS
Hacks to Manage Your Virtual Life Your cat just gave birth to a kitten and you want to share the good news with the world. How about Instagramming it? Thinking of reconnecting with the friend who migrated to New Zealand five years ago. Maybe Facebook will be a good place to start searching! SAM MAURIS YONG Yesterday at 09:00
I SAM MAURIS YONG Member, SCS IT Youth Council
n today’s digital generation, thanks to the advent of mobile devices and pervasive social media platforms, none of the above feats should pose any difficulties. After all, people stay connected with their family, friends and institutions by sharing vacation photos, funny cat videos or even news about upcoming marriage plans and the arrival of their newborn. Undisputedly, social media has brought the world closer – more than any other form of technology that man has seen. And when we move into a new team at work or take up a new job portfolio, there will inevitably be new friend requests from new colleagues although we may meet them at work every day. How do we balance personal privacy and socialising with our colleagues in the digital world? Where does one draw the line? KEEPING PERSONAL LIFE SEPARATE FROM WORK It is no secret that some managers would use social media to monitor their employees and staff. In some cases, social media also becomes a convenient tool for work dissemination after office hours. Furthermore, it may be discomforting to share personal moments with colleagues and superiors. Good news is, it is not difficult to manage privacy on these platforms. The best, however, is to exercise discretion when sharing on the Internet. After all, in the world of web, there is no telling who is reading what and the reaction that may evoke. And when work and personal life become too difficult to separate, there is always the option to close or entirely privatise the accounts. If the latter solution is adopted, care must be taken when accepting friends. Otherwise, the vicious cycle may begin all over again. TOEING THE LINE ON THE PROFESSIONAL FRONT There is a certain draw to be in the know about your friends’ lives and, generally, to stay abreast of new developments. That is why many people are glued to their phones, even when at work. Although some companies have blocked social media in their office computer network, many others have not. However, no matter whether unrestricted access is provided or not, remaining professional during work hours is recommended.
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Another Great Turnout. Another Awesome Celebration.
Guest of Honour Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (fourth from the right) and SCS President Howie Lau (right most) celebrating with the winners of IT Leader Awards 2016.
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ver 900 infocomm and digital media professionals from both public and private sectors attended the recent SCS Gala Dinner and IT Leader Awards 2016 held at the Shangri-La Hotel on 4 March. The ceremony was graced by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information. An annual event, the SCS Gala Dinner this year was especially significant as it marked the 20th IT Leader Awards where the achievements of distinguished individuals in the Singapore’s infocomm and digital media industry were acknowledged and honoured. The successful evening was reflective of the achievements of SCS and the award winners. It also hinted at the shape of things to come as SCS advances ahead towards SCS 50 in 2017.
Attendees took the opportunity to catch up with each other.
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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
Chak Kong Soon Joins the Ranks of SCS Honorary Fellowship At SCS Gala Dinner & IT Leader Awards 2016 held at the Shangri-La Hotel on 4 March, the Society conferred SCS’ highest award, which has only been received by 17 others to date, to immediate former SCS President, Chak Kong Soon.
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lso conferred the “Young Professional of the Year” at the IT Leader Awards in 1999 and the SCS President’s Award in 2007, Chak first joined SCS Executive Council in 1994 and was on the council for 12 consecutive years till 2006. During which time, he took on different key positions, including Vice-President and Honorary Secretary. In 2012, he went on to assume the role of SCS President where he served in numerous capacities and led many working committees such as Chairman of the Student Chapter Board, Chairman of the National PC Proficiency Programme Committee, Chairman of the Membership Committee and President of the Interactive Digital Media Chapter. These days, Chak continues to be active in SCS, helming the newly launched Technopreneurship Special Interest Group where he mentors many technology startups both local and regionally.
Visionary Leader Under Chak’s leadership, SCS renewed collaborations with Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and QAI Global Institute, increasing the number of certifications offered in SCS. Consequently, this led to a 30% increase in SCS’ certification enrolment and the certification of more than 3,300 professionals. In addition, Chak elevated SCS’ membership credibility through fostering strategic partnerships with organisations such as Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI), National Trades Congress Union (NTUC) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Notably, the collaboration Chak initiated with Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to launch two series of talks – IDEAS and TRENDS (Technology Revolution Empowerment ‘N’ Development Series) – have provided an informal networking platform for infocomm professionals.
Passionate Educator Throughout his three decades of professional career in the infocomm industry, Chak actively participated and served on the boards of various educational institutions, including National University of Singapore’s School of Computing Advisory Board, Institute of System Science Management Board, IT Manpower Industry Panel and SIM International Academic Panel. Chak was also on the judging panels of many IT Awards and competitions including IT Leader Awards, Splash Awards, SITF Awards and Hackathon. Chak is actively involved in mentoring young entrepreneurs and youths under the NUS Enterprise Programme and Young Entrepreneur Network. He also collaborates with the Media Development Authority (MDA) to invest, provide consultancy and assistance to entrepreneurs in his capacity as the Managing Partner of Stream Global.
DID YOU KNOW? SCS Honorary Fellow is awarded only to those who have achieved position of eminence and made exemplary contributions to the advancement and development of IT in Singapore. SCS Honorary Fellows: Chak Kong Soon • Pearleen Chan Willie Cheng • Noel Hon Robert Iau • FC Kohli Lee Kwok Cheong • Lim Swee Say Johnny Moo • Juzar Motiwalla Alphonsus Pang • Saw Ken Wye Alex Siow • Tan Chin Nam Wilson Tan • Martin Tsang Wee Tew Lim • Philip Yeo Chak is married with three children and enjoys taking nature walks with his family.
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We’ve Launched Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality Special Interest Group!
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evices like the Oculus Rift and Google Glass have brought the simulated realities of The Matrix, and real-time analysis and feed of Iron Man’s helmet display excitingly close to life. And these are just the beginning!
Get Acquainted with Our AR/VR SIG Advocates
Riding on this growth momentum, the newly-formed Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality Special Interest Group (AR/VR SIG) aims to bring together technology stakeholders in the ecosystem – industry leaders, academics and consumers – to share knowledge, promote best practices and accelerate Singapore’s AR/VR development.
GET CONNECTED
DESMOND NG
TEE JIA HEN
KOO SENG MENG
Chairman Director Eon Reality
Deputy Chairman CEO VR Collab
Deputy Chairman Owner kooideas.co
Stay updated about upcoming AR/VR SIG events at www.scs.org.sg/SIG/sig-arvr.php, or follow the SCS Facebook page SingaporeComputerSociety.
What is AR/VR? Augmented Reality refers to technology that enhances our current perception of reality, superimposing digital data and information over what we see in the real world. Virtual Reality refers to technology that completely immerses the user in a completely artificial simulation of reality.
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What can AR/VR be used for? Aside from the commonly hyped uses for videos and gaming, AR/VR can be used for:
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Visualising spaces that are inaccessible. For example, see where oil deposits lie underground, or where a brain tumour is located before operation.
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Training purposes – without putting people in harm’s way. For example, EON Icube, which trains Oil Rig Operators, shortens two years of conventional training into nine months through VR simulation!
Exploring the world. For example, Google Cardboard has created VR tours of Paris, New York and various museums around the world.
Planning infrastructure works. Augmented reality can help contractors see the location of underground tunnels and utility lines before they commence excavation works.
SCS EVENTS 2016 MAY
MAY
10
Debate Session: Where Should IT Security Report in Your Organisation?
MAY
SCS Bowling Tournament
MAY
14
Cloud Computing 101 Series: Cloud Enabling Technologies & Trusted Cloud Services
MAY
MAY
20
IDEAS Series: Deep Learning & Computer Vision
JUL
SCS Golf Day
11
14
Cloud Computing 101 Series: Which Cloud is Right for You?
15
JUL
SCS Tech3 Forum
JUL
JUL
20
27
11 25 JUL
15 ASCENT Series: Big Data & Analytics
Site Visit to LT Gallery cum Seminar on Active Mobility Unit ASCENT Series: 3D Printing
IDEAS Series: Marketing Analytics
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GEEK SPEAK
THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 01/2016
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Software Updates: For Better or Worse
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hat would you do when you switch on your phone and you are greeted with the following message: “This update contains improvements and bug fixes.” For most, it’s probably a no brainer. Just hit the “download and install” button right away.
After spending the next 30 minutes furiously ploughing through the web and various community discussion boards, the answer is found! Apparently, the most recent software update contains a bug which disables browser capability to launch links!
Ten minutes go by and the updating process is completed. Hang on a minute. The links in the browser aren’t working!
And there is no fix except to: 1. Change the phone 2. Wait for the next software update that solves the problem (hopefully?)
Never mind, maybe a reboot will set things right. Quit the app. Restart the device. Just to be safe, clear cache too. Launch browser again. No luck. Same problem.
Neither of the solution is great. Eventually, the latter option wins out – barely. (The next software update came five days later.)
Is there a problem with the phone? Or was something done incorrectly during the updating process? Walk through every step taken mentally and everything seems to be on track.
On the grander scheme of things, the whole episode brings to mind how developers are rushing to release beta versions of software these days – in their attempt to gain first mover advantage and log in the users. The fact that there’s always the option to provide patches later even endorses this behaviour.
So what’s wrong with the browser? The hanged app stares back.
Question is: “Is speed more important than quality when it comes to software release?” Truth is, when a bug cripples one of the key features of the software (or the device), no brownie points are scored for releasing it first. Instead, love is lost in the moments of frustration when the feature cannot work. For one, after living through five days of inconvenience, would the users still stay loyal to the product and/or brand? Even if the answer is a “yes”, it has just gotten less resounding. What’s more? The implication for businesses / providers on the platform is just as damaging. Can you imagine the amount of opportunities lost? All around, it is just bad business. Less trust. More doubts. Another software update? Beware!