Made-in-Singapore technologies have come a long way since Creative Technology introduced the first sound card for desktop computers in 1989.
Take X-mini, makers of arguably the best-sounding portable speakers, and Trek, inventors of the USB storage drive, for example. Besides winning critical acclaim for their products, they also possess an innovative streak that all of us can be proud of.
As we take stock of our achievements over the past 50 years, Techgoondu looks forward to what the local technology scene may be.
The next big (data) app
App development is all the rage right now due to low start-up costs and its market potential, considering the reach of the iOS and Android mobile platforms commonly in use today.
The fact that larger players – even local ones – are buying up startups in return for lucrative payouts probably played a part in the race towards creating the next big thing.
From Carousell, an online marketplace for things, to Paktor, which helps people find companionship, future apps are likely to ride on the massive amounts of data harvested today.
Locally, data on things ranging from bus arrival timings and live traffic are readily available on the government’s Data Catalogue at data.gov.sg, which apps like SG BusLeh and Google Maps are using to great effect.
Would any developer be able to collate sales data by location and profile to help firms improve their market segmentation strategies? Or even better, create a marketplace that can offer precise recommendations based on past purchases? This will surely be a successful product with global demand.
Getting ready for the silver tsunami
Singapore’s population will soon be the fastest ageing in the world, which will see 2.1 working-age adults supporting each citizen above the age of 65 by 2030, down from 6.3 adults to one senior citizen in 2013.
Beyond readying healthcare facilities and moves to encourage people to continue working, with fewer children around to help, a culture of self-sufficiency also has to take root.
This is where technology can play a big part. Apps can help seniors keep track of medications and appointments and devices will improve their mobility and dignity. Both examples are developed locally, which goes to show we already possess the expertise to cater to this growing market.
Would future technologies be able to recognise the nutritional content of a plate of food through a combination of imagery and sensors? Can future walking equipment monitor where seniors go in case they lose their way, and how quickly they’re travelling to determine their health?
There could even be goals – relayed through screens on a product or a smartphone – created in consultation with caregivers and healthcare providers so seniors can eat healthy and remain active.
Why go for overseas options if innovative local ones can be developed for our needs and adapted for the many other nations that will soon face the same problem?
Redefining the Singapore Identity
This is one topic that is closely tied to the issue of an ageing population. With the rapid growth in population to offset reduced birth rates, the social fabric here does appear to be changing.
What then, can technology do to redefine the new social compact and forge a collective destiny?
Apps that bring people together to create opportunities for interaction might be the answer. There is a local app that allow users to chat up those staying around them, jio each other for activities and meals as well as trade and sell items.
Beyond community-driven interest groups, I can imagine a “quest” system taking off, where users request and accept items and services from one another – if there are checks and safety considerations in place.
Interactive games and apps that help those new to our nation learn about our culture, like GuessTheWordSG, can also see wider application beyond a game among locals.
What the next 50 years hold is ours to make. The future definitely looks promising, as a combination of bright minds and technology could bring us to greater heights together as a nation. Happy National Day!
