Singapore Government employees can look forward to increasing their productivity and efficiency with new technologies featured at the Government Executives in the New Information and Knowledge Era (Genie) showcase at IDA. The showcase is the first in the world in which multi-national corporations have come together to work with the Singapore Government to demonstrate the potential of ICT.

Demonstrating the use of collaborative tools that increases the productivity of public officers

Head of the Civil Service Mr Peter Ho said that this showcase (which features 16 high-tech gadgets and innovative solutions that are still being tested and researched in the labs of three IT industry giants - Microsoft, Intel and Fujitsu) is in line with the iGov2010 masterplan, which aims to enrich the capabilities and work environment of public officers through the innovative use of infocomm.

Some of the technologies featured included Fujitsu's palm-vein biometrics security systems and tablet PCs, Intel's VPro next generation remote management and security technology to be released later this year, and some of the collaborative tools that will be featured in Microsoft's upcoming Vista operating system. Mobility tools and devices showed how workers of the future can work anywhere, anytime whether at home, on the move or in the office.

According to IDA's Director for Government Infrastructure & Technology Ms Pauline Tan, some of the technologies in the showcase are currently undergoing trials at various government ministries and a decision on implementation should be forthcoming. In the next three years, IDA targets to have at least three technologies piloted at various public agencies and two deployed service-wide.

Mr Peter Ho, Head of Civil Service, highlighting the goals of Genie

IDA's chief executive Mr Chan Yeng Kit revealed that the showcase was set up at a cost of S$500,000 that was provided by the partners; with IDA providing the space for the showcase within its premises. Mr Chan also said that he hoped to see various ministries coming to see the showcase and its latest technology. By the sharing of ideas between the Government and technology partners, usage of the latest technology could be planned and implemented while they were still being developed.

The number of technologies to be tested will be increased to 30 over the next three years, said Mr Peter Ho.