3 Dec 08 Update

Well, yes, the more important things to talk about regarding the first day of conference. Several new insights were obtained from the talks given by the speakers:

Firstly, education in Japan is well integrated with technology. More often than not, researchers and developers in Japan take their prototypes and request people of schooling age between 11-17 to test their prototype. The main technology that the school children test are robots. These robots are often brought to Japan schools for the children to try it out, and after which, they provide valuable feedback to the piece of technology.

To me, this is what education can be like, and Singapore can model after it. We often see the Singapore Government actively trying to spark off the interest in the younger generation, to breed "potential top scientist, researchers, and developers". However, most of the time, it is just talks and events that reap little benefits to achieve the purpose. In Japan, technology is BROUGHT to the students, not the students going to the talks or whatsoever. This allows the young generation in japan to try out and inspire them to enter into the technology and science field. Afterall, results have clearly proven that Japan has no worries regarding who is to lead the science fields in their country in future.

Singapore should model after bringing technology--entertainment technology that will stimulate students. Furthermore, rather than investing in "future schools" which is the prevalent situation in Singapore, where only FEW schools get the privilege of being exposed to technology, research institutions and universities can bring in their own technology into school life and let the students test the prototypes. It will help stimulate students to be more involved in the science field. it is also definitely less costly than building the future schools.

Furthermore, as mobile technology is the prototype technology introduced the the "future schools" that is currently under the primary stage (if i am not wrong), the technology should spread to more than PDAs and UMPCs--those mini PCS that weigh less than a kilo. In order to make mobile education technology readily available, software should be developed on platforms that are able to cater and run on normal mobile phones. PDAs are most costly and less user friendly, not to forget very much less common among students. What is the purpose of introducing mobile education technology? To facilitate learning everywhere, anytime, and make it common. I strongly believe PDAs do not meet the mark.

Mobile education software should be developed on common mobile phone platforms to allow the wide schooling population locally to fully utilise and maximise the capabilities of the mobile education technology. Not only will costs go down as only software needs to be invested upon and new technology need not be purchased, but also the wide majority will be able to use as mobile phones play an integrated in the young generation's lives today. Mobile phones are also always next to the young today; few ever part with their mobile phones. Therefore, using mobile education software on common phones will allow students to learn more conveniently and frequently, fully achieving the purpose of the mobile education software.

I know that to develop such an application on such a platform is by no means an easy task. Researchers at the conference have also pointed that out, but it is something worth looking into, as it is a viable idea that can always be adapted and modified.

Continuing on the education part of entertainment technology, e-learning can actually take on a new phase. There was a paper written on the usage of robots in the classroom, which is quite futuristic and quite challenging to accomplish in the near future. It encompassed the teacher teaching a robot, and the robot records down the voice, expressions, gestures, etc. The robot then transmit the information wirelessly to other robots via the network, and the other robots on the receiving end then convey the message and information to the students. The purpose of this function is to facilitate how the student wants to receive the information as he can control the robot in front of him, and the teacher is more able to convey the message across. The robots also come with different functions to facilitate learning.

There is an interesting piece of technology that a scientist at the conference innovated. The scientist innovated a chair whereby it FORCED users to nod. Yes, nod. The chair moves, forcing the person on the chair to jerk his/her head forward slightly. But what is the purpose of this chair that makes you nod? Well, together with other studies, it has been proven that nodding at certain intervals when someone is talking to you helps you focus and understand on the information more. Interesting right? However, nodding much be subtle and subconscious, not rocking your head back and forth violently. This chair in other words helps you concentrate more. We can always introduce this piece of technology in our classrooms in future, who knows? one not so good point was pointed out by one of the audience though. If this chair technology is introduced in classrooms, say in a class of 30 students, when the teacher talks, all the chairs move at the same time (as they are of the same type), and everyone nods at the same time, wouldn't it be very funny, comical and most of all, distracting. The point is, when you are talking to two people and they nod simultaneously, you know something is amiss. Talk about 30 people nodding all at the same time...a little strange and distracting right?

Basically, this is all I have thought of and written till now. This is my take on how some research presented at the conference can be applied locally. Of course, I have been exposed to much more content, but if I were to tell you verbatim, it would be pointless. Might as well throw you the whole conference proceedings! Therefore, this is my view and sharing with you all regarding how we can incorporate entertainment technology in Singapore. That's the point on attending conferences after all, so hope you are more open and exposed to new ideas now...

By the way, for those interested in developing mobile applications for whatever reasons be it entertainment or whatsoever, a good website to check out is www.mupe.net This website is a Nokia product where it is free of charge and teaches you step by step how to create multiplayer mobile phone games and applications. Note: this application is only used to create MULTIPLAYER software.

Cheerio!
Qin En