Keio-NUS CUTE Centre Invents World’s First Social Networking Robot for Children

IDMPO funded research centre, Keio-NUS CUTE Centre, has developed the World’s first social networking robot for children. Petimo is selected by an international review panel as one of the best three submissions for the Como for Children (C4C) design competition held at The 8th International conference on Interaction Design and Children (IDC 2009), this is Petimo’s debut in Europe.

At its prototype state, Petimo already shows great potential. Responsive to touch and movements, the robot also showcased a range of advanced technological capabilities as a future mobile networking device for children. More features are being added, these include touch-screen functionality, various types of covers or skins for the outer finish of the robot for diverse personalisation and personality, as well as a whole range of applications that include games and intuitive features like 3-G technology and more.

Emphasis on Petimo’s creative design was to ensure that all physical properties, emotions, virtual gifts and many more robotic interactions are well-suited to children. In virtual form, the robot enters Petimo-World, its virtual realm. To add friends on it, a physical meet between two robots and its owners must take place and parents act as gate-keepers via Petimo-World’s parent authentication module.

Together, Petimo and Petimo-World is a new mediator in cultivating positive social behaviour and better familiarisation to computing environments among young growing minds.

Wish Singapore brings smiles to thousands during National Day Parade 2009

The thousands of participants at this year Singapore National Day Parade were amazed and surprised by Wish Singapore, a giant circular digital wall floating on the waters of Marina Bay along Esplanade Theatre waterfront. The digital wall, measuring an astonishing 22 meters in diameter and weighting more than 20 tons, was kept afloat by a customized platform anchored at 20 meters in the bay and is considered to be the first in the world. Wish Singapore digital wall offered a simulcast of the NDP live coverage on its 360-degree screen to reach the entire crowd assembled around Marina Bay. Live SMS and video dedication from all around the world were also available and displayed in real-time to engage the public with more interactive services.

“Wish Singapore is another great example of the kind of achievement a dynamic collaboration between the industry and pro-active government agencies could generate.” says Mr. Dorrucci, Chairman & CEO of PGK Media commenting on the collaboration between PGK and MDA/IDM which was a pivotal in the project execution. “We are extremely proud of Wish Singapore and we hope to have brought many smiles to the thousands of Singaporeans who battled the hot weather and long waiting hours to take a glimpse of the NDP show, it was indeed a great feeling.”

Wish Singapore is an integral part of the ADMe Network, an advanced distribution platform operated by PGK Media in co-operation with IDM R&D Programme Office hosted under MDA Media Development Authority of Singapore.

For more information on Wish Singapore please visit http://www.wishsingapore.com.sg
For more information on PGK Media please visit http://www.pgkmedia.com

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Visits F11

A high-level delegation led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was given a close-up view of Singapore’s success story during a two-day visit to the city state in August.

The delegation visited Singapore’s twin research campuses, Fusionopolis and Biopolis. Dealing with innovations in physical and life sciences respectively, the two centres provide a potential model for collaboration between private and state agencies.

At Fusionopolis, Sheikh Mohammed was shown around a 3D, virtual Singapore, as well as being given demonstrations of a number of multimedia devices with potential for use in both education and business.

The technologies had been developed at the centre, with a view to being used both by government bodies and companies there, and marketed worldwide.

For more information on F11, please visit http://www.idm.sg/f11/

IDMPO Companies are Finalists at the SiTF Awards
SiTF Awards, organised by the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) is to provide recognition to innovative ICT applications / solutions which are developed locally.

This award, championed by the industry is an important accolade to infocomm innovations in Singapore. It provides organisations, both MNC, local enterprises and institution of higher learning, schools, the opportunity to showcase their innovative product and services. It also offers an excellent platform to create awareness, seek investors and identify business partners.
The SiTF Awards 2009 qualification results are out, 23 out of about 90 nominations were selected. IDMPO is proud to note that 7 out of the 23 finalists are IDMPO supported.
For more information, please visit http://www.sitfawards.com

More Achievements from IDMPO Companies

IDMPO AND Singapore Tourism Board Explores Augmented Reality

IDMPO is working closely with Singapore Tourism Board to explore the use of Augmented Reality technologies for enhancing Tourism in Singapore.

This is part of IDMPO’s FutureWorlds initiative, where IDMPO welcomes partners with capabilities in real-time and immersive digital social media to develop next-generation media solutions that will transform inter and intra-personal communication.

We are interested in the following Augmented Reality solutions

Immersive Experience

- Use of Augmented Reality to recreate historic sites and simulate past events to create an immersive experience for visitors on the actual site.
- Interactive real time immersive games that allow players to participate through a Virtual Reality interface.

Non-Immersive Experience

- Use of Augmented Reality to display real time information about points of interests based on one’s locations.

For the pilot run, we will require the vendor(s) to develop:

(i) an Augmented Reality application at the proposed tourism venue;
(ii) an open platform that allows other companies to leverage on for further development, and
(iii) the type of tourism content to be generated.
(iv) business model and its sustainability

We are open to exploring various mediums to deliver these experiences; for instance, holographic projections, handheld devices and interactive screens,

We look forward to your responses.
For more information, please contact Darren Seah (darren_seah@stb.gov.sg) / Nicholas Foo (nicholas_foo@stb.gov.sg)