Singapore
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Singapore: Fingerprinted Attendance and Fever Sensing
August 4, 2010 by Alam Kasenally
Yesterday, I was privileged to attend a seminar at the Crescent Girls School in Singapore, one of the nation’s “Future Schools”. This is one of five schools on the island that is pioneering the use of technology in education.
A few highlights, in order of amazement:
1. A device in the main corridor takes attendance through fingerprint scanning. It also has an infrared sensor that determines the student’s body temperature, thus screening for fever-based illnesses (such as SARS and H1N1)
2. The virtual reality lab, with 3D models of soil erosion . You have to get your very cool 3D goggles on to see it. 3D is not just for Avatar!
3. The “One to One” program, where every child (1200 of them so far) has a personal computing device. In this case, a Windows-powered Tablet PC.
4. Use of the Wii as an instructional tool. I noticed Wii Sports and the Balance Board in heavy use.
Singapore is leading the World in the use of technology in Education.
I’ll say it again: Singapore is leading the World…
Singapore: History, Culture and Economy
July 31, 2010 by Victoria Levy
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator, in the Southeast Asian region of the Asian continent. It is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north, and from Indonesia’s Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south.
A city-state, Singapore is the world’s fourth leading financial center and a cosmopolitan world city, playing a key role in international trade and finance.
Singapore has a diverse population of 5 million people made up of Chinese, Malays, Indians, Caucasians, and Asians (of various descent). It has the sixth-highest percentage of foreigners in the world (42%), who make up 50% of the service sector.
The country is the second most densely populated in the world after Monaco. A.T. Kearney names Singapore as the most globalised country in the world in its Globalization Index.
Even before independence in 1965, Singapore was one of the richest states in East Asia due to its strategic location as a port. Its GDP per capita in 1965 was $511, the third highest in East Asia after Japan and Hong Kong.
After independence, foreign direct investment and a state-led drive for industrialization based on plans by former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee created a modern economy focused on…
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Photo of the Week – Singapore
January 28, 2010 by Sherry Ott
Thaipusam Festival Singapore
The Tamil Hindu festival of Thaipusam is only celebrated in 5 places in the world. I was lucky enough to experience it in Singapore in 2007. With my camera I was able to capture a close up view of the body piercings which are meant to show a family’s devotion to the god Murukan, the personification of wisdom. In this photo, the man was pulling a heavy ‘offering’ for 5km via these back piercings. Participants carry offerings for the gods as an act of penance. However, to me it appeared as one of the most painful processes I’ve ever seen!
The unique and painful festival is celebrated this weekend on Jan. 30th in Singapore, Batu Caves, Penang, Jahor Baru, and Ipoh. (the last 4 locations are in Malaysia) If you are anywhere near these locations, I implore you to go check it out; it’s a day you’ll never forget!
To learn more about the Thaipusam, you can read my original post on my Thaipusam experience.
See other…
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South Africa one of top-10 countries to live in, say British expats
November 25, 2009 by Nic Haralambous
Who’d have thunk it right?
I know, I was fairly taken aback reading this too. Those of us who choose to live here know why we do (or can’t leave for whatever reason) but many of us can recognise the great reasons that keep us here. I didn’t think that many other countries shared our views what with all the terrible media coverage we get abroad.
But we beat out France and the USA in an HSBC poll recently. Here is the top ten list:
1. Canada
2. Australia
3. Thailand
4. Singapore
5. Bahrain
6. South Africa
7. France
8. USA
9. Spain
10. Hong Kong
Nice. Nifty. Moving on.
source.
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New Lineup of GPCs in Singapore
May 15, 2009 by Renee Blodgett
Apparently, there’s a new lineup of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs). The GPCs are appointed for a new term of two and a half years, starting from May this year to November 2011. According to Channel News Asia, the committees aim to offer a diversity of views on key issues.
Some of the first term MPs heading the GPCs are:
Mr Seah Kian Peng who chairs the Community, Development, Youth and Sports GPC;
Mr Michael Palmer who heads the Defence and Foreign Affairs GPC;
Mrs Josephine Teo who chairs the Education GPC;
Ms Jessica Tan who heads the Trade and Industry GPC;
Dr Lam Pin Min who chairs the Health GPC;
Mr Zaqy Mohamad who heads the Information, Communication and the Arts GPC; and
Dr Lim Wee Kiak who chairs the Transport GPC.
