Week 6

In a article reported by By Ross O. Storey, MIS Asia on March 22, 2010, Singapore Unveils New Anti-Cybercrime Package.

Internet service providers (ISPs) in Singapore will be subject to a new code of infocomm security practice under a package of measures announced this morning by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).

The package aims to strengthen Singapore's preparedness against cyber threats to information security.

The programmes--introduced under Singapore's Infocomm Security Masterplan 2 (MP2)--aim to bolster the security of the Lion City's Internet infrastructure against cyber threats by issuing better early warnings and undertaking appropriate pre-emptive actions.

The package was announced today by Singapore's Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, at the IDA's annual Information Security Seminar.
Boosting national infrastructure
Lui said the the programmes will "boost the security of the national internet infrastructure and government infocomm infrastructure and services against cyber threats". They also aim to enhance competencies among the public, private and community sectors.

The seminar was co-organised by the Association of Information Security Professionals (AISP), which was formed as a joint initiative between the IDA and the Singapore Computer Society.

The Minister said that, through the AISP, which is the first such organisation in Asia, Singapore aspires to build a critical pool of competent infocomm security professionals who subscribe to the highest standards.

The new anti-cybercrime package includes the establishment of an Industry Code of Practice by the third quarter of 2010, to be incorporated into Singapore's telecommunications regulatory framework. ISPs will be subject to periodic IDA audits to ensure the Code is being met.

Greater ISP info sharing
There will also be greater sharing of infocomm security information among ISPs, coordinated by the IDA, to make better decisions about combating emerging cyber threats.

The Minister said that to protect the public sector infocomm infrastructure, new key capabilities will be introduced by leveraging business analytics tools. The aim was to present relevant information to decision-makers in a more timely manner to facilitate the early identification of cyber threats and for pre-emptive measures to be taken.

He said Singapore's public sector capabilities to address threats from massive cyber attacks such as Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS), will be broadened through a combination of policies, technical controls and competency building.

A DDoS attack occurs when multiple compromised systems (primed by malware or trojans) flood the bandwidth or resources of a targeted system, overwhelming the business' network so that it can no longer provide the intended online service, or obstructing legitimate communications between the business and its customers.

Another part of the package is the formation of the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance--"GO SAFE ONLINE"--to consistently remind IT users are reminded to take personal responsibility in protecting themselves against cyber threats.

Virtual cyber security park
The Minister said that the Alliance was also working with the National Crime Prevention Council to develop the 'Virtual Cyber Security Park' portal that will enable students to learn various facets of cyber wellness, safety and security via interactive mode such as educational online games.

He said: "In reaching out to the community-at-large, various approaches will be adopted by the Alliance such as leveraging social networking websites to create interest groups for sharing cyber security tips and best practices."

The Alliance will continue to tap platforms of partners such as seminars, trade associations networking sessions, and outreach events by industry leaders' groupings, such as the Singapore IT Federation, to connect better with businesses, in particular small and medium enterprises

Interesting article! Singapore’s defence system takes all forms of threats into considerable. No wonder so many foreigners want to be a Singapore citizen. A safe country no doubt.

Week 5

Google Map offers street maps, a route planner for traveling by foot, car, or public transport and an urban business locator for numerous countries around the world. It also offers stat elite view, terrain view and even street views. It is a very useful tool to find out your route and have an idea of how the street or place looks like especially with the street views.


I’ve made good use of Google Map to find out the speed limit signs planted on Tampines Ave 10 after receiving a summon from the Traffic Police. My summon letter proved to have a discrepancy as I was summoned for travelling over 60km/hr on that road when official sites state that the speed limit for that road was 70km/hr.


Hence, I went on Google Map and went on the street view and conscientiously check for the speed limit signs.


Alas, the view proved to be useful for I did not have to travel that route again to look out for the signs while driving. And I proved myself correct that the speed limit was 70km/hr. So, WAIVER OF SUMMON HERE I COME!


Next,



Phew! My video!

The first video I painstakingly made!

The experience was horrible because I am not a very tech savvy person. Especially when I’m not using my own laptop (because my LCD cracked). I am so not used to using this laptop!

Anyway! I think the processor of this laptop is slow, hence, it took me quite a while to upload the video into the movie maker program.

Firstly, I had trouble finding a video since this is not my laptop.

Then, after I chosen some clips from my trip to LA Disneyland in 2008, I had to wait for it to upload into the movie maker program as mentioned.

Thereafter, I had trouble finding out how to insert the slides for my captions.

Finally, I’ve gotten it done!

PHEW!!!
Overall, not a very good experience. Hence I concluded that I would not make any more videos again unless required. Sorry!

*Pardon the missing video. I am still having trouble to upload it after weeks of trying.
P/s: I SWEAR I did a video. So sorry you are not able to view the video of my trip in LA Disneyland in 2008. :(

Week 4

Teaching through digital media is a pervasive instrument throughout all levels of education today. Be it learning through games, watching videos, or using PowerPoint slides to teach, educators and learners now have a variety of forms of teaching and learning to choose from.
Since my time in kindergarten, we’ve a time allocated for computer lab lessons. I remembered that whenever we have such lessons, I would be very excited because it means that I get to play computer games!

Progressively when I entered different institutions for advance education, digital media was widely used. Teachers used educational games to teach and we even had to attend courses and come up with our own project assignments using the digital media.

Since young, we have been asked to imagine how future classrooms will look like. And now, with the launch of the Ipad, it seems like what I’ve imagined is coming true. I’ve vision that instead of books, students would bring a laptop that has all the books loaded in the computer. Then, the physical attendance of students of teachers would not be needed and they can learn and teach in their own home. This would definitely save lots of time travelling and transportation fee. As we know, getting information on the internet is ubiquitous, anytime. Thus, students can learn anywhere, anytime.

With the emergence of Web3.0, other than being able to provide feedback like how we can do it with the current Web2.0, 3-D projected images could aid students to have a better knowledge on studying.

Next, Microsoft Surface Technology is a revolutionary multi-touch computer that responds to natural hand gestures and real-world objects, helping people interact with digital content in a simple and intuitive way. With a large, horizontal user interface, Surface offers a unique gathering place where multiple users can collaboratively and simultaneously interact with data and each other.

This technology has proved the emergence of Web3.0 where users can grab digital content with their hands and move information with simple gestures and touches. Surface also sees and interacts with objects placed on the screen, allowing one to move information between devices like mobile phones or cameras.

In an educational context, Microsoft Surface provides tremendous potential for operators/teachers to improve communication, and be more efficient in how they deliver information and services to their students. The intuitive and approachable interface is easy to learn and the familiar software platform makes it easy to manage, too. The multi-touch and multi-user capabilities create an incredibly collaborative experience, where sharing and exploring information is easier than ever.

As explained in the Microsoft Surface official website, this technology has four key capabilities that make it such a unique experience:

Direct interaction.
Users can grab digital information with their hands and interact with content on-screen by touch and gesture – without using a mouse or keyboard.

Multi-user experience.
The large, horizontal, 30 inch display makes it easy for several people to gather and interact together with Microsoft Surface - providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.

Multi-touch.
Microsoft Surface responds to many points of contact simultaneously - not just from one finger, as with a typical touch screen, but from dozens of contact points at once.

Object recognition.
Users can place physical objects on the screen to trigger different types of digital responses – providing for a multitude of applications and the transfer of digital content to mobile devices.

With such technology, I believe that what me and my friends vision the educational world to be like would come true.

Week 3

We all know that online shopping had been a very big thing nowadays.
Be it apparels, accessories, gadgets or even books. The wonders of shopping online without having to go through the hassle of crowd and shopping at one’s leisure time had been a hit for both males and females. I bet anyone of us who uses the internet on the daily basis would succumb to the novelty of online shopping.

I’ve bought books from GoodyBooks after reading almost the whole book online, minus the last chapter. However, other than that once, I refused to purchase anything online, especially clothes.

No doubt online shopping, especially of clothes offers us girls a wide variety of choice. However, I did not feel “safe” buying things which I’ve never inspect before. Moreover, I’ve heard bad stories from my friends complaining about the quality of their purchase and even seen it for myself from clothes my sister bought. Thus, these had prevented me from shopping online.

So with people like me, there are bound to be e-businesses to fail.

Now, let’s take a look at the top 10 reasons why I think e-commerce may fail.

1. Lack of Trust
Trust and credibility with your customers is important both online and offline. Security issues can deter customers and prospects from ever buying. The online environment differs from the offline environment whereby customers are required to provide full credit card details in order to purchase.

2. Poor User Interface
A user interface that is confusing or hard to navigate will deter customers and prospects and reduce repeat purchases.

3. Poor Technology
Just as a shabby, unkempt retail outlet screams poor quality, outdated technology also indicates a product/service that is behind the times. Customer-driven changes in e-commerce technology occur constantly, and online retailers are expected to keep up.

4. Lack of Transparency
Offline, customers are able to view products and services in great detail, and can approach a customer service representative with any questions. Online, information may not be readily available.

5. No Personalisation
One size does not fit all. Websites that do not provide a variety of products, prices and styles for different customer segments to increase probability of purchase - just as a shop would if was operated offline, could have limited traffic flow and target audience.

6. Poor Product/Service Offering
The online environment is highly competitive and shoppers are becoming more experienced. If you don’t deliver what you promise, or offer poor customer service, bad news will travel fast (particularly as visitors can post details of their poor online experience all over the internet almost immediately!). Lastly, and possibly most importantly, none of this will help if your product or service isn’t up to scratch. Just because you operate online doesn’t mean you should ignore product/service quality.

7. Lack of Strategic Direction
E-commerce must be supported with marketing and advertising if you want to make it part of your business as a true channel. A new store to bring in business without advertising and promotion will also not be able to generate revenue of nobody knows it exists. Your product or service is designed to satisfy the particular needs of your target segments, and marketing and advertising should reflect that. Hence “build it and they will come” is not a strategy for e-commerce success which many people overlook.

8. Payment Gateway Issues
Limited payment options and poor post-transaction communications can prevent customers and prospects from purchasing. Offline customers are provided with cash or card alternatives and a receipt for record of purchase. Similarly, online businesses that do not provide a wide range of payment options hinders one’s purchasing power and capability.

9. Failure to Manage Customers
Websites that do not differentiate the product/service offering for various target segments makes the shopping experience confusing and frustrating. Also, if customer service is not taken care of, repeat customers will be hindered.

Lastly,
10. No Incentives
It’s no secret that promotions boost sales, and often we go online looking for a bargain (the cost of sale is lower online and visitors frequently expect prices to reflect this). Hence, if a website lacks incentives, or they’re difficult to find, operators may lose business to their competitors.