Chapter 8 Embracing Emerging Technologies : The Case of the Singapore Intelligent Nation 2015 Vision

As info-communication technology (ICT) rapidly advances, many governments around the world launch initiatives to get their country wired and connected, both nationally and internationally, in order to navigate and compete more effectively in the knowledge age and economy. Many countries are reviewing and restructuring their national network infrastructures, information and media regulations, and fiscal policies to match the speed of these ICT drivers. If they do not match up or transform themselves into intelligent societies, they will be left behind in a connected global economy. Many areas of the society are affected by such technological advancement: basic communications, education, health care, business, and even lifestyle (read, for example, Drucker, 1993, 1998; Greider, 1997; Ohmae, 1990, 1995; Poster, 1990; Postman, 1993; Webster, 1995). These areas will benefit from the development of an integrated network of national information super-highways. This chapter describes and analyses how Singapore attempts to develop an intelligent nation under its umbrella vision and strategy of Intelligent Nation 2015 (iN2015). It examines the substance of the vision and highlights some of the initiatives implemented to realise the vision. It also ABSTRACT