ReadyMobile

In what is believed to be the first-of-its-kind Civil-Service-wide initiative for public education dissemination, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has leveraged on mobile phone technology to allow the public to access critical emergency information and download it into their mobile phones. The service, Ready Mobile, can be accessed through the Ready Mobile download portal on the SCDF web site and WAP site, or through 3G mobile portals of mobile service providers.

Ready Mobile comprises 15 emergency advisories in the four official languages. The advisories are available in animation and text formats, with topics that include fire safety, CPR and bomb and chemical threats. Since its introduction on 3 April 2007, nearly 8,000 animation clips and 1,500 text advisories have been downloaded.

SCDF also has in place an Individual Readiness Assessment (IREA) programme, a web-based tool designed for the public to assess their current level of readiness against conventional and unconventional emergencies.

HimalayanExpedition

On 30 March 2008, four ITE students and a staff member left Base Camp at 0300 hours in an attempt to reach the 6,189-metre-high Himalayan Island Peak. At around 1300 hours, two members of the team - 20-year-old Mohd Firdaus, a Higher Nitec in Business Studies (Sport Management) student from ITE College East and staff Darrel Kon successfully conquered Island Peak.

Three other student members of the team - Leroy Peh Jing Jie, 19, Nitec in Electronics Engineering; Ho Zi Jie, 20, Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering; and Yong Kai Xiang, 18, Higher Nitec in Business Studies (Sport Management); reached 6,160 metres but their final push had to be aborted due to changing wind conditions.

The ITE Himalayan Expedition was one of the many activities under the Global Education Programme to give ITE students international exposure. Mr Trevor Ian, an ITE staff and leader of the expedition team, said in daring to dream, the students developed wider perspectives of life and gained confidence and independence.

SpatialChallenge

The Geographic Information System (GIS), a mapping technology, took centre stage at the Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) first-ever Spatial Challenge on 23 April 2008. The challenge aimed to increase the awareness of GIS and encourage innovative uses of the technology within the community.

Raffles Junior College emerged overall winner in the competition, with a project that involved coming up with a model for entrepreneurs and start-ups to select the best location, in terms of traffic, rental and market comparatives, for their shops. The first and second runners-up were Millennia Institute (Team 2) and NUS High School of Mathematics and Science respectively. The top three teams won attractive prizes worth $10,000 in cash and a trophy.

2008QualityServiceQualityDay

Housing Development Board (HDB) held its 2008 HDB Quality Service Day on 5 March 2008. From the Rhythm of M.A.G.I.C. (Making A Great Impression on Customers) to multimedia shows and awards for service excellence, the event was a celebration of quality service and gave recognition to HDB staff for their hard work and dedication to this cause.

"Rhythm of M.A.G.I.C" was a Service Song Competition in which the lyrics were provided and teams had to fit them into self-composed or adapted music and perform the song on stage.