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World’s First Transformers Ride Opens in Singapore

December 3, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

EVAC, a new autobot created specially for the attraction

It’s a night of 3D thrills and spills as Transformers The Ride made its global premiere at Universal Studios Singapore.

Rumoured to cost more than S$100 million and to take more than four years to plan and build, Transformers The Ride is probably one of the world’s most expensive theme park attraction. It is also the world’s first theme park based on the popular robot franchise from Hasbro, with the next opening in Universal Studios Hollywood in 2012.

Society 2.0, Social Tools and Gamification

December 1, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

Preetam Rai of Global Voices Online (courtesy of GovCamp Singapore)

In an ideal Web 2.0 enabled world populated by active and engaged citizens, the public would be engaged, empowered and encouraged to use social technologies and digital tools to build a better society. As the government does not have a monopoly on ideas, it would be critical for citizens to help themselves so to speak.

What then are some of the developments in this area, and how can one take that tentative first step forward? Well, there are lots of food for thought from three sessions which I recently attended at the second Govcamp Singapore.

Imagine Wearing Your Customer’s Shoes

November 24, 2011 • Blog • no comments

Consider what your customers will look, smell, touch and feel – from the start to end of your experience

Let’s try this thought exercise for a few minutes.

Imagine that you’re a customer of your own company’s business. This could be anything of course, depending on what your company do. During this time, you should don the hat of your prospective customer, be he or she a swinging single, working parent, active ager, awkward teen, or urban professional.

Dinosaurs Live! at Singapore Science Centre

November 19, 2011 • Blog • 3 comments

Tina and Ethan posing next to an animatronic Apatosaurus

“Roar, Growl, Hiss, Grr, Screech and Scream!”

Welcome to the world of the fabulous dinosaurs (also known as the “terrible lizards”) at Dinosaurs-Live!, a recently opened exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre. Happening from now til 26 Feb 2012, the exhibition showcases almost 50 life-sized dinosaurs, reptiles and other prehistoric creatures brought realistically back to life by awesome animatronics.

Who Should You Really Target

November 16, 2011 • Blog • no comments

Courtesy of Lost & Found Online Marketing

One of the most important chapters in the book of marketing is customer segmentation and targeting. You need to know who you’re reaching and how you’re making your product or service relevant to their needs, wants or desires. Without a keen understanding of your target segment, everything else may fall apart.

The challenge however is this. How do you know who they really are?

Play Your Part at Singapore’s 2nd GovCamp

November 14, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

Its time once again for GovCamp Singapore, our island’s only “unconference” focusing on how citizens and government can work together to improve our lives using technology as an enabler.

The second event this year – I moderated one of the sessions in the first in on 19 January – GovCamp looks at positioning government as a platform to engage key stakeholders in a country (namely everyone of us!) in a spirit of open collaboration, ideation, networking, and joint problem solving.

20 Things I Loved About London

November 12, 2011 • Blog • 2 comments

As part of my recent work trip to London, I spent many hours visiting numerous museums and art galleries in the city, topped by a full day meeting with the Tate Group. The institutions I visited include the Tate Modern, National Gallery London, National Portrait Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, and the British Museum. While the trip was exhausting – we’ve put together a comprehensive report on its outcomes – there were many learning points that we have gleaned from some of the world’s leading cultural institutions.

Here are 20 highlights of my trip, in no particular order. Note that this list is quite museum-centric as that’s where I spent most of my time. Each highlight is accompanied by a photograph.

An eye catching installation at the entrance of the V&A Museum.

What Facebook, Google Reader and iOS5 Have in Common

November 6, 2011 • Blog • 1 comment

iPhone 4S’s short battery life was blamed on the super juiced up iOS 5(courtesy of Obama Pacman)

Something wrong seems to be happening in the hallowed corridors of Tech.

First, we’re met with the “dynamic” and ever changing new Facebook News Feed which apparently is riling many of us. Between “Top Stories”, “Recent Stories”, “New Entries”, and the ever updating Ticker on the right which gives me a constant migraine.

Smithsonian Institution: A World Class Museum Operator

November 4, 2011 • Blog • no comments

Aerial view of the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC (source: Tripadvisor)

As part of the Business Of Heritage conference, I had the pleasure of learning about how the Smithsonian Institution built its world class reputation as a leading museum brand. Delivering the talk was Ms Elizabeth Duggal, Director of International Museum Professional Education Programme of Smithsonian Institution and Co-Chair of ICOM United States.

Here are some of the key points of the talk which I thought would be useful to share.

Excellence in Museums

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