| The
Singapore Pavilion at BroadcastAsia2008 will not only showcase innovative commercial
products and services, it also provides a glimpse into the future through the
IDM exhibits. The pavilion captures MDA’s vision to grow a vibrant media
hub, and create a conducive environment for the test bedding of innovative applications,
services and technologies. This
approach aims to encourage multi-platform content development and innovation in
IDM sectors. We also aim to attract more broadcasters and industry players to
use Singapore as a launch pad to regionalise their businesses”, said Dr Christopher
Chia, Chief Executive Officer, MDA. Apart
from the Singapore Pavilion, BroadcastAsia2008 visitors will also witness the
future of broadcasting at NHK’s Super Hi-Vision (SHV) wide-screen system
feature. Boasting a resolution 16 times higher than HDTV and a 3-D audio system
with 24 speakers, the SHV system is being showcased for the first time in Asia,
outside of Japan. Visitors can also expect a bigger and more comprehensive HD
Xperience. This year’s HD Xperience will demonstrate how Media Asset Management
(MAM) technology can be leveraged to help broadcasters transform their workflows
and benefit more from open standards based production and archiving. The HD Studio
will present a comprehensive and end to end overview of how HD content is developed
and delivered to the end-user. CGOverdrive2008
the computer graphics (CG) event designed for CG professionals and enthusiasts
– will also return for the third consecutive year. CGOverdrive is organised
by Visual Communication Order with Singapore Exibition Services as strategic partner.
The event is supported by MDA. Singapore
Exhibition Services CEO Stephen Tan says, “The broadcast and digital content
industry is growing faster than ever, driven by the proliferation of local and
regional companies providing products and services for the Internet, TV distribution,
regulated gaming and video games.
“We are also seeing more globally-renowned broadcast and production firms
coming to the market and setting up production facilities in Singapore. BroadcastAsia
acts as a key annual fixture and a very relevant platform for players from this
burgeoning sector to do their sourcing, purchasing and networking.” The
highlight of the Pavilion is a cutting-edge showcase of digital technologies that
will change the way people consume and interact with media. They are some of the
early commercial offerings brought about by the support of the multi-agency IDM
Research & Development Programme Office (IDMPO) hosted within MDA. The
IDM journey will take visitors into the future of interactivity, where physical
locations will be enriched by rich media solutions for more pervasive and intelligent
interactivities. From two-way interactive broadcasting in taxis by QMax and PGK,
to online face recognition for the creation of personalised avatars by XID Technologies,
and online conference solutions, visitors will witness how media has gone beyond
the constraints of traditional broadcasting to reach consumers in more personal
and entertaining ways. The
IDM showcase will also showcase new types of user interface with the virtual environment,
including a virtual in-building information and navigation of the Singapore Pavilion
by G Element, using tangible mixed reality by MXR Corporation. Also
in the spotlight are exhibits by MDA’s Digital Technology Development Scheme
( DTDS) recipients showcasing cable TV, Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and mobile
broadcasting technologies. DTDS is a scheme that supports local companies in developing
original and innovative products, applications and services for the broadcasting
industry. A
key IPTV exhibit is the Pay TV Head-end System developed by NewMedia Solutions,
which is a locally-developed system that provides a cost effective end-to-end
solution for emerging markets and niche pay TV operators. Components of this head-end
system are already being commercially deployed in continuous 24x7 commercial broadcast
operations at SingTel’s mio TV in Singapore and U Television in Malaysia.
Among
the mobile broadcasting projects is the Pico DVB-H Basestation developed by Innoxius
Technologies. Touted as one of the world’s smallest form factor DVB-H basestation,
this product leverages on a building's wired IP infrastructure to provide indoor
broadcasting of mobile TV signals (eg. DVB-H) and location-specific content. In
addition, Rediffusion will launch the world’s first terrestrial DAB AAC+
(Digital Audio Broadcast) commercial operation. More commonly known as DAB+, it
uses the latest audio compression technology and can broadcast up to 30 audio
channels of CD-stereo quality for the same bandwidth currently used. | 
