USM

USE TECHNOLOGY TO SEEK KNOWLEDGE

Penang, 31 May: Developments in communications and information technology have brought about changes to society and university students, specifically those in distance education. This group of people should use technology in seeking knowledge.
According to the Acting Vice-Chancellor of USM, Assoc. Prof. Omar bin Osman, technological developments have created societies that are information-based that will enable them to compete globally.
“However, all knowledge available at the finger tips will not be of use if students do not strive to master the technology. The ability to master technology such as the Internet will give students the competitive edge and ensure that they are not left behind in their pursuit of knowledge,” he said at the Distance Education Students Welcoming Ceremony in conjunction with the Distance Education Orientation Week from 28 May to 1 June 2007.
He said that USM has taken the initiative to enhance the e-Learning portal of the School of Education, USM, hence, students are able to attend video conferencing sessions anywhere.
“Commencing this Academic Session, students who face difficulty in attending lectures at the district centres of the School of Distance Education can follow the video conference and download lecture videos if they have Internet lines.”
“Based on the study related to the initiative and feedback from students, we believe that this will greatly benefit students. We are also looking into the technology that will enable students to interact with their lecturers during video sessions which we hope to implement in the near future,” he said.Through the School of Distance Education e-Learning portal, students can access additional notes, assignment questions, sel-access learning modules and others available at http://el.usm.my/pppjj/. 
For the 2007/2008 Academic Session, 1,732 students from all over the country will pursue their Bachelor of Arts [Humanities], Bachelor of Social Sciences, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Management degrees.
From this total, 53 students will undergo the orientation programme at Maktab Sabah, Kota Kinabalu from 5 June and 74 students will undergo this progmme at the Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Hj. Abdillah, Petra Jaya, Sarawak.
USM also accepted 26 senior citizens and 32 students with different abilities.
DISABILITY AND AGE NO BARRIER IN STUDIES
Penang, 31 May 2007: If there's a will, there's a way. Believing in this saying, 32 students with different ability and 26 senior citizens made a vow to continue their studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to fulfil their dreams of earning a degree.These students registered for the university's Distance Education Programme on 28 may 2007.Among them, Norhayati binti Mohd. Yusoff, 27, a polio victim at the age of 13, said that she was determined to take up the challenge to further her studies at the university.
“I dropped out in Form 1. But I realised that importance of knowledge and I continued to study from home on my own. After completing my SPM in 2003 and STPM in 2006, I applied to continue my studies at USM.”
“I believe that I can overcome all obstacles with a strong will. My family members and close friends have always been supportive and they've encouraged me to continue my studies. Their support and encouragement will strengthen me in my journey which I believe will be an uphill struggle,” she said. She's pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Arts.
As for senior citizen, Hj. Ahmad bin Eunos, 62, he will be achieve him aim of continuing his studies as he's offered the Bachelor of Social Sciences programme. He retired in 1998 as the Deputy Commissioner of Commerce at the Foreign Ministy in South Africa. He holds a Diploma in Law.
“I've always wanted to continue my studies but had had to postpone my plans due to work commitments. And now, I'm able to achieve my plan despite my age.” 
“I think USM's effort in providing senior citizens with the opportunities to further their studies is commendable. With the initiatives such as reduced fees and a conducive environment, I see no reason why senior citizens like me should reject the offer to continue our studies,” he said.
Another senior citizen student, K. Jayalakshme, 58, describes the opportunity as the university's recognition of their work experience. He was a teacher.
According to him, developments in technological have enabled everyone in all levels of society to continue their studies and this opportunity should be put to good use.
“I believe that age is not barrier in pursuing a degree. USM, for instance, has provided vast opportunities through its e-Learning Portal for its students in their pursuit of knowledge. If there's a will, age is not a barrier,” he said.

Caption: DETERMINATION...Acting Vice-Chancellor, Assoc. Prof. Omar bin Osman [right] with Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Prof. Dato' Rosihan M. Ali (centre) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Dato' Prof. Muhammad Idiris Saleh sharing their experiences with Norhayati Mohd Yusoff, student with different ability, and senior citizen students at the Welcoming Ceremony for new students of USM's distance education programme today.

UTAR

Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Progress in Information and Communication Technology (SPICT'09)

December 7, 2009

UTAR brings together researchers, industry practitioners
and students in the fields of ICT

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Researchers, industry practitioners and students in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) gathered at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur to witness the opening ceremony of the Symposium on Progress in Information and Communication Technology (SPICT'09) organised by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) on 7 December 2009.

The symposium which attracted the participation of individuals from all over the world brought together researchers, industry practitioners and students to exchange the latest advances and trends, and to identify and share emerging research topics in the field of ICT. A total of 64 paper submissions from over 31 different institutions in 12 different countries were received for the symposium, of which 31 submissions were accepted after paper review process.

SPICT'09 consisted of 7 sessions offering presentations in diverse areas of ICT such as business IT systems, network infrastructure, algorithm development, vision and image processing, knowledge management, multimedia and e-learning. Two ICT events were held simultaneously over two days in conjunction with SPICT'09. The events were the Workshop on Advances in Intelligent Computing 2009 (WAIC 2009) which was held on the same day as the opening ceremony of SPICT'09 and the Multimedia Development Corporation of Malaysia (MDeC) R&D Exchange Forum which will be held on 8 December 2009.

UTAR President Ir. Professor Dato' Dr. Chuah Hean Teik who was present for the SPICT'09 opening ceremony expressed, "The R&D landscape in Malaysia has transformed greatly in the past few years, where a lot of resources have been channeled in Malaysia to cultivate a vibrant environment for scientific and technological discoveries." He added that UTAR in tandem with the national development, is gaining greater momentum in the University's research intensification effort to transform into a research-intensive university.

"Our faculty members in UTAR are constantly seeking new opportunities, exploring innovative ideas and building new links. We have embraced this culture wholeheartedly and have maintained close collaboration with colleagues from various disciplines locally and worldwide through our Global Research Network and various research initiatives," he said.

He expressed his hopes for the SPICT'09 to present a platform to discuss, explore and allow ideas to cross fertilize to spark new research collaborations amongst the various participating academics and ICT companies.

Malaysian Deputy Minister of Higher Education Dr. Hou Kok Chung who declared opened the symposium said, "It is undeniable that technological advancement is an important tool in developing a nation. Hence, the Government of Malaysia has long recognised that ICT development would serve as an important strategic driver for positioning Malaysia as a competitive knowledge-based economy, and global ICT and multimedia hub."

He congratulated organisers and the sponsors, on their coming together to make the event a success and conveyed his belief that the efforts made by the them in making the event a success would play an important role in fostering the growth of the ICT industry to drive Malaysia's future economic growth.

time engineering berhad

LAO PDR & Malaysia To Share Insights On Information Security

28 March 2012, VIENTIANE, LAOS – Malaysia hopes to share perspectives, experiences and insights on information security at the country’s inaugural forum on information security in Vientiane on 28 March 2012. The forum on “IT Security Forum 2012: Braving the Storm of Technology” is co-organised by the National E-Government Centre of Lao PDR, an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunciations that is tasked to implement the Lao National E-Government System, and TIME Engineering Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading technology solutions company.

This timely forum follows the recent call from Lao’s Deputy Prime Minister’s for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to take the lead in the acceleration of implementation of the long overdue E-Government initiatives. The E-Government System is envisaged to adopt ICT tools across various tiers of administration at the Ministries, Departments, Provinces, Districts and Villages of Lao PDR to bring about SMART Government initiatives and offer appropriate e-interfaces to the people, in the cities as well as villages, through electronic delivery channels. Close to 80 participants are expected to be at this closed-door session, comprising representatives from various Lao government agencies, ISP providers, telecommunication companies and the banking industry.

In this new Age of data explosion and high connectivity, governments within the Indochina region are expediting smart initiatives which will see development of key growth services like population census, online trading, virtual education. In the wake of criticality of preserving data from unauthorised access, it is key that governments leverage and deploy the appropriate technology timely and manage the increasing pace of level of risks such that sustainability of these nation-building initiatives are ensured.

His Excellency Mr Hiem Phommachanch, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Lao PDR will be officiating the event, and His Excellency Dato’ Than Tai Hing, the Malaysian Ambassador to Lao PDR will be in attendance to witness this significant event.

The forum will bring together renowned speakers and those who are intimate with the information security landscape in this region, who will identify the potential challenges and share lessons to be learnt based on case studies and project showcases. This intellectual discourse aims to inspire participants with the practical solutions to issues challenging the IT strategic planning of governments in Indochina, especially in the wake of acceleration of developing key growth services like e-trade facilitation and e-Government services. Amongst others, participants will learn of trends and developments with respect to top cyber security risks, information and data security and people and culture challenges.

This intellectual discourse reaffirms TEB’s continued commitment in establishing partnerships, sharing knowledge and build capabilities with strategic institutions like the National E-Government Centre in ASEAN. The collaboration with the agency on this inaugural forum is also the fruits of the close cooperation between the National E-Government Centre and TIME Engineering Berhad on cyber security issues, since 2007 when TEB participated as platinum sponsor at the Lao ICT Expo. The Company was also, again, the platinum sponsor at the event’s 2010 outing.

-plus expessways
Effective 6 June (Wednesday), Customer Service Centres and Reload Lanes on the PLUS highways will be operating on new operation hours in an effort to provide more convenience for the public and facilitate smoother traffic flow on the highways during peak hours.

article from GLC

-MALAYSIA AIRPORT

malaysia airport becomes the first Glc to receive SIRIM QMS from islamic perspective

SEPANG – Malaysia Airports notched another notable achievement by becoming the first Government Link Company (GLC) to secure MS1900:2005 Quality Management System from Islamic Perspectives, when its subsidiary, Malaysia Airports Consultancy Services (MACS) received the MS1900:2005 certified by SIRIM QAS International.

The certification endorsed MACS for having complied with the Halal requirements in accordance to the Islamic Shariah. The certification was awarded on 23 December 2011 and the official certificate presentation to MACS was held today at Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The certificate for the MS1900:2005 (Quality Management System from Islamic Perspective) accreditation was presented by Y.Bhg. Dr. Zainal Abidin bin Mohd Yusof, Acting President and Chief Executive of SIRIM to Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Managing Director of Malaysia Airports.

To date, only 18 organizations in Malaysia have received this accreditation and MACS is the only subsidiaries of Malaysia Airports to acquire it. Plans are in the pipeline to get more Malaysia Airports’ subsidiaries to comply and achieve similar certification.

Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad said, “Malaysia Airports is proud to be recognised as one of the certified organisation that provides comprehensive solutions to the clients guided by Islamic principles. The certification is a testimonial of our commitment in providing the highest quality, best practices and consistency in our diversified services on an international level.”

He added, “From a management perspective, there are numerous issues that should be looked into and these include universal values, such as honesty and integrity. That is where the new management system standard MS 1900:2005 "Quality Management Systems-Requirements from Islamic Perspective" comes into play.”

The recognition is a continuation of series of excellence that had been achieved by MACS after the accreditation of its previous ISO9001:2008 certification in 2010.

MACS is Malaysia Airports’ arm in providing Airport Services, Solutions and Consultancy. MACS services encompass airport management, airport operation, trading of airport specialized equipments and services. Having successfully established itself in offering total airport services, the organization has expanded its airport services abroad and is heavily involved in Malaysia Airports’ overseas ventures in India, Turkey and Maldives.

In line with the Government’s call to promote Malaysia as a world Halal hub, this new achievement positions MACS as an airport consultancy firm that provides services with the goal to practice the Islamic perspective of Quality Management System. This success without doubt will also further stimulate MACS to perpetuate the highest quality of service in meeting and exceeding client satisfaction. 

Trafic on penang bridge reduced to crawl after accident ( 12 july 2012 )

BUTTERWORTH: Morning traffic on the Penang Bridge was reduced to a crawl following an accident between a car and a lorry at Km1 of the mainland bound stretch.

The accident caused a massive crawl from the scene stretching to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Jelutong as the left lane and the emergency lane of the three-lane bridge had to be closed for traffic.

It also caused a massive jam on the island-bound stretch as motorists slowed down their vehicle to take a peek at the accident site across the bridge during the morning hour-rush.

In the 6am accident, the driver of the car, who was believed to be speeding, crashed into the rear of a  lorry about a kilometre away from the Penang Bridge's toll plaza in Prai and died on the spot.

Works to clear the scene had been completed at about 8.30am and traffic from the bridge mid-span towards the mainland began easing at 10am. 

Thursday July 12, 2012

New Harmony Act to protect multi-racial society

By RAZAK AHMAD and LOSHANA K. SHAGAR
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sedition Act 1948 will be repealed and replaced with a new National Harmony Act in the latest measure under the country's political transformation plan, announced Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister also announced that recent amendments to laws as well as new ones relating to civil liberties would be implemented immediately.

They are the Security Offences Act (Special Measures), the Printing Presses and Publications Act involving newspapers' annual permit as well as the Universities and University Colleges Act that allows students to be involved in politics.

He said the decision to replace the Sedition Act was made to find a mechanism that could determine the best balance between guaranteeing every citizen's freedom of expression and the need to tackle the complex nature of the country's multi-racial and multi-religious society.

“With this new Act, we will be better equipped to manage our national fault lines. It will also help to strengthen national cohesion by protecting national unity and nurturing religious harmony,” Najib said in his speech at a dinner with the Attorney-General's Chambers last night.

He said that without the ideal balance, freedom of speech would be stunted, the people's creativity and innovativeness would be dulled while at the same time unleashing chauvinism and extremism.

This balance, said Najib, must be achieved within a society that is more open, with access to the information highway which could trigger information overflow, higher level of education and socio-economic achievements and higher expectations.

Under the proposed Act, he said any attempt by anyone to pit the community against each other would be considered a crime against the people of Malaysia.

“As Malaysians, we must take a stand that if any race or religion is hurt, then the whole community has been hurt, as in the Malay saying that if the right thigh is pinched, the left will also feel the pain'.”

Najib said provisions in the new Act would focus on inculcating and protecting harmony and respect within Malaysian society from the action of irresponsible people.

It would allow the Government to act against those who use sensitive issues to split national unity.

He said the new Act would, however, maintain the Government's powers to act against those inciting hatred in order to give rise to disloyalty to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any Malay Ruler; those who spread ill will and animosity between races; and those who question any right, special position, privileges and prerogatives enshrined and protected under Part 3 or Articles 152, 153 and 181 of the Federal Constitution.

Najib called on individuals as well as organisations to give their views on matters that needed to be tackled under the proposed new Act, adding the A-G's Chambers had been directed to get the views from all the stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Bar Council chairman Lim Chee Wee welcomed the repeal, and said it would now focus on the replacement Act.

“We hope it will be consistent with the best international practices,” he said, confident it would not be a case of “old wine in a new bottle”.

Umno Youth chief and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted that the Sedition Act would be replaced by something that reflected substantive transformation.

Big idea suits big technology

DEBORAH SMITH

Associate Professor Thomas Faunce was a solicitor and barrister in the 1980s before studying medicine. He then worked as a doctor while researching his PhD.

An expert in the regulation of health technology, he has also done research in his special interest area of nanotechnology.

The idea for a global artificial photosynthesis project crystallised after he was awarded a Future Fellowship in 2009 to investigate how nanotechnology research could be safely used to address critical public health issues.

''I thought, 'We've got this exciting new technology - nanotechnology - that has potential applications in medicine, in building materials, in food, water purification, renewable energy, weapons and military applications,''' says Faunce, of the college of law and the college of medicine, biology and the environment at the Australian National University.

But with the world population heading towards 9 billion, the planet was suffering from ''too much carbon dioxide, not enough food … and not enough fuel''.

He decided the crucial use for nanotechnology was to develop artificial photosynthesis.

''It solves so many of the problems we're facing,'' says Faunce, who is writing a book on artificial photosynthesis as ''the moral culmination'' of nanotechnology.

He says time is too precious to use nanotechnology on ''silly applications'', such as transparent sunscreens, that won't address problems such as malnutrition and environmental degradation.

''There is no need to waste our effort coming up with better golf clubs, racing bikes, socks that don't smell and washing machines that don't have grime.''

When Faunce met Yang he was heartened to learn Yang believed artificial photosynthesis would be achievable in his lifetime.

''The question became, how can we accelerate the pace of research,'' Faunce says.

So he organised a conference on Lord Howe Island, which aims to foster collaboration and develop funding strategies. It will run from August 14 to 18.

Don't let technology stultify your brain - download a book

(Gail Rebuck)

The digital world is changing our brains and reading just might make us healthier.

Why should we bother reading a book? All children say this occasionally. Many adults with reading difficulties repeat it to themselves daily. But for the first time in the 500 years since Johannes Gutenberg democratised reading, many among our educated classes are also asking why, in a world of accelerating technology, shrinking free time and diminishing attention spans, should they invest precious hours sinking into a good book?

The beginnings of an answer lie in the same technology that has posed the question.

Psychologists from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, used brain scans to see what happens inside our heads when we read stories. They found that ''readers mentally simulate each new situation encountered in a narrative''. The brain weaves these situations together with experiences from its own life to create a mental synthesis. Reading a book leaves us with new neural pathways.ADRhe discovery that our brains are physically changed by the experience of reading is something many of us will understand instinctively, as we think back to the way an extraordinary book had a transformative effect on the way we view the world. This transformation takes place only when we lose ourselves in a book, abandoning the emotional and mental chatter of the real world. That's why studies have found this kind of deep reading makes us more empathetic, or as Nicholas Carr puts it in his essay, The Dreams of Readers, ''more alert to the inner lives of others''.

This is significant because recent scientific research has also found a dramatic fall in empathy among teenagers in advanced Western cultures. We can't yet be sure why this is happening, but the best hypothesis is that it is the result of their immersion in the internet and the quick-fire virtual world it offers. So technology reveals that our brains are being changed by technology, and then offers a potential solution - the book.

Women Association Council Gets ICT Certification

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Women Council of Brunei Darussalam successfully completed their hands-on training on the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) course recently. The training was offered by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) in collaboration with HAD Technologies Sdn Bhd. The 8-day training programme was held at HAD Technologies Sdn Bhd's training centre in Kiulap.

The ICDL course was introduced on May17, 2012 in conjunction with the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) which was themed -Women and Girls in ICT". It covered seven modules on Concepts of Information Technology (IT), Word Processing, Database as well as Information and Communication.

The President of the Women Council of Brunei Darussalam, Pg Datin Paduka Hjh Mariam binti Pg Hj Matarsat, who was also one of the participants of the training programme, expressed her gratitude to AITI and HAD Technologies for having given them the opportunity to follow the subsidised programme. She added that the programme enabled the participants to improve their ICT knowledge and apply their digital literacy skills to enhance the online activities of the council.

With the completion of the ICDL course, the Women Council of Brunei Darussalam will continue to participate in another training course on basic website which will be provided by Tech One Global Pte Ltd.

In an ongoing effort to increase the ICT Literacy rate in Brunei, AITI has introduced the ICT Competency Programme since 2011. The programme offers subsidised training courses to train the local citizens with the relevant ICT skills and knowledge. In addition, this course also empowers the non-ICT individuals and job seekers with basic IT literacy.

For those who are interested to know more about ICT Competency Programme, they can visit the website www.aiti.gov.bn.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Technology turns up the fashion dialogue

-JENNA CLARKE

THE clothes on the catwalk may not be available for six months, but the style inspiration from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia has been instant thanks to camera phones, flattering filters and virtual pinboards.

Even before the shows began on Monday morning with Romance Was Born, photo-sharing apps, Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards of some of Australia's most revered designers and magazines brimmed with previews of the coming season.

Fashion Week has become a social media circus. The event is no longer reserved for industry insiders; this year, all you need to gain access is high-speed broadband.

In her recent column, Shop Til You Drop editor Justine Cullen summed up the Instagram app, which Facebook bought for $1 billion: "Everyone's more interesting and everything's more beautiful on Instagram. It's like champagne goggles for life."

Fashion publicist Marie-Claude Mallat says social media is no longer "an optional extra" and Harper's Bazaar editor Edwina McCann says Instagram coverage is now included on the agenda of the magazine's daily news meeting.

Online magazine Broadsheet has six Instagram ambassadors - including stylist Yasmin Sewell, model Montana Cox and hairstylist Richard Kavanagh - covering Fashion Week, while Marie Claire editor and publisher Jackie Frank considers apps such as Instagram and Pinterest to be the final touches to her team's "360 [degree] communication tool".

Publicist Rae Begley encourages her clients to embrace Instagram and Pinterest as "all the style makers are on there … It's the Facebook of the moment."

While his show at The Tent was a flurry of Great Gatsby-meets-Dynasty proportions, Aurelio Costarella's Instagram posts were already alive with looks that Daisy Buchanan and Alexis Carrington would wear to a garden party at Downton Abbey.

The designer spent the lead-up to showtime fitting models, fielding questions from journalists and snapping images, then applying an X-Pro II filter sheen and posting them for his 1100 Instagram followers.

New x-tray technology


Patients and staff at Kings County Memorial Hospital (KCMH) are benefiting from the latest in X-ray technology thanks to the hospital foundation’s fundraising efforts. The KCMH Foundation’s capital campaign committee raised $350,000 toward the purchase of the equipment, which was recently installed at the hospital. Government contributed $165,000 toward the total $515,000 cost of the machine. Digital X-ray provides superior image quality, enhanced patient comfort, lower radiation dose and improved efficiency.

references- http://www.buzzon.com/whats-new/community/12616-new-x-ray-technology

Taking IT to the extreme

Khoo Boo Hian tells Izwan Ismail that his tech gadgets always help him stay on top of his risky exploits

1 / 8

TIME: 2pm. Location: On a hilltop in a remote location in Seremban, Negri Sembilan. The sunny and windy afternoon is perfect for outdoor activities.

For 43-year-old Khoo Boo Hian, it’s time for one of his favourite pastimes — paragliding. He checks his Suunto wristop computer watch to get data from the altimeter and barometer, which give him the air pressure readings of the surroundings.

Convinced there won’t be any change in weather for the next three hours, he makes a dash to the edge of the hill. His parachute, which is laid out on the ground a few  metres behind him, balloons like a kite, taking him up a few metres off the ground.

As Khoo ascends, the hot air pushes the parachute further to a higher altitude of about 30m. He is now cruising steadily, enjoying the breathtaking view of the surrounding hilltops.

When he  is comfortably airborne, he takes out his GoPro Hero2 camera, which is fixed at the end of a metre-long stick. He turns on the camera to capture  the beautiful hilltop aerial scenery.

WAY OF LIFE

Khoo likes extreme sports. If he doesn’t get an adrenaline rush, then a sport is not worth doing. He’s had this insatiable appetite for extreme sports from childhood. He grew up in a rubber estate managed by his father.

“While my schoolmates were into badminton, football and hockey, I was attracted to sports that test one’s limit like riding the BMX bicycle, roller-skating, hiking and jungle trekking,” Khoo recalls.

“I remember at that time, BMX and skateboards were the craze. My friends and I would build our own track, and create the wooden U-shape platform using plywood to do our stunts.

“We would also go to Tasik Titiwangsa to take part in BMX competitions.”

Then he went to Australia to study law and commerce. Even when busy with work as a lawyer, Khoo’s passion for extreme sports remains strong and he makes time for them.

“The activities help to refresh my body and mind as well as prepare me for another week of work in the office. They also train me to not be afraid to take risks in life,” he says.

Paragliding is not the only extreme sport that he indulges in. He is also into scuba diving, in-line skating, mountain biking, mount climbing, dirt biking, drifting, go-carting, super biking and sky-diving.

CALCULATED RISKS

As an extreme sportsman, Khoo finds technology innovations a big help. “The use of tech gadgets, apart from proper protective gear and sufficient training, ensures that the risks I take are  calculated ones,” says the father of three.

For example, the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx that he carries along while mountain biking in an unfamiliar area, gives him the much-needed data on the uncharted territories.

“Normally I will go places, some of them remote, for my mountain biking activities. On top of having some friends with me, tech devices like the GPS map helps to document newly explored routes. It leaves ‘breadcrumbs’ for me to track back tracks that I’ve passed before. It’s hard to get lost with this technology,” he says.

The GoPro camera helps him record all the actions he is experiencing. “I use the video recordings to study the moves I have made. If there are errors or areas that I need to improve on, I can see and learn from the videos taken,” he says.

He also posts videos of his extreme sports activities onto his Facebook sites, YouTube and Vimeo.

He will take the camera with him everywhere he goes and  mount it on the helmet, bike handle, arm, or anywhere that he feels can produce the best and unique point-of-view videos.

Besides that, Khoo also carries a pen-like device called SteriPen which is used to purify water collected from rivers, ponds, etc.

“Sometimes, I run out of drinking water and, in places where there are no shops or villages, I’ll use the pen to sterilise water from rivers, lakes and ponds,” he says.

“All I need to do is leave the SteriPen in my drinking bottle for a while and the water will be clean and safe for drinking,” he adds.

Another device that he never leaves home without is a solar charger called Powertraveller Power Monkey Explorer to help charge all the tech devices he carries along.

HOBBY TURNED BUSINESS

In 2009, while in Singapore to look for a camera for his mountain biking activities, he came across the GoPro model.

“It was then a new kind of sports camera and was not yet  available in the Malaysian market. The dealer asked me if I was interested in selling the product in Malaysia. And the rest is history,” he says.

The camera shopping trip has turned Khoo into an extreme sports equipment supplier. He later set up a company called FunSportz (www.funsportz.com.my and www.facebook.com/FUNSPORTZ). From just selling  GoPro camera, the company also sells all sorts of extreme sports stuff like helmets, GPS, car racks, GPS watches, bags, SteriPen as well as in-line skates. The timing was also right as more people were getting into extreme sports.

“On top of enjoying my extreme sports, I have the means to finance them as well,” says Khoo, who has to date spent over RM200,000 for his extreme sports equipment and activities.

He is also a certified in-line skate trainer and runs a school in Seremban. “I have 40-50 students, mostly primary  schoolchildren,” he says.

His classes are held every Saturday morning, while the afternoon and Sundays are filled with sports activities.

“Since I’m involved in many extreme sports activities, I’ll do one at a time each week,” he says.

His family is also very supportive of his involvement in extreme sports.

“All my children are into in-line skating and go-carting, while my wife helps me to run FunSportz,” he says.

ULTIMATE DREAM

While staying safe and expanding his extreme sports business are his goals, Khoo has one ultimate dream — to conquer Mount Everest.

“With enough training, tech equipment and financial means, I hope that I will be able to realise that dream,” he says.

Read more: Taking IT to the extreme - Tech - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/tech/taking-it-to-the-extreme-1.100866#ixzz1zitJuMQ4

Malaysian ICT firms net RM61.2m sales

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian ICT companies recorded RM61.2 million potential sales at the Specialised Marketing Mission on ICT Related Services to Jakarta last week.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said Malaysian participants received encouraging response during the mission.

"The RM61.2 million generated clearly showed Malaysian software and ICT- related services are of good quality and compatible for international requirements.

"One of the participants had signed a memorandum of understanding with two Indonesian companies for commercialisation and distribution of Math Quest games applications and components, including comic strips, mini-games installation, animation and bedtime stories in the South East Asia region.

"The collaboration is expected to generate over RM1.5 million revenue a year," the trade and investment promotion agency said in a statement.

Thirty-five senior officials from 18 companies and organisations were in the five-day mission from April 23.  -- BERNAMA

Read more: Malaysian ICT firms net RM61.2m sales - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/malaysian-ict-firms-net-rm61-2m-sales-1.79896##ixzz1ziqGlVHv

Undergraduate Focus: Getting ahead in technology, computers

INFORMATION and Communications Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of life in this century and the development of information technology has an impact on the basic concept of literacy and the teaching and learning on campus.

University College Shahputra (UCSA) is currently conducting various technology and computer skills programmes to enhance the level of ICT knowledge and skills among students.

Among the programmes on offer are Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Engineering), Diploma in Information Technology, Diploma in Interactive Multimedia and Diploma in Software Development.

UCSA also offers two degree programmes in technology and computers — Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Engineering) with Honours.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Information Technology can go on to work as IT project managers, systems administrators, officers with the government, network administrators, systems analysts, programmers, web administrators,  database administrators or educators.

Graduates of Bachelor of Information Technology (Software Engineering), on the other hand, can apply for jobs such as software engineers (application/systems), systems analysts, project managers, lecturers, web designers, programmers, computer games software developers or computer network officers.

For more information www.universitycollegeshahputra.edu.my

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'Don’t let ICT projects turn into white elephants’

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must avoid developing information and communications technology projects that become expensive white elephants.

Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry vice-minister for policy coordination Tetsuo Yamakawa said Asean countries like Malaysia with an early stage of ICT development should learn from Japan and South Korea.

“There are many examples in Japan where they created expensive systems which were never utilised because society did not have an awareness to use them,” Tetsuo said at a press conference after meeting with Asean leaders at the 11th Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior-Officials Meeting (Telsom) yesterday.

He said the Malaysian Government had to ensure people are aware of new technologies and facilities.

“Most important is to revamp policies. In order to promote ICT, cooperation between ICT and other areas is vital.

“It’s also important to really work on raising public awareness,” he said.

He urged Malaysia to share its expertise in information and communications technology development with the rest of the world and cited Cyberjaya as a good example of how the industry here had developed.

But he said Malaysia’s main weakness was its low broadband penetration rate, especially in rural communities.

“Broadband without users is not an engine for economic growth,” he said.

Tetsuo announced that Japan had also pledged RM460,000 this year to the Asean ICT Masterplan (AICTM) for two training programmes to be carried out by Malaysian and Singaporean varsities.

sources_ the star 

Undergraduate Focus: Industry collaborations link students to ICT resources

IBM, Cisco and SAP are among INTI International University’s list of global IT partners providing students with cutting edge technological know-how and professional certification to ensure high employability upon graduation.

In fulfilling its brand promise to bring industry into the classroom, INTI, through synergistic alliances such as MyUniAlliance with SAP and Software Career Training (SCT) with IBM, has enabled its students to gain access to a wealth of resources, technologies, industry best practices and business solutions.

INTI was one of the first educational institutions in Malaysia to participate in MyUniAlliance, an initiative by Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) to upscale and hone the abilities of undergraduates in ICT. A special hosting service is available to INTI’s students to access SAP systems for hands-on learning under a free software license that will provide knowledge of integrated business processes and industry best practices.

“Graduates need to be knowledgeable about Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which integrate internal and external management information across organisations. We are very pleased to be in partnership with SAP, the world’s largest ERP solutions provider, to create educational opportunities and promote innovation among our students,” says Professor Walter Wong, Vice-Chancellor of INTI International University. 

Professional certification provides INTI students with additional practical skills and knowledge that will give them a competitive edge over their peers. IBM’s SCT programme offers students a combination of technical knowledge, IBM leading technology, industry best practices and personal professional development in one integrated, career-enhancing learning experience.

Graduates will acquire a high quality and recognised Malaysian qualification from INTI as well as an international IBM professional certification that will give them an edge in job interviews and employment.

INTI has also worked alongside Cisco Networking Academy for many years. By incorporating the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNA wireless syllabus into its Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Network & Mobile Computing programme, INTI ensures that students develop the skills to design and manage medium-sized networks. The partnership also presents a pathway to professional certification in CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert).

The INTI curriculum emphasises the all-rounded development of a student’s cognitive and practical skills. Close collaboration with the industry ensures that the curriculum developed is relevant to the market’s needs, and more importantly, focuses on soft skills such as project management, team work, and proposals among others, which are essential skills when entering the work force.

Students of INTI benefit not only from the institution’s more than 25 years of experience and strong track-record, but also gain from the global synergy and resources that Laureate International Universities provides. Laureate – the world’s largest private education network – has a presence in 29 countries, with more than 60 accredited universities and 130 campuses, serving more than 675,000 students globally.

Read more: Undergraduate Focus: Industry collaborations link students to ICT resources - Extras - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/extras/undergraduate-focus-industry-collaborations-link-students-to-ict-resources-1.89224#ixzz20NkYIfi9