Peek into the Future (day 3)

If you think that the world today has already reached a rather advanced stage, think again. Our group had the chance to visit the future world and the possible technologies – all in one visit to SK Telecom.

SK Telecom is South Korea’s largest IT experience center, and it houses a ubiquitous museum, known in short as T.UM.

Upon entering, each of us was presented with a T.KEY device – a smart phone that is connected to through the wireless network –, which was also used as a guide to accompany us throughout the tour. With the phone, we also created T.ME (pronounced as tee-mee), a personalized digital character, which acts as your very own virtual pet. 

Our very own T.KEY device! 

Now, this virtual pet has a philosophy behind it – T.ME is a creation of technology, where it starts off as a customized raindrop in a pond, and after our whole tour, it will return back to the stream where it started – just like a water drop in the water cycle.

Personalising our very own T.KEY device

The first stop of the tour was “U.Home”. It features an interactive wall that enables us to control services such as sending emails, receiving news updates and even conducting live video conferences – all with just a swish of our hand. Another alternative is by using the pixel sensor table, which also allows us to send files between two smartphones side-by-side.

Photos taken by a T.KEY and uploaded straight to the message board.

Following that was “U.Driving”, the next generation of telematics technology that allows drivers to check the condition or status of their car and provides the next best route. And all these are being done through smartphone device as well! In fact, the tour guide shared with us that some day, technology would eventually reach a stage that cars will be fully run by electricity!

We also manage to get hands-on experience of a tablet that is specially catered for the visually impaired – a SK Telecom initiative. The tablet features an audio function to direct them when they navigate the touchscreen, thus making it user friendly.

There are over 2,000 audio books currently available in the tablet. But what makes it interesting is that: the audio voices are voluntarily recorded manually by the staff of SK Telecom themselves!

Given the eye-opening experience, we feel that with the continuous advancement in today’s technology, it will definitely pave way for a much better and convenient future for the current and upcoming generation. And as for us Chingus, we personally hope that this new form of technology will reach Singapore soon! :)

Chingus

Article by: Rachel Leong, Fatin Sufiah and Nur Amirah

Video by: Shah Ezuan and Angelyn Leow

Photos by: Angelyn Leow and Hannah Farhanah