Customers Know Best

If you are reading this article now, you must be a PC user.

There are about 650-700 mil PC users worldwide and about 3 mil in Singapore. Are they happy with their PC? Do they know what makes a good PC? Perhaps they do have some great ideas...

That is precisely what Intel (chip maker) and ASUS (PC maker) have in mind.

They have launched a project asking people to say what they would like to see in a PC. Bold and wild dreams of all possibilities are most welcome as the companies rave the users to help build the first community-designed PC.


The companies believe in the combined creative energy of consumers and that "the spark for innovation can come from anywhere.'

This is what I call 'consumer feedback' going a big way!

Typically, companies will set up some kind of feedback channel for customers. Feedback forms are commonly found on dining tables in restaurants and cashier counters in retail shops. I believe that some customers will make an effort to let their voices heard. The question is, what do these companies do with the feedback?



I have once filled in a feedback form in a restaurant, just to see how it might come back to me. I gave my ratings on the food and service quality and had specifically added that I would like to be contacted. I heard from no one. Short of spelling out the name, I shall just say that it was a fairly reputable restaurant chain.

I have also tried to give my feedback in commercial websites. While not everyone thought it was important to reply, many did and they did so within a short turnaround time.

If our businesses are keen to stay ahead, they really have to see things from their customers' viewpoint. Listening to customers' feedback is so last century. Engaging in a customer conversation is more sustainable to keep up with fast changing customer needs and tastes.


Intel and ASUS are doing the right thing. If you have some ideas on what makes a good PC, you can share you dreams at the dedicated website. If you do not have any ideas yet, some of the posted ideas might help you to germinate new ones. They promised: "You Dream it. ASUS Builds it. Intel Inside it."

There is no limit to creativity, unless you limit it.

Night Life. My Way.

Pasar Malam exudes a charm that is hard to describe and yet, it is so ordinary.

Literally, pasar malam means night bazaar in Malay/Indonesian and to me, it carries a certain bewitchery appeal. It has been part of our landscape for as long as I can remember and nothing much has changed. Over the years, modernization has cannibalized much of our old ways of life but pasar malam stood the test of time.


The idea of pasar malam is a simple one. It brings together people who sells an array of hodgepodge. Traditionally, food stuff, cooked and uncooked were predominant but today, fruits and vegetables have given way to clothes, toys, snacks, CDs and ornaments, at affordable prices.

Pasar malam is usually held near the heartland and the target group is, well, the heartlanders, of course. There is hardly any impressive stuff at pasar malam but I often find myself awed by the variety of merchandise. While you do not expect to see your favorite branded handbags but many similar products there somehow seem to have been inspired by Prada, Gucci and the like.


Each time I am near a pasar malam, I get drawn into the hullabaloo, especially during the weekends. I do not usually buy things on impulse but I find myself walking out of the crowd with at least a pack of steamed chick peas.


If you prefer big ticket items, some pasar malams are beginning to sell cars. I am not referring to remote-control toy cars. Rather, these are lower price range cars which may appeal to the practical heartlanders.

Pasar malam is probably not for the snobs who need to be identified with expensive branded accessories. Some even avoid being seen in the midst of a pasar malam crowd for fear of derogation.

It depends on how you look at it. It may not be always right to read the colorfulness of the atmosphere as gaudiness. Putting all aspects of pasar malam in perspective, I could see the potential of it being promoted as one of the unique experiences tourist can draw from Singapore.

Pasar malam is certainly not an experience that I would label as 'Uniquely Singapore'. Similar night markets are also common in Malaysia and Indonesia.


Even as far away as the Netherlands, we have 'Pasar Malam Besar', which means 'Great Night Market' in Malay/Indonesian. It is an annual event which attracts thousands of visitors from the Netherlands and abroad.

The event started about half a century ago by a group of Indos, who had Dutch and Indonesian ancestry. It proved to be so popular and it has been a runaway success. Due to its ties with the Indonesian Archipelago, we can find food items which are familiar to us such as, goreng pisang, mangosteen and martabak.


Besides food and merchandise, Pasar Malam Besar is an event filled with great entertainment. Visitors can expect to enjoy traditional cultural performances, modern rock music or hiphop dances, a definite appeal to all generations.

The next Pasar Malam Besar will be held from 21 May - 1 Jun 09. If you happen to drop by the Netherlands, look out for it.


The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) can consider promoting our pasar malam to tourists. Busking activities can also be brought in to zest up the bazaar. Our foreign visitors can take a break from Orchard Road and immerse themselves in the heartland and experience the true Singapore.

I agree that things sold at pasar malam are cheap but I will not shallowly generalize that they are for the cheapskates. Sometimes in life, the simplest things are the best.

All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it.-- Samuel Butler (Author 1835-1902)

Shut It Off !

Electricity Tariff has recently inflicted much pain and agony to many.

On 29 Sep 08, Singapore Power (SP) announced that Electricity Tariff would be revised for the period 1 Oct 08 to 31 Dec 08. This is definitely not the first time SP has done the same but this is a very badly timed one when an economic crisis is said to be looming.


With this rise, Singaporeans will expect an increase of 21% in their electricity bills in the last quarter of 2008. This naturally brought about a huge uproar when consumers are already burdened by record inflation.

SP explained that they are just the 'delivery man', transporting electricity from the power generation companies (gencos) to the consumers without any mark-up. SP's revenue comes from the 'delivery fee' and meter-reading service. What this means is that, for every dollar we pay, $0.17 goes to SP and the rest goes to the gencos. SP emphasized that they do not decide on the tariff.


If SP is innocent, who is the culprit?

The formula for tariff is set by the regulatory body, the Energy Market Authority (EMA). The mechanism behind the formula, even if it is explained, is not an easily understood one.

So, now you have it, the whole picture is hazy and, may I say, shrouded in secrecy?

SP and EMA may have their reasons behind the hike but to the ordinary folks, the whole matter sounds like a bad-taste joke. It appears even more ridiculous when, at about the same time, Hong Kong reduced their tariff by 3%.


If we compare ourselves with other parts of the world, Singapore is No.2 in terms of tariff hike since 2005. Well! We are ranked high up on a chart again but this time round for a wrong reason.

Even though SP and EMA are now put under a mega-watt spotlight, nothing much is expected to change other than a fatter utility bill for Q4 08. I hope the public scrutiny will prompt the gencos to work harder in improving their efficiency to bring down the costs for consumers.


Meanwhile, perhaps we can do some self-help to cut down power consumption. I take this as a good time to reflect and rid those power-wasting habits. We are usually conscious of these bad habits and we can kick them if we want to. How could switching off the lights when not needed be so difficult? Watch the guzzlers and use your water heater, iron, aircon and water-kettle sensibly. It's mostly common sense.

If you need more help than common sense, a new gadget is now available to monitor exactly how much power you are using at home. No, I am not referring to your utility meter outside the door.

This little device measures electricity consumption and displays the amount of power and how much it costs on a sleek portable box with a digital screen. It glows red when households use more power than normal or blue when they are being energy-efficient.


With this little helper around the house, you are fully aware of what is costing you and at how much. You may find yourself consciously trying to get the reading down as low as possible. Ya, that's what I call a 'conscience reminder'.

Well, before you can save a cent from your electricity bill, you will have to fork out more than S$200 for this gadget. Compared to a fashionable toy like iPhone, this is a much better investment. (OK! I am bias!)

That's all folks... gotta pull off the plug now to save some electricity!

Love Me. Love Me Right.

I have a fat cat and I think I might be in trouble...

Over at UK, new codes of practice for owners of dogs, cats and horses have just been released for consultation. The proposed guideline is part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to prevent cruelty to animals.

Breaching the guideline could prove to be a deciding factor in whether a pet owner is found guilty of a pet welfare offense. That could cost him a jail term of 6 months or a fine of up to £20,000.

The guidelines cover the environment for animals, diet, the company they enjoy, ensuring they exhibit normal behavior patterns, as well as health and welfare issues.

Generally, feeding chocolate, raisins or grapes are not recommended as such food are "poisonous" for pets. Overfeeding a pet or not putting an obese pet on a diet may also spell trouble (this is the worrisome part for me).

If you have a dog, listen up to some of the rules:
1. A dog should not be disturbed when eating as this can cause "food-related aggression".
2. Dogs should not be fed at the table as this can lead to begging.
3. Do not feed a dog less than an hour before vigorous exercise in order to avoid "bloating".
4. Groom dogs with long hair at least once a day.
5. All dogs should have teeth cleaned with dog chews or canine toothpaste as part of routine care.



For those with cats at home (including me), some of the rules say that:
1. Cats should be kept away from windows or tumble dryers as they are considered "curious" animal.
2. Cats are not vegetarians
3. Adult cats do not need bowls of milk
4. Cats need somewhere to hide and to scratch claws.

I think I am doing fine so far, except possibly the overfeeding part.

Animals lovers would welcome the proposed Bill but there are those who find the new codes 'absurd' and 'are taking people for fools'. I supposed, the legislators prefer to have 'absurd' codes than to be left with no fangs to bite those who have deprived pets of their welfare.

While there are pet owners who need harsh reminders on how to treat their pets right, there is a another group of pet owners who cannot seem to shower enough love.


If you are looking for ways to love your dogs more, a unique cooking class held 2 days ago might have been perfect for you. 'The Cooking For Two' workshop was conducted at the K9 Kafe (Turf Club Road) and you would be taugh how to prepare a 3-course gourmet meal that will satisfy you and your pooch. Dishes included unagi and miso-crusted diver scallops and grilled pork tenderloin.

While I absolutely do not condone abusive behaviour towards pets, gastronomy for pets seems rather out of range to me. Oh, fine! I admit I love animals, but not that much.

Back here in Singapore, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) are thinking of some changes too. I guess they have seen enough mauled bodies and are now considering changing licensing requirements for those owning 'potentially dangerous dogs'.


If you are one of the 323 rottweiler owners in Singapore, take note.

If the new rules are approved, your ferocious rottweiler could become more costly as you would be required to take up an insurance policy of at least S$100,000 and a banker's guarantee of S$2,000. On top of that, that little brat would have to go to school to receive some obedience training.


Owning a pet is a load of responsibilities. The AVA have been educating the public to be responsible pet owners but they cannot do the job alone.

Schools, pet sellers and animal welfare organisations such as the SPCA, the Cat Welfare Society and the House Rabbit Society are doing their parts too.

Most importantly, you and I, new and existing pet owners and the general public ought to embrace the same message.



If you are thinking of getting a pet, I recommend you visit the pet shop with your wallet and compassion but leave your impulse at home. When you finally bring that cuddly fur ball home, bring along an 'instruction manual', like you would when buying your plasma TV.

A pet is for life!

Cut The Cords

Apologies for the harsh tone but I hate wires.

We live is a world of gadgets which are powered by electricity. Thanks to wimpy battery life, we stay connected to power cords via a labyrinth of cables. For a long time, I have been dreaming of a world without entangled cables and truly live up to the promise of wireless.

I am not far from that dream, I think.


If you see a light bulb powered up without any use of plug or wires of any kind, you may not be watching a magic show. US researchers have come up with a way that could power consumer gadgets truly wirelessly.

Imagine this: your laptop's battery could be recharged when the machine gets within several feet of a 'charger' which could be embedded in tables, work surfaces, picture frames and even behind walls. As you move from place to place, your laptop continues to receive the needed power, without any wire trailing behind. What a breeze!

The science behind this new found technology is not new. Using the theory of "resonance", a phenomenon that causes an object to vibrate when energy of a certain frequency is applied, the researchers found a way to supply energy without going through any wires.

The new invention is still being refined and cannot be adapted to our daily lives yet. Meanwhile, there are already some devices which can help us cut down the wires, at least.


Most common of all, we have cordless appliances like electric toothbrush and cordless vacuum cleaner which save us the hassle of dragging wires while using them. But the convenience of the 'cordless' technology is rather localized. For continuous feeding of power, the chargers can't leave the gadgets for too long.

I am sure you dread the idea of bringing a bagful of chargers for your camera, MP3, laptop and mobile phone whenever you travel. We all desire a simple universal solution that frees us from the trouble of plug-in chargers and adaptors.


Now there is a solution to the 'many-chargers-for-many-gadgets' problem. With gizmo such as the charging pad, we can leave that bag of chargers behind and just carry along a sleek mousepad like charger. How cool!
It is a dream come true where we can charge one or more electronic devices by simply placing them on top of a charging pad. The freedom to charge devices without worrying about handling tiny connectors and untangling messy cords is just so godsent.

I simply can't wait to taste the sweetness of such convenience. One day, everyone will have a charging pad here and there around the house and office. Charging will become a simple matter of dropping devices onto the nearest charging pad. Even when we are away from home, I would envision the hotels placing such convenience in the rooms to entice customers.

I will wait for the day when I can carry my gadgets around without the worries of flat batteries and really say goodbye to the spaghetti power cables.

Cheers! Looking forward to freedom!

Retire From Retirement

John McCain is 72 and that did not stop him from running for the next Presidential Election. Why didn't he think that he is too old?

I have often heard laments from friends and co-workers that they are too old to do something new or different. Their ages vary from as young as 30s to 50s. Such ideas are quite strange to me but I can somewhat understand what makes them say that.


Blame it on the traditional concept of retirement. Ask anyone and most likely he will tell you that retirement is the time you stop employment completely. There is nothing wrong with stopping employment totally. The problems lies with what you do after retirement. Many do not even have a clue.

There are those who retire and spend their days sitting and resting around. They soon find themselves out of touch with the outside world and that makes them lose their confidence. Feeling lousy, they try to stay home more often and they spiral deeper and deeper into a pin-hole world. It is sad to see such able bodies waste away like that.

We should stop using the term retirement altogether. It is probably more meaningful to describe the type of engagement we are in at every stage of our lives than to simply say "I am working" or "I have retired".

One could say, "I am with a bank helping to promote their financial products" or "I help at the homes on a part time basis and I play tennis competitively". None of those indicate if you are gainfully employed or otherwise. Rather, they describe your 'usefulness'.

One of the pitfalls about life after retirement is the lost of 'purpose' or the 'sense of usefulness'. Over time, such non-fulfillment can be detrimental to one's well being.


In a recent job fairs for over-40s by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, many job seekers who are way above 40s were there and some of these are retirees. Some intend to work for the money but many just want to be engaged and continue to feel useful.

Singapore is the world’s second most rapidly aging society, after Japan. What it means is that there will be more 'old' people in the population demography. From the economic stand point, if workers continue to retire at 55, the younger and fewer workers will have to bear the heavier tax burden. That would make Singapore unattractive.


With national average lifespan increasing to above 70s, retiring and starting to do nothing at 55 is ridiculous. Assuming we live up to 75 years of age, this is how we would have spent our days:

0-5 : Getting ready for formal education (5 years; 7%)
6-15 : Formative years (10 years; 13%)
16-25 : Learning to be a useful adult (10 years; 13%)
26-55 : Contribute to workforce (30 years; 40%)
56-75 : Doing nothing! (20 years: 27%)

We spend 1/3 of our lives learning to be useful so as to get ready to enter the workforce and another 1/3 being useful (hopefully). For the rest of 1/3, we gradually undo the 'usefulness' and rewind ourselves back into the initial 'useless' state. I call that an extravagant waste of resources!


There should be no such thing as 'retiring' at a particular age. Instead, there should be 'rewiring' at any time so as to continue to stay relevant.

Gerontologists (people who study about aging and its problems) predict that average human lifespan will continue to go up. Baby-boomers, individuals born between 1946 and 1964, represent the bulk of the group gradually touching the traditional retirement age in the coming decades. Over 1/3 of this group is expected to live well into their 80s or beyond, especially women and the more educated.

We are going through an era of fast aging nation and fast changing environment. There is a pressing need to rethink the relevance of 'retirement'. The sooner we embrace the idea of 'rewire', the easier we move ourselves from one phase of our lives to another.


So far, I am merely talking about staying useful. The harsher reality about retirement is financial shock, either through the lacking of planning or a false sense of security. Many retire only to face a rude awakening and are left with insufficient time to react.

Retirement planning, whatever that means, starts from the first day of work and never ends. It is another long story.

Meanwhile, start rewiring.

In Your Face(book)

Drop me a note if you have not heard of Facebook. You need help.

Facebook is a social networking website created in 2004. It allows users to access the web and share information, interests, and activities. Facebook now has more than 100 million active users worldwide and that probably was never in the wildest dream of its creator, Zuckerberg. Other similar social networking websites include MySpace and Friendster.

The idea behind Facebook is quite simple. It allows free access to users but collects its revenue from advertisement. With its huge user base, Facebook is in fact selling 'eyeballs' to the advertisers.

The value of Facebook is now at an enviable amount of multi-billion dollars. Not bad at all for such a simple idea.

Initially, Facebook applications were more 'innocent' with users 'poking' at each other virtually. It has now grown in its sophistication with more than 10,000 available applications. However, only 20-30 of them are really popular. My personal favourite is the awesome 'Prolific'.

Despite its popularity, not everyone embrace Facebook with open arms.


Privacy issue seems to top the list of concerns. Even though Facebook has recently improved its privacy policy, it is unable to deny any data mining being done.

There is also criticism that Facebook is reserved for narcissistic people whose emphasis is on quantity over quality. Such users typically race against others to have numerous but shallow relationship and prone to displaying self-promoting pictures.

Many organisations also disapprove of the use of Facebook and block its access on their computers. The fact that Facebook is denied in the same manner as gambling and pornographic websites speaks volume of the prevalence of opposing forces.

A few days ago, the Straits Times carried a story on how Facebook destroys lives. Many cases involving crime of passion were reported to have been triggered by activities within Facebook. In one case, a truck driver stabbed his wife to death because she had changed her Facebook status to 'single'.

On the surface, you may be quick to conclude that Facebook is culpable. Think again. Would you blame the mobile phone just because it has transmitted a text which incites an aggression?

Recently, BBC news reported a study which suggests that 'Bosses should embrace Facebook'. The study reckons that 'attempts to control employees' use of such software could damage firms in the long run by limiting the way staff communicate'.

The pressure for Facebook to be widely acceptable and accessible is mounting. At the rate of its growth, its penetration into our lives seems unstoppable. In time to come, asking anyone to stop using Facebook is akin to asking human mankind not to interact. It won't be possible.

I do not think it is fair to blame Facebook for any social ills it is perceived to have caused. The bottomline is, people need to and want to interact and Facebook is merely a means to do so. There are similar social ills associated with more conventional form of interaction but no one is about to suggest banning the use of emails just because of spam mails with undesirable contents.

Social ills are to be managed and that cannot be achieved solely by removing enablers for communication and interaction.

Social networking is here to stay and it will increasingly dominate the Internet traffic. It is all for a simple reason that people have an incredibly powerful desire to communicate with each other, and that will never go away.

The future of social networking is in collaboration where users from different social-networking platform may come together to achieve the same aim. The trend of social-networking simply does not look reversible at this stage.

Be prepared for the wave of social-networking and don't be swept away and lose your ability to connect with others. You don't have to be a narcissist just because you are a Facebooker. However, resisting it may turn you into a virtual hermit and a solitarian in the real world.

The choice is yours: face up to Facebook or be phased out.

Tapping From Everywhere

Let's face it, Singapore is tiny and it is virtually a 'water stressed' nation.

When the little red dot was separated from Malaysia in 1965, one of the major concerns over its survival evolved around water resources. For many years, prevailing agreements with Malaysia ensured that there is water supply for this 683 sq km island state.

Today, this source is just one of the many more as Singapore proudly proclaims its 4 taps strategy to water supply.

Tap 1: Water from Malaysia

40% of water needs comes from Malaysia. The original tap of getting water from the neighbor is not sustainable in the long term. The 2 agreements will end in 2011 and 2061 respectively. Occasional cross border political tension further suggests that sole reliance on this source is undesirable.

Tap 2: Rain Water Catchment

Back in 1867, the first water catchment, MacRitchie Reservoir (then known as Thomson Road Reservoir) was built. It was followed by Seletar Reservoir in 1920. In 1975, 3 more were added: Kranji Reservoir, Pandan Reservoir and Upper Peirce Reservoir.

2 days ago, the 15th and latest addition to the list, Marina Barrage was officially opened. The project was challenging. Due to its poor soil condition, piling at the site is one of the deepest in Singapore. It is now the largest reservoir in Singapore and Prime Minister Lee called it an 'engineering feat'.

About 60% of Singapore land area has been adapted to harvest rainwater for the reservoirs.

Tap 3: Desalination Water

Being an island state, it would be a shame if Singapore cannot tap on the enormous amount of sea water around it. Thanks to the more advanced and cheaper technology known as the Reverse Osmosis, turning sea water into pure water is now commercially viable.

Desalination meets about 10% of Singapore water needs. By 2011, this will increase to 30%.

Tap 4: NEWater

NEWater is the brand name given to reclaimed water produced by the Public Utilities Board. Using the same Reverse Osmosis process, waste water (sewage) is purified to potable standard, even though the water is largely used for industrial purposes. Due its unconventional source, NEWater has drawn a variety of reactions. Overall, it is seen as a success.

The innovative strategy towards water management will move Singapore closer towards self-sufficiency. This is a happy story which sounds like a fairy tale to people in many parts of the world.

Half of the world's population still suffers with water services inferior to those available to the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is a somber reminder for those who may have taken the convenience of water supply for granted.

We shall also be reminded that more than 1 billion people in the world still depend on groundwater as their sole source of drinking water. Some people in Africa do not even have this water source in their town and they will have to travel to get it.

Theoretically, the amount of water on Earth is a constant. Every time we use water, we either take it from the surface or underground. Used water in turn goes back to the Earth. If the process of returning water is not well managed, we get water pollution. The problem can be teething and life threatening.

80% of the Earth is covered with water. That might sound like a lot but 97% of it is seawater. Of the remaining 3%, 2% is locked up in frozen polar ice caps and only 1% is drinkable!

Yes! Get that fact right, only 1% of the water on Earth is drinkable!


At any one time, some water is in the form of water vapour in the air. Nature's way of harvesting this source is by creating rain water. This has inspired water dispenser makers such as the Singapore-based company, Airqua, to produce water from the air. Now, that is what I call ingenious!

An average Singaporean uses 160 litres of water a day. Compared to USA at more than 500 litres/person, we are doing OK. But in order to maintain Singapore in a sustainable living state, each and every one has to take ownership of the environment. Every drop counts.

Are you using water above the national average? Get you answer here. (1 US gallon = 3.79 litre)

The search for water can never end and you are coming along.