Singapore Medical Students Learning through Virtual Reality and Gamification

Due to COVID-19, access to the operating theatres in hospitals is restricted, which means medical training must balance practical learning experiences while ensuring the safety of their students.

NUS have released how they are enabling their medical students from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to experience the process of patient safety and immersion in operating theatre procedures through virtual reality (VR).

The students have been able to learn about the entire flow of the peri-operative setting: from dental clearance to anaesthesia evaluation, to the handling of sharps during surgery and the safe conduct of operations in a simulated environment through VR headsets and hand-held controllers.

The system, called PAtient Safety aS Inter-Professional Training (PASS-IT), is a digital gamified environment that allows students to learn about hands-on techniques in the operating theatre.

“PASS-IT’s gamified style lets multiple learners be immersed in situations where they are given the opportunity to participate in what would usually be a highly restricted environment,” said Associate Professor Alfred Kow, a surgeon and Assistant Dean (Education) of NUS Medicine.

“With the COVID-19 situation, students have also been removed from these settings of practical learning due to the risk of exposing them to aerosol-generating procedures. This VR system is a good tool to help the students consolidate their learning despite increased clinical restrictions,” he added.

Operating in the virtual training world

Medical students use VR headsets and hand-held controllers to interact with each other in real-time. Their physical movements and actions are also tracked and displayed in real-time for visualisation and evaluation.

The tool allows students “to make mistakes, learn in a safe environment and ensure that they are competent before they enter actual clinical environment to care for patients”, according to Assoc Prof Kow.

The PASS-IT programme was piloted with a cohort of 36 third-year medical students who had just completed their clinical rotations in surgery, as well as 56 fourth-year medical students during their Phase IV Anaesthesia posting.

Students showed improved understanding of peri-operative patient safety after the training. Results also showed that the VR training had elevated the students’ appreciation for effective communication between healthcare workers, and the majority of students also spoke positively of the use of VR technology to enhance their knowledge of patient safety.

Assistant Professor Terry Pan from the Department of Anaesthesia at NUS Medicine said the introduction of the PASS-IT VR system has been timely as it gave the students “a unique opportunity to continue the operating theatre learning experience virtually in a safe and structured manner”.

“This innovative VR tool can certainly complement the operating theatre learning experience when the current restrictions are lifted,” he added.

Photo Credit:https://news.nus.edu.sg/

Singapore’s Retail Jobs Transformation Map

Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry launched the Jobs Transformation Map (JTM) for Retail as a guiding resource to help retail companies plan and ensure that their workforce is equipped with the necessary skill sets to meet evolving business needs.

Following the release of the Retail Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 in October last year, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) collaborated with the Ministry of Manpower to create the JTM, which was supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), in collaboration with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), has been designated as a programme partner for the Jobs Skills Integrator for Retail (JSIT-R).

The JSIT-R is a dedicated intermediary that offers retailers end-to-end solutions for workforce transformation, staff training, and job matching services. When engaging with retailers, the JSIT-R will consult the JTM.

Retail trade associations and chambers (TACs) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SNEF and NTUC to demonstrate their support for the JSIT-R and the implementation of the JTM. TACs are committed to reaching out to and collaborating with over 1,100 member companies and other retailers to accelerate employment transformation for their workforce of about 94,000 employees.

To ensure that the Retail sector can continue to attract and retain talent while also creating quality jobs, a study was conducted to identify future industry trends as well as anticipate how future job roles and required skill sets must change to create new opportunities and meet evolving business needs.

Four major trends and opportunities have been identified:

Shifts in consumer needs as a result of changes in lifestyle, preferences, and awareness;
Emergence of new retail models (e.g., omnichannel, customer-centric retail experience, and innovative business model) that enable enhanced brand and shopping experiences;
Using data analytics and improvements in retail technology to increase productivity and efficiency;
Create a resilient and agile supply chain to improve inventory management and enable more fulfilling alternatives in an increasingly complicated and turbulent supply chain environment.

The JTM analysis highlighted existing work roles that are likely to change somewhat or significantly, such as sales associates and store managers. Changes such as new technology and shifting consumer needs will transform these jobs.

A fundamental recommendation in the JTM report for adapting to these trends and technology improvements is to transform the workforce through human capital development programmes that include training, job redesign, and skills-based career progression pathways.

Such efforts would allow employees to focus on more value-added work and plan their evolution, which would help the growth of businesses.

Some emerging job roles include Sustainability Specialist, Product Innovator, Customer Experience Manager, Customer Intelligence Analyst, Omni-channel Manager, Digital Marketer, Digital Transformation Manager, UI/UX Designer and Full Stack Developer.

Further, retailers can stay competitive in a continuously changing industry by utilising data analytics and developments in retail technology. It helps them to provide personalised experiences, optimise operations, and boost customer satisfaction, resulting in higher profitability and long-term success.

The utilisation of data analytics and improvements in retail technology is critical for merchants looking to increase productivity and efficiency. Retailers can obtain important insights into customer behaviour, preferences, and market trends by leveraging the power of data analytics.

This data enables them to make data-driven decisions, improve inventory management, personalise marketing efforts, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Singapore Enhancing Robotics in Food Services

A*STAR, in collaboration with a local F&B-centric robotics and automation SME, has developed a joint research and innovation initiative to foster innovation in robotic platforms for the Food Services industry.

This programme will combine both parties’ Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre’s (ARTC) skills to develop solutions that incorporate Food and Beverage (F&B) domain knowledge, as well as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation.

The F&B-centric robotics and automation SME and A*STAR’s ARTC will invest S$3.5 million in developing a modular vision platform that can assist robotised operations in F&B by assisting these robots to self-navigate and self-calibrate in dynamic and space-constrained environments such as restaurant kitchens.

The combined effort will also use a digital twin platform to establish a digital representation of the F&B robotic system, allowing for real-time analytics that enables remote monitoring and optimisation of operations, accelerating the deployment of new robotic systems and decreasing operational downtime.

The combined research and innovation project embodies both A*STAR’s and the firm’s desire to leverage mutual capabilities to perform research combining F&B domain expertise, robotics, automation, AI, vision, and digital twin technologies.

The partnership is sure that the technology they produce will assist support and building the digital and automation capabilities of F&B firms. Besides, they believe that this will help Singapore establish itself as a major F&B robotics and automation hub, increase the efficiency of Food Service personnel, and help address the sector’s manpower problem and rising operational expenses.

The collaborative effort intends to create solutions that will enable the Food Services industry to automate operations and boost efficiency, lowering the amount of repetitious and physically demanding work and allowing F&B personnel to focus on higher-value jobs.

A*STAR’s ARTC engages with local enterprises to co-develop breakthrough technologies and co-innovate industry solutions to seize new growth possibilities locally and worldwide, according to Dr David Low, CEO of A*STAR’s ARTC.

He added that such public-private collaborations are critical in bringing complementary expertise together to address problem statements and increase productivity and efficiency in the Fast-Moving Food Services industry and beyond.

The Food Services business is set to expand and evolve further. Digitalisation and automation are critical to assisting F&B businesses in thriving and overcoming obstacles such as a labour shortage.

This collaboration will develop solutions to assist F&B enterprises in optimising their operations. They anticipate more similar cooperation between innovation and IT ecosystem partners to boost F&B company growth.

Drive innovation is critical for the food services industry because it has the potential to revolutionise operations and address significant concerns. Innovation serves as fuel for growth and sustainability in an era characterised by technical advancements and shifting consumer expectations.

Automation streamlines operations and reduces reliance on manual labour. Tasks such as food preparation, cooking, and serving can be carried out more efficiently by adding robotics, AI, and automation technology, resulting in higher productivity and lower operational expenses.

Improved consumer experiences are made possible by innovation. From self-ordering kiosks and smartphone apps to personalised recommendations and delivery drones, technology advancements improve consumer convenience, speed, and personalisation. This results in increased client happiness and loyalty, which ultimately drives corporate success.

It is also critical in addressing labour shortages. With rising labour costs and a diminishing workforce, automation and robotics provide options to fill the gaps, allowing food service enterprises to remain efficient and successful.

In addition, food service industry innovation can reduce environmental effects. Through innovative technologies, sustainable practices such as waste reduction, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly packaging solutions can be integrated, leading to a greener and more socially responsible industry.

Singapore Unveils AI Government Cloud Cluster

The Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) and a major cloud computing company have announced the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Government Cloud Cluster (AGCC), a comprehensive platform designed to accelerate AI adoption in Singapore’s public sector, advance local applied AI research efforts and support the growth of the local AI startup ecosystem.

The AGCC has been implemented by SNDGO and the cloud tech company for usage by Singapore’s government agencies and the research, innovation, and enterprise (RIE) ecosystem. The AGCC is hosted in Singapore in a specialised cloud computing environment.

Agencies can use the AGCC to build and deploy scalable and impactful AI applications rapidly, safely, ethically, and cost-effectively by leveraging an AI technology stack and a vast partner ecosystem of software-as-a-service firms, consultancies, and AI startups. AI technology stack capabilities include:

First, an AI-optimised infrastructure. High-performance A2 supercomputers powered by NVIDIA’s A100 GPUs and hosted in an open, scalable, secure, and energy-efficient infrastructure. This enables cloud developers to train computationally complex AI models at fast speeds while minimising costs and environmental impact.

Customisable first-party, third-party, and open-source AI models follow. A central repository enabling AI practitioners to access pre-trained generative AI models, with built-in features to assist users in customising these models for specific requirements.

The repository contains a wide range of first-party, third-party, and open-source models designed for certain needs. These include models for summarising and translating text in different languages, sustaining an ongoing discussion, converting audio to text, producing, and modifying software code, and generating and repairing written descriptions.

International AI businesses interested in making their foundation models available to Singapore government departments can collaborate with the Cloud computing company to store these models in the repository.

Another category is no-code AI development tools. A Generative AI App Builder enabling developers (especially those with limited technical expertise) to swiftly construct and seamlessly embed chatbots and enterprise search experiences driven by Cloud’s generative AI models.

Finally, there are explainable AI and data governance toolkits. A set of built-in technologies that can assist government agencies in using AI in a secure and responsible manner. This includes features for access control and content moderation, as well as novel mechanisms for incorporating human feedback to improve model performance and the ability to audit the sources of AI model outputs to detect and resolve potential bias and ensure that model behaviour is compliant with regulations.

The Government Technology Agency (GovTech) is Singapore’s first public-sector organisation to use the AGCC. Its Open Government Products (OGP) team has integrated with Vertex AI and is investigating the use of its models in Pair, which are large language model-powered assistants that civil servants can use to help them boost productivity while maintaining the confidentiality of government information.

To help government agencies deploy AI applications as effectively and responsibly as possible, the Cloud tech company will collaborate with GovTech to design and run whole-of-government Digital Academy programmes that will assist agencies in developing in-house data science and AI expertise, developing AI innovation strategies, and implementing data governance best practices.

The programmes will be delivered in a variety of specialised formats to 150,000 public servants from 16 ministries and over 50 statutory boards.

Government agencies in Singapore will be able to use the AGCC and other authorised services through the Government on Commercial Cloud (GCC) 2.0 platform beginning in June 2023. The GCC platform, developed by GovTech, offers agencies a standardised and regulated means to implement commercial cloud solutions.

GCC 2.0, the platform’s second generation, is integrated with cloud-native capabilities and cloud security practices, enabling agencies to access into a larger ecosystem of services and people to accelerate the development of new digital applications.

India: University Implements AI/ML for Efficient Tracking

State-run Osmania University in Hyderabad has embraced artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to revolutionise its attendance marking process. Now, the tedious waiting to sign attendance registers or use biometric systems is no longer required. Employees simply need to enter the building, and their attendance will be automatically recorded. This is made possible through CCTV cameras equipped with AI and ML technologies, which accurately mark employees’ attendance, log-in and log-out times, as well as their entry and exit from the building.

The functionality of these cameras relies on an integrated facial recognition system. Leveraging cognitive AI capabilities, they identify facial biometrics and synchronise them with the current database to accurately document employee attendance. This innovative solution has been implemented as a pilot project in the main administrative building of the university for its employees. In the future, the university plans to expand the deployment of these cameras to other campus facilities, including offices, classrooms, and hostels.

According to an official from the university, under the manual system, employees often mark their attendance in the morning, leave the office, and return later to record their log-out time. However, with the implementation of CCTV camera-based attendance, this process will undergo a significant change. The cameras continuously capture movement and simultaneously store employees’ log details, eliminating the need for manual recording. To achieve this, AI and ML technologies have been integrated into two cameras.

Additionally, the official noted that the CCTV cameras also capture the log-in information of visitors entering the administrative building. This means that the log details of all visitors are systematically recorded in the database, providing a comprehensive attendance tracking system.

The introduction of CCTV-based attendance eliminates the need for manual attendance registers or time-consuming biometric systems, streamlining the entire process. Students simply need to enter the designated areas covered by CCTV cameras, and their attendance is promptly recorded. This not only saves time but also reduces the chances of errors or misinterpretations.

Moreover, these AI-powered cameras not only capture the presence of students but also provide additional functionalities. Some universities have integrated facial recognition systems to ensure authentication and prevent proxy attendance. The cameras analyse facial biometrics, matching them against the existing database to ensure accurate identification. It can also enable the university to track attendance patterns, identify areas that require improvement, and take proactive measures to enhance student engagement and performance.

Most educational institutions across the country are embracing the advancements brought by AI. Numerous schools and colleges have incorporated AI-based learning techniques to simplify the process of education and effectively teach intricate subjects to students. Additionally, AI’s adaptable learning methods assist teachers in providing personalised attention to each student.

Last year, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) and the Tamil Nadu State Department of School Education announced they would collaborate to improve and update the digital learning platform for school students to an assessment-focused Learning Management System. It was deployed in high-tech labs in 6,000 government schools, as OpenGov Asia reported. It aimed to improve the quality of learning for around nine million students.

Education in Tamil Nadu’s schools was previously supplemented through a digital learning platform called the Education Management Information System. Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras used their AI and data science expertise to come up with ways to improve the way assessments are conducted and develop a framework to disseminate educational material.

Singapore’s Digital Solutions for Advance Care Planning

According to Masagos Zulkifli, Second Minister for Health at the recently concluded 8th Advance Care Planning International Conference, person-centred care includes prioritising the patient’s choices and involving the patient and their family in care decisions. As a result, advance care planning (ACP) allows individuals to communicate their enhanced healthcare preferences.

ACP has been adopted in Singapore under the Advance Medical Directive Act and the Mental Capacity Act. Over 35,000 Singaporeans have completed their plans under the “Living Matters” programme, which promotes ACP.

In the future, the Ministry of Health hopes to raise awareness and acceptance of ACP, which has earned global prominence for aligning care with individual beliefs.

Minister Masagos noted that three issues must be overcome to promote the wider adoption of ACP. To begin, Singapore’s traditional society requires a mindset shift to normalise dialogues about death and dying, particularly among the elderly.

Second, additional facilitators, particularly trustworthy doctors, should be included to effectively engage the community. Finally, the present ACP facilitation approach requires an improved structure that can accommodate a larger group without losing quality.

In addition, technology should be used to reach out to digitally literate populations and increase scalability. Overcoming these obstacles will allow ACP to gain wider support and implementation in Singapore.

The Ministry of Health hopes to improve accessibility and ease in the ACP process as Singapore embraces technology. Individuals can now complete their ACP autonomously, without the necessity for in-depth talks with facilitators, thanks to the use of digital technologies, especially for those who are generally healthy.

This transition to digital solutions tackles the scalability and resource intensity issues that have plagued traditional ACP facilitation. It also serves a growing generation of digitally literate consumers who want more control over their healthcare decisions.

The ACP community must work with the healthcare system’s continuing improvements, particularly the Healthier SG project, which emphasises preventive care. Key shifts are required to enhance ACP knowledge and implementation.

Also, a societal mindset shift is required, which includes outreach, providing ACP outside of clinical settings, and establishing a statewide Pre-Planning Campaign. Roadshows, workshops, and a digital campaign on the My Legacy site will be part of this effort.

Individuals can use this gateway to get extensive information about ACP, start conversations, and make informed decisions about their life preferences. These programmes not only empower individuals but also promote early planning, ensuring that their values and priorities fit with their care goals.

Individuals and their families will benefit from these efforts, which aim to stimulate talks and early planning for end-of-life care. It is critical to begin these discussions and make the appropriate arrangements, including as purchasing insurance and establishing a durable power of attorney and wills.

Two critical shifts must occur for ACP to be widely adopted. First, healthcare personnel should be encouraged to incorporate ACP dialogues into routine treatment, giving them the knowledge and ability to discuss end-of-life planning with their patients.

This involves starting early dialogues with people who have significant illnesses about how to connect their care plans with their values. Second, to improve the ease, the ACP procedure should be digitalised.

While third-party facilitators are still required in some circumstances, digitally savvy persons who are relatively healthy can self-facilitate the broad ACP without in-depth conversations. Citizens can empower themselves to finish the ACP process independently by leveraging technology and digital platforms.

Unlocking AI’s Potential for Accelerated Drug Development

The University of Sydney recently entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company based in South Korea. The partnership aims to leverage the power of artificial intelligence in identifying potential compounds for accelerated development into treatments for cancers and rare diseases.

Under the MoU, the University’s Drug Discovery Initiative will gain access to the pharmaceutical company’s advanced AI drug development platform, known as Chemiverse. This collaboration will enable the University to harness the capabilities of AI in identifying promising compounds for drug development. Additionally, the company will benefit from collaborating with the University’s esteemed team of researchers and using their cutting-edge drug discovery infrastructure.

The Director of the Drug Discovery Initiative expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with the company. He highlighted the complexity involved in developing drugs for treating diseases and emphasised the significance of working with Pharos and their advanced artificial intelligence platform, Chemiverse.

The use of Chemiverse in this partnership is expected to greatly enhance the University’s capacity to develop innovative treatments for unmet medical needs. Moreover, the synergies between the platform and the Drug Discovery Initiative will foster innovation and facilitate the establishment of new drug discovery pipelines.

The Drug Discovery Initiative, situated within the School of Chemistry, serves as an interdisciplinary academic network that aims to expedite the early-stage development of drugs by leveraging top-tier individuals, technologies, and tools.

The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise) emphasised the University’s dedication to translating fundamental research into practical solutions. The partnership with the company is viewed as an opportunity to capitalise on the expertise housed within the Drug Discovery Initiative. Together, they strive to advance the development of potentially life-saving targets for cancer and rare diseases.

The co-CEO of the company’s Australia branch expressed excitement about collaborating with the University and the Drug Discovery Initiative. He said the use of state-of-the-art infrastructure to accelerate drug discovery efforts.

The firm’s Chemiverse platform is a versatile tool that can be employed across the entire spectrum of new drug development, encompassing target discovery to lead compound generation. This advanced platform incorporates a vast amount of big data, approximately 230 million data points, and uses advanced algorithms to facilitate the drug development process.

The company is actively engaged in ongoing research and development as well as commercialisation efforts using the Chemiverse platform. They are currently working on approximately 10 pipeline projects, which include the development of a treatment called “PHI-101” for acute myeloid leukaemia. Notably, PHI-101 is currently undergoing phase 1b clinical trials.

On the other hand, the Drug Discovery Initiative plays a prominent role in the development of new compounds and the identification of collaborative pipelines. They are highly active in their pursuit of advancing drug discovery and forging partnerships in this field.

In March, the NSW Government provided funding for the establishment of the NSW Organoid Innovation Centre. This state-of-the-art facility is a collaborative initiative involving multiple institutions. It focuses on using cutting-edge stem-cell techniques to expedite the process of drug discovery and design.

The pharmaceutical company, earlier this year, became a part of the Sydney Knowledge Hub, which serves as a startup incubator and coworking space located at the University of Sydney. This strategic collaboration aims to foster partnerships and facilitate seamless collaboration between industry and the research community in Sydney.

Transforming Indonesian Healthcare with 5G, Robotic Telesurgery

Indonesia has embarked on an exciting journey towards revolutionising its healthcare landscape by embracing the power of 5G technology and introducing the groundbreaking concept of Robotic Telesurgery. This ambitious endeavour aims to elevate the quality of healthcare services, overcome geographical barriers, and provide access to cutting-edge surgical procedures for patients nationwide.

In support of the government’s agenda through the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, a pilot test and demonstration of the implementation of the 5G Robotic Telesurgery (remote robotic surgery) use case, the first of its kind in Indonesia is being conducted.

Robotic Telesurgery is one of the innovative use cases that harness the power of the 5G network, supported by a private network company in Indonesia, enabling the healthcare realm to enhance productivity and efficiency.

In the real-time implementation of Robotic Telesurgery technology, a large bandwidth capacity and low latency are required for data controlling functions, intra-abdominal accurate image transfer, and video communication. In the pilot test and demonstration, the doctors are located at RSUP Dr Hasan Sadikin in Bandung, while the patients are at RSUP Dr Sardjito in Yogyakarta. The distance between Bandung and Yogyakarta is approximately 563 km.

Reliable and low latency 5G network infrastructure is utilised at both pilot project hospital locations to accommodate Robotic Telesurgery. It ensures high visual precision and ergonomic remote instrument accessibility and reduces the risk of complications during surgical procedures and recovery.

Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, explains that telerobotic surgery technology is beneficial for addressing the shortage of specialist surgeons and eliminates geographical barriers and distance limitations. This technology can assist surgeons and patients in remote areas, providing them access to the latest surgical procedures.

Considering that Indonesia is an archipelago with thousands of islands, this advanced technology addresses the country’s geographical challenges, reducing the risks and dangers associated with long-distance travel.

Director of Planning and Transformation at the private network, Wong, stated that in continuing the commitment to make the leading 5G broadband network ecosystem, both the government and private sector must take a leading role in implementing mobile digital services and solutions that exceed user expectations and support the nation’s economic growth.

The partnership between the private sector and the public hospitals showcases the synergy in driving technological innovation to benefit the nation’s healthcare landscape. By pushing the boundaries of technology in healthcare, Indonesia demonstrates its commitment to embracing the digital era and harnessing its transformative potential.

The government is optimistic that such collaborations can continue with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and national healthcare service providers, to explore further opportunities for advancement in accelerating the digital transformation of national healthcare services. It will bring progress in the healthcare sector and various other industries that can support the nation’s development.

June 5, 2023

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Singapore Medical Students Learning through Virtual Reality and Gamification

Singapore’s Retail Jobs Transformation Map

Singapore Enhancing Robotics in Food Services

Singapore Unveils AI Government Cloud Cluster

India: University Implements AI/ML for Efficient Tracking

Singapore’s Digital Solutions for Advance Care Planning

Unlocking AI’s Potential for Accelerated Drug Development

Transforming Indonesian Healthcare with 5G, Robotic Telesurgery

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