They build the gadgets of today for the world. But when an elite R&D team from Chinese electronic giant TCL Corporation wanted to know what the gadgets of tomorrow would look like, especially in the near future where devices are seamlessly integrated with social media, it called upon the Institute of Systems Science.
TCL Corporation is one of the largest consumer electronics enterprises in China and has majority stakes in other international TV and mobile brands such as Thomson, RCA and Alcatel. The group, which employs more than 60,000 people around the world, develops and sells products including television sets, mobile phones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators and other kitchen appliances. It is the top television brand in China and among the top six biggest television manufacturers in the world. In 2012, the company sold 10.86 million LCD TV sets and 43.61 million handsets globally.
The Chinese giant had requested for a sharing session with ISS after it learnt of the recent agreement between ISS and IBM to jointly establish the ISS-IBM Enterprise Social Business Centre of Excellence in April last year. ISS responded by hosting the corporation in a three-hour closed door session.
Yu Chen Kuang from the Institute’s Process Innovation Practice department outlined the trends in convergence of devices and social media, Dr. Esther Tan, Chief of the institute’s Systems Analysis Graduate Programme presented on context-sensitive information in a ubiquitous environment and Dr. Guo Lei, a Postdoctoral Fellow with ISS’ Service Innovation Practice department spoke about service perspective for innovation of devices. Faculty members of the Singapore University of Technology and Design, who helped put TCL in touch with ISS, also gave TCL Corporation an overview of the university and its various research projects. TCL, in turn, shared its thoughts on the future convergence of devices.
The 60-member audience, who form the crème de la crème of the giant’s 4000-strong research force, were rapt in attention throughout the session. They participated actively during the question-and-answer session as they fired away thought-provoking questions.
Thanking the host, Xu Fang, the Vice President of Human Resources at TCL Corporation, said, “We are very happy to visit ISS, part of the renowned National University of Singapore, to learn and share ideas on the convergence of devices and social technologies.”
Xu Fang, Vice President of Human Resources at TCL, shows her appreciation with a gift to Goh Boon Nam, ISS’ Chief of New Initiatives and Strategic Planning
New ties were formed and new understanding forged: (from left to right) Dr. Leong Mun Kew, Xu Fang, Fionnie Goh (Manager, Academic Initiative and Developer Relations, ASEAN, IBM), Esther Tan, Goh Boon Nam, Dr. Wong Woon Kwong (Director, Research and Industry Collaboration, Singapore University of Technology and Design), Dr. Guo Lei, Evelyn Tan (Assistant Director, Research and Industry Collaboration, Singapore University of Technology and Design), and Wang Qingping (CEO, Innovation Power Consulting Organization)
The elite who came: The 60 researchers from TCL Corporation who visited ISS are among the crème de la cream of their department.
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