CONTENT V@ULT

Let visit be like flipping pages in history

2009-10-14T00:55:00.001+08:00

The Star, 10 Oct, 2009.

THE writer of the letter “Real-life movie studio” (The Star, Oct was spot on.

Having Malaccan roots myself and having gone back various times to visit the historical city, I feel that Malacca as a “movie set” is an interesting concept.

It could be done in such a way that when someone enters Malacca, it would be akin to flipping the pages of a history book. Every page presents an adventure that transports locals and tourists alike to a time when merchants from all over the world met and traded their spices and wares, or a walk with Hang Tuah on his way to the Sultan’s palace or to fight with Jebat, or the spot where the Portuguese landed.

People can experience how it felt to dress, eat, drink, dance and talk during the time and place when Malacca was at the height of her popularity.

Fathers & Sons E-Book

2009-10-14T00:46:00.001+08:00

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

Get the Basics Right

2009-09-27T12:11:00.006+08:00

THE article “Teaching children to fail” (Aug 17) is unbelievable. Unbelievably spot on, that is. Growing up, my late dad John Pillai, a former journalist and my mum, a retired teacher, definitely helped shape my communication and language skills.

As one became older and supposedly wiser, one also at times, ignored the discipline and passion poured into English, instilled by the “old folks”. One became sloppy, sometimes irritated when dad was checking my work.

Yes, he still did at this stage although no more knuckle raps. But when a person so passionate about the language and words is no more, who is there to discourse and debate about this article or another? Teachers are there to be this guiding force to our young, to ensure that the road ahead is cleared. Minimise the obstacles. But let’s also not underestimate the “new young”, the Gen Y and beyond. They live in two parallel worlds, the ones we live in and the virtual one. They know how important language and communication is.

After all, any Facebook account will show friends from all over the world. Language barriers broken by one common communication tool namely, English.The whole debate is being laughed at by teens. They will probably fine tune their English by going online more often. The ones we need to worry about are the ones just entering school.

Set up some task force within another task force to “menilai semula” all that has been happening.

(Letter by Gerry Pillai appeared in theSun,WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 2009)

Content Development Requirement in Malaysia

2009-03-20T17:34:00.008+08:00

Content.

Sounds simple right?

For most people, especially in the country, this usually refers to 2D or 3D animation such as those meant for TV and the Cinema.

Sometimes, the term 'creative content' is used. Usually referring to the use of multimedia tools (software and hardware) to come out with content work as mentioned above.

However, 'content' could also refer to other types that do not fall under the 'movie' types that we are all used to.

What about:

1. Content that captures the country's images from the past to now, to illustrate the evolution of the nation's history, culture, heritage and people. This could be in the form of still images and/or videos

2. Content that records the indigenous tribes of Malaysia and the natural habitats

3. Content that helps people, both locals and foreigners alike, to appreciate our country's kampung environments

4. Content that captures the sounds of our variety of languages, dialects, their differences, similarities etc

5. Content that helps our people to learn another's language and customs

Think about this for a bit

Anti Drugs Campaign: Capitalising on New Media

2008-12-28T12:25:00.005+08:00

What do we mean by ‘New Media’?

New media is a term meant to encompass the emergence of digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies in the later part of the 20th century.

Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of being manipulable, networkable, dense, compressible, and impartial. New Media products are usually those that have been designed and developed using a variety of multimedia tools and technologies such as Adobe Flash, Dreamweaver, HTML, Studio3D Max, SoundForge, Photoshop, Maya etc. New Media encompasses Videos, Images, Audio, Graphics, Raw Text and Animation all bundled interactively. Messages that are built into New Media packages are often quite compelling and are aimed at reaching out to the intended target audience in the most effective manner possible.

Web 2.0 Application Snapshot

2008-12-17T13:05:00.003+08:00

“How Information & Communication Technology (ICT), New Media and Web 2.0 tools can be used in Drugs and Substance Abuse Prevention – Created by Youth

2008-12-04T09:18:00.003+08:00

“The rising number of cases involving Malaysian women becoming international drug couriers or drug mules for international drug smuggling syndicates is quite alarming. At the last count, there were 37 Malaysians convicted or awaiting trial for drug related crimes in China with several others held in prisons in other countries…” – New Straits Times Report, 2008.

Time and time again, we hear and read reports about young people getting arrested in another country that they are visiting. These young people are usually between the ages of 22 to 30 years and are caught for allegedly trafficking drugs of all kinds and quantity.

Upon questioning, those arrested are quick to claim innocence or suggest that they were duped into trafficking by someone they just met or by some employment agency that made it a part of their ‘job scope’. An alarming number of these cases have implied that the ‘victims’ were influenced by ‘lucrative’ jobs advertised via the Internet and other Internet Forums, Online Chat Rooms and Blogs.

Easy money offered through high speed technology.

Welcome to the world of Information and Communication Technology or ‘ICT’.

But are we too quick to lay all blame on technology?

On innocent and impressionable youth? Well, someone has to take some portion of the blame. If not the person arrested, then perhaps parents who did not pay enough attention to their children? Schools and the Entire Education system which do not mould character and vital values in our young? The government for not running enough consistent anti drug campaigns? Or perhaps, we could pin the blame on the unscrupulous foreign syndicates that ply the Cyber-highway seeking out young ambitious people that want to live on the fast lane in double quick time.

The World Wide Web (also known as the Internet). Is it really all the bad that it’s painted out to be?

While yes, it’s a fact that one can learn how to design their own bombs in their backyard and make their own ‘samsu’ (moonshine) using easily available ingredients and become ‘students’ of racist organizations. Even tips on how to commit suicide can be found with even some graphic video and image postings!

All these ‘lessons’ and ‘freebies’ can be obtained in a few simple clicks whilst you are sitting comfortably on your favourite chair in the secure environment of your bedroom. Granted, the Internet and the technology power than comes with it can be disastrous if used wrongly or with illegal intentions in mind.

“Yes, the Internet has brought with it, the ills and vices that any new and growing pop culture would bring. In the 50’s and 60’s, Rock & Roll was evil and even deemed satanic. Certain music, even in this day and age is often frowned upon and in Malaysia, ‘Black Metal’ is evil and the youth that enjoy this genre of music is usually obstructed from enjoying an outing with friends whenever a band is playing…” – Ravi Vaarman, Rock Musician making a decent living and residing in Australia.

More often than not, many a religious leader or public servant tries to associate drugs and substance abuse to music (usually heavy metal), bands (usually those dressed in black), dancing (usually hip hop and shuffle), motorcyclists (here in Malaysia, the kind known as ‘Mat Rempit’) and ‘lepak’ culture (where we have youths sitting around ‘aimlessly’ in parks, shopping malls or at roadside food stalls).

So you do have the usual peppering of newspaper and other media coverage quoting some Minister or another saying that youths today need to be more disciplined, need more parental control, need more sporting activities, need more youth activities or even be sent to training camps, need to be indoors, need to take more subjects and get more distinctions and so on.

It appears that our powers that be understand what the youth of this generation wants. It looks like they know the needs of ‘Generation Y’. Or do they?

Do they know that:

1. Teenagers are technology rich and operate in a wired world?
2. On average, 45% of teenagers have mobile phones and 33% are using SMS? In Malaysia, this figure shoots through the roof.
3. Email is a fixture in teenagers’ lives but instant messaging is preferred?
4. Half of families with teenagers have broadband?
5. Eight in Ten wired teenagers play games on the Internet?
6. Most teenagers use shared computers at home and increasing numbers log on from libraries, school, cyber cafes and other locations? In fact, mobile phones are increasingly being used to log onto the Internet.
7. Pre teens and teenagers are actually content creators and have been doing so for a long time?
8. Our youth are technology savvy and prefer to study with friend’s online, ‘hang out’ and listen to music while being on the Internet and find it as a great way to be creative, socialize and express themselves? Or even to learn new things?

Yahoo, Google, YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, Twitter, Flickr.

These are not strange sounding names anymore. In fact, they are names and brands of corporations which are in fact worth hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. And not too long ago, these were names which parents felt took too much of their children’s time away from studying for that important Maths exam. Or where their children were spending way too much time making new ‘virtual’ friends and hanging out listening to latest music and exchanging gossip.

As these ‘Internet born or fuelled technologies and applications’ attracted millions of youngsters to register as members and as communities started to grow exponentially, they took on a more corporate form behind the scene and started to look at innovative ways to ensure that their members stayed with them. The more members they had, or rather the right type of members they had (read: young people), these iconic brands attracted advertisers and merchandisers which spun of other commercial minded ideas to attract youthful dollars and revenue.

They did not have to look far.

The youthful members of most of these Web 2.0 type technologies took charge. The youth that is online today has taken leadership control. The user (youth) generates their own content and does not think twice of sharing with others. Comments and ratings are offered for each content uploaded, favourite links bookmarked and sent to friends, photos are edited and posted online as fast as you can blink.

Youth today are online ‘netizen’ journalists that learn very fast and update their blogs and websites with articles of interest to them. The ‘multiplier’ effect goes into action and all youth generated content, be it videos, images, audio, graphics, raw text or animation is passed around first to ten , then one hundred, then literally to thousands of people in a variety of mailing lists and groups.

Comments are made, sometimes its criticism. Debates are stirred, viewpoints are raised and questions asked and answered. Ideas are mashed and solutions are more often than not, offered.

At times, by persons unknown to the originator of the topic. And all this is being done in real time. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 365 days a year.

All via what we have come to call with some degree of affection, the ‘Internet’. So, it can’t be all that bad.

Well what has the Internet, Web 2.0, Social Networking got to do with preventing drugs and substance abuse?

In 2006, as many as 22,811 drug users were detected in Malaysia (National Drug Agency of Malaysia). The total number of drug users recorded for the period 1988 to 2006 was 300,241 people or about 1.1% of the population of Malaysia.

The same report also found that 97.97% were male, 71.04% were youth aged between 25 to 29 years old, 78.30% had a minimum Form 3 level of education (exam they sit at around age 15) and 59.78% claimed to have been influenced by friends to use drugs.

In this regard, it is imperative to look at how the Internet and its peripheral technologies and innovations such as Web 2.0, New Media and other media forms and channels can be used or are currently being used in designing communication strategies targeting youth; generating interest amongst our youth to work with the government to fight off the Drug menace; and how the media and private sector can help to create internet touch-points that will make them more accessible and ‘youth friendly’ to Malaysia’s growing population.

The author shares his ideas on how we could use ICT and the tools available, to design, develop, implement and manage a sustainable Online and Youth Driven and Targeted Campaign.

Identified Stakeholders of Content ‘Eco – System’

2008-09-28T16:57:00.001+08:00

The following are some of the content industry stakeholders within the eco – system: -

• Animation Production Houses
• Motion Capture Studios
• Mobile, Game, Online Content Developers
• E-Learning/Interactive Content Developers and Providers
• Hardware, Devices Vendors
• Software Developers, Vendors
• Render Farms
• Data/Web Hosting Service Providers
• Internet Service Providers
• Telcos
• Government Agencies

- MDeC Creative Content Cluster
- Content & Multimedia Commission
- Other Agencies
- Venture Capitalists
- Universities

Note: This list may not be exhaustive.

Tracking the Malaysian Content Industry Eco-System

2008-09-28T16:39:00.003+08:00

1.0 The Global Content Industry

The global market value in the creative multimedia industry (based on market estimates), is expected to reach up to US$644 billion by the year 2009.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT), represents a significant driver for both the supply and demand side of the creative content industry.

The convergence of communications, networks, media content and hardware/devices is continuing to open up new opportunities for content providers, vendors and entrepreneurs. The emerging technologies coupled with new convergence such as the iPhone, iTunes and possibly, the G (google) phone, will only serve to grow the demand for better content applications, hardware and interactive digital content.

Lifestyles can be changed and shaped by the growth of the content industry.

Content producers all over the world are aggressively pursuing new business models to push through their services and products to hungry consumers who are spoilt for choice.

While Malaysia’s own content industry has seen some development, notably, within the last year or so, we are still not exploiting the industry’s potential. Neither are we reaping the true benefits and ‘brand value’ that the content industry brings to some other countries.

2.0 The Content Industry – Challenges and Direction

As Malaysia becomes more and more connected in terms of Internet Penetration, PC ownership and eventually the much awaited WIMAX rollout, we in Malaysia should expect multitude of digital assets and content to be churned out in a variety of formats.

With greater accessibility and bandwidth growth expected over the next few quarters and years, the beating of Moore’s Law by leaps and bounds and with improved economic fundamentals in the country and within the region, one should not be surprised that the discerning consumer will have bigger appetites to whet.

Consumers will be demanding more interactive content and digital assets via various platforms, be it: Online games, animated movies, Mobile games and content, Social Networking experiences coupled with greater onslaughts of web 2.0 and much more.

With greater speed of the Internet and with mobile users continuing to grow, it will be the death knell of content service providers should they choose to become complacent and comfortable with whatever positions they are in currently.

The borderless market space that we were so used to reading in prescribed MBA textbooks, already exists. In fact, it has been around for ages (in new economy terms). What this means is that Malaysian content providers and all other stakeholders within the content eco-system, are not alone.

We are not alone. That’s new? Indian companies have been driving their aggregated content through our systems for some time. Whether it’s through a direct approach or via strategic collaborations with large Multinational content providers such as Disney, Malaysian audiences (both Television and Cinema) have already borne witness to the global content onslaught.

While it is great that we in Malaysia talk about selling our local content to international audiences, the reality is that it’s easier said than done. Money makes money. And it does take a huge amount of funds to even produce a mini trailer. And even that’s not enough these days. Now, international content buyers demand that animation and other content production houses, come up with half a season (12 episodes) before they can even start to ‘table talk’.

This is becoming a minimum standard and benchmark.

For smaller content companies (and in Malaysia, we are all small), where would they get the funds? Even if funds were easy to come by (which they are not), can our local companies produce content at globally recognized standards and local costs? And what about the marketing? The traveling to meet potential buyers? The legalities and Intellectual Property issues?

Here, we are not merely talking about the animation companies but the general content industry as a whole. Granted, the creative content industry has within it, various sub – content cluster such as – mobile content, e-learning and say, online games but the challenges facing each cluster are essentially the same.

Namely: Funding, Staff Strength & Talent Pool (and Retention), Project Management, Marketing & Distribution and Intellectual Property.

To add to these challenges, we also have a multitude of issues facing the industry at the moment. We are all too small. Size does matter in some instances.

We should be looking at aggregation of content on a larger scale and also at greater collaboration between our content players.

While it is nice to list down all our home grown content and multimedia related companies in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and create various websites dedicated to creative content companies directly listing, what about the substance and real economic value behind these listings?

What economic and real benefit is the industry contributing towards the country and how are we realizing the global potential of our industry?

While it is good to assess the content industry as a whole and where it is going , one should also be looking at where it should be going. What direction are we charting for our industry and are we able to realize its full potential?

One should be looking at the stakeholders of the content eco-system and how each of these stakeholders is ‘playing off’ each other. How is each of them contributing towards the common goal? What are the plans that each is bringing to the table?

Are we going to just sit back and wait for regional and international content players to ‘make it’ while we are content (no pun intended) with producing the odd content milestone now and then?

According to the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry (KTAK), “Content Industries will become increasingly important with the growth of networked communications.

This growth needs to be nurtured to ensure the achievement of the objectives of making Malaysia a ‘global hub’ for content industries as well as developing local informational and cultural resources that facilitate the national identity and global diversity…”

According to the Ministry, “the largest growth area for content-based services is online communications. With the advent of high speed broadband e.g. 3G technology networks more and more content will be carried on the networks”

It goes on to say that “large content resources within the country are also required for the delivery of on-line services such as distant learning, telemedicine and electronic government. In the promotion of the content industries, encouragement will be given for the development of educational and informational content”.

While the statement is appropriate, it also shows the need for greater collaboration between all relevant Ministries (KTAK, MOSTI), agencies (MDeC, CMC), ICT organizations (PIKOM, TeAM) and other institutions whose say, can have an impact on the direction and roadmap of the industry.

According to a University Malaya paper entitled ‘IMPORTANCE OF CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE DIGITAL CONTENT INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA’, “the content industry is highly fragmented, wherein the various content developers and distributors work in isolation from each other”.

“The Content Industry in Malaysia is currently operating in relative isolation
from each other, despite common market interests and shared needs for
investment, research and development and skills development. This isolation is
constraining the industry. There must be a wider cooperative activity and
partnerships within the industry to enhance synergies with other industries…”

Less, we forget, what has been happening in other countries?

South Korea

As the country with the highest per capita broadband access, South Korea is currently reveling in its position as a world leader in digital content. Some 82% of the nation's 48 million people have access to the Internet with data rates that are up to 10 times faster than anywhere else in the world. As part of the government's effort to make the country one of the world's top five digital content providers by 2007, its Ministry of Information and Communication allocated 80.8 billion won (about RM306.5 million) last year to help local digital content providers gain a competitive edge in the global market.

There are many reasons behind the success of South Korea's digital content industry, but the key ingredient is the government's concerted efforts to provide the right regulatory framework that encourages competition and ensures that the best infrastructure is put in place. Aside from that, the local market is large enough to support itself because of the positive consumer behaviour and culture towards adoption of technology. Survey data from the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency revealed that the Korean digital content industry is expected to reach US$41 billion (RM143.5 billion) in 2010 with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of almost 40% from 2002.

Singapore

Singapore has been doing well for itself in the digital content space. Singapore's Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) has developed and implemented its Creative Industries Development Strategy (CIDS), a three-pronged approach comprising Renaissance City 2.0, Design Singapore and Media 21. It is prepared to invest over S$200 million (RM406 million) in the next five years to help grow and nurture its creative cluster. The target is to double the sector's GDP contribution from the current 3% to 6% in 2012.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) has earmarked S$1 billion (about RM2.28 billion) for the development of the creative industry through to 2018. It has four key strategies - attracting top digital media companies to set up operations within its shores; building the talent base and becoming a regional hub for digital media education; development of cutting-edge digital media technology; and encouraging financial institutions to manage digital media funds out of Singapore.

As a result, the EDB has secured four big wins in LucasFilm, game developers Koei Entertainment from South Korea, Genki from Japan and Electronic Arts (EA) from the US.

Another advantage that Singapore has over Malaysia is its intellectual property (IP) framework and regulation which is more stringent and advanced than ours. The recognition of the value of IP is still relatively low in Malaysia. Banks do not view IP as valid collateral for loans here and the Patent Cooperation Treaty, an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo), was only enforced last year while Singapore enforced the system in 1995

India

The total value of Indian content sold outside India is about $200 million and it could grow over 20 percent every year, according to Ernst & Young’s latest report titled ‘Indian Content on the Move’, published in association with and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The overseas market brings in about 20% of the revenues for any major release in India.

The size of India’s media and entertainment market estimated to be $11 billion.

E&Y values the TV industry at $5 billion—$3 billion from subscriptions and $2 billion from advertising - while Film is worth $2 billion.

The report said that about 70 million households have access to multi channel television of a total 120 million households.

Taiwan

According to the Digital Content Industry Promotion Office (DCIPO), Taiwan's digital content industry was valued at NT$340 billion as of the end of 2006, growing at an average rate of 15% per year for the last three years and 17% over the last year. Between 2003-2006, investments in the digital content industry totaled NT$47.3 billion, while funding for international collaboration projects amounted to NT$9.3 billion. Companies with their own brand gaming and animation products have been the recipients of the greater proportion of investments in the digital content area over the last two years. At current count Taiwan has more than 3,000 digital content companies, employing approximately 70,000 people.

With the evolution and convergence of communications and media technologies, the government is actively promoting several cross-agency initiatives to spur the development of Taiwan's digital content industry. In January 2007, The Executive Yuan convened a meeting of the Digital Content Industry Promotion Task Force Committee, announcing plans to assist Taiwan's digital content industry output reach NTD 600 billion by 2011.

With the NTD 600 billion projection as a target, from 2007, the government will aim for an investment amount of approximately NTD 25 billion per year in the digital content industry, with NTD 10 billion coming from international cooperation. The plans have also set additional targets for 2011, with digital content industry exports comprising 30% of output and growth of 4% for self-copyrighted products. Of these products, digital games, computer animation, digital video and sound, mobile applications, e-learning -- taken together -- would see growth of 40%.

Thailand

Thailand also aims to become a leader in animation software, cashing in on a growing demand for the technology in computer games and mobile phones as well as in movies. Animated content accounts for 12 percent of the global digital content market and is expected to be worth US$271.3 million next year.

Research conducted for the industry estimates the export value of Thailand's content will reach 80 billion baht by 2008. But Thailand faces tough challenges in its battle for market share as India is expected to sign US$950 million in outsourcing contracts alone with Hollywood animation houses for delivery by 2009.

Lets not play catch up.

E-Commerce Malaysia: Where Art Thou?

2008-01-17T10:46:00.000+08:00

For the past three or four years, we have been hearing a lot of talk of the country's fast growing e-commerce segment.

But do a search of local online stores and ventures and you will be dissapointed.

Save for a handful, you would feel that the Malaysian e-commerce space is filled with more e-commerce software vendors than customers.

Is this mainly due to the fact that there are no proper registers or directories that compile local listings in professional and categorical manner? Or is it simply a reflection of our domestic e-commerce eco-system? Or rather, the lack of one?

Granted, the government has done a lot to encourage its agencies and local councils and authorities to use the Internet especially for conducting transactions. Some good examples include the payment of bills online.

The advent of Air Asia, as the leading low cost carrier in the region, has also led to an online revolution of sorts. The company has probably single handedly created an e-commerce captive market via its online ticketing system.

While many a paper has been presented by local ICT professionals and academics on the state and progress of our country's e-commerce, the reality is that there is much to be desired.

Whether it is down to the inadequate rollout of the nation's broadband penetration or the perception of online transactions and commerce (read: risk of fraud), something needs to be done to ensure that Malaysians are not left out.

Blogging Good for our Government Agencies?

2008-03-30T21:03:00.003+08:00

It is not the blogs that will be a 'saviour' for the agencies, nor are blogs the 'best solution' for allowing more interactivity and reaching out to the people.

This is not the thinking that one needs to do. You need to throw this idea out. Because, if that was the answer to all the problems that are apparently bogging down the government agencies, then why not just focus on websites, portals or the usual bulletin boards and forums that one can usually find on most websites whether or not people are actually participating on these online forums is another issue altogether).

No. The real strategy and thinking would be for whoever is in charge of an agencies website or communications division, to zero in on the TYPE and QUALITY of CONTENT that one needs to put on these 'web 2.0' type channels be it blogs, forums (which are really web 1.0), online social spaces and what not.

There needs to be a serious focus and consistent push and monitoring of the type of CONTENT that is sourced, talked about and assembled on Ministries blogs (if that is what one is looking at).

These days, One can easily create their own blog....and even at zero cost (save for time cost) in as little as 5 minutes. That's one of the revolutionary incentives of web 2.0 for you.

The problem is that even if a government agency (or for that matter, anyone else) sets up their 'very own blog', which they can be proud of, it will be meaningless, if the blog remains unattractive with regards not only to design and graphics (these days, white and clean is 'in') but also if the content is not written around the
"language of our youth". Meaning: language that is youth friendly, direct, to the point, without sound authoritative, language that is relevant to youth and which speaks out to them just as if one is talking to some one's peer in a gerai somewhere
over a cup of teh tarik.

Being able to interact with youth online means that one has to engage them in subjects that THEY NEED to talk about. NOT what the Ministry WANTS. The Youth today notably our 'gen y', are youth that are content creators themselves. They are the one who already own multiple log in accounts to a variety of social networking and web 2.0 based applications like facebook, friendster, WEBEVOLVER, youtubee, flikr and so on.

To be able to route Internet traffic over to a Ministry site/portal/blog, maybe the Ministry should also be looking at the idea of setting up a separate and distinctively branded and targeted social network online platform. Get the youth to talk to the youth also. It helps to bridge the gap that may exist between the 'powers that be and the target audience.

Sure, all Ministries should be looking into this. But do all Ministries require blogs? That is not the question. the question should be:

Do all Ministries understand and appreciate what web 2.0 and its content channels such as blogs, can do for them? Who are they reaching out to?

Why do they feel that is a need to do this?

What are are the intended goals at the end of the day? Does the Ministry (all of them) have the necessary people with the right domain expertise (read: content understanding, writing, communications and programme oriented) to sustain e.g. the and the other online interactive communication channels. For that's what they are: Interactive Communications Channels.

So, YES, such web 2.0 'tools' can help government agencies and Ministries 'keep in touch' with the public (and youth) but a proper online strategy and assessment needs to be done first. Otherwise, the government will end up with thousands of static websites that have little or no relevance to the intended target audience

Online Identity Theft

2008-04-25T23:03:00.001+08:00

NST Online » LearningCurve

2008/04/19

TECHNOLOGY: Someone is tracking YOU!
By : SUBASHINI SELVARATNAM AZURA

Social networking websites are popular in Malaysia but many users are not aware that their identities could fall into the wrong hands, writes SUBASHINI SELVARATNAM AZURA, a college student, is chatting online on her notebook while sipping her latte at a cafe in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Woo says students are early adopters of social networking websites.

People trust websites and their security features implicitly, says Effendy.

Pillai says posting personal particulars online encourages identity theft
She occasionally takes a break from instant messaging to browse user profiles on Facebook.

Facebook is a popular social networking website with more than 69 million users worldwide, which Azura signed up for.

A social networking website is similar to an online community that shares a common bond such as hobbies and politics (http:// socialnetworking. knowhownow.com /blog/what-is-socialnetworking/).

Meeting people online and commenting on budding hip-hop artistes is Azura’s favourite pastime.

She updates her user profile — which can be viewed by her friends and people on Facebook — regularly.

She also publishes photos, shares videos and occasionally participates in fun quizzes on Facebook.

Azura was introduced to the world of social networking websites by her friend, Anita, who uses Facebook to track her high school friends and participate in online community discussions.

Unlike Azura, Anita does not post her mobile phone number and photos online. She has warned Azura about the pitfalls of doing so but the advice came too late because her friend is now swarmed with unsolicited calls and e-mails from strangers. She even found compromising photos of herself on the Internet.

Azura was compelled to lodge a report with CyberSecurity Malaysia, a one-stop specialist centre that handles cyber security issues in the country.

CyberSecurity Malaysia is under the purview of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Social networking is supposed to be fun but it turned out to be a nightmare for Azura.

Social networking websites are a major draw for thieves trying to steal identities and perpetrate fraud, according to an article on Telegraph.co.uk in the United Kingdom.

A criminal, for example, could steal identities by creating a dummy Facebook account. The criminal sends invitation to 200 Facebook users to be his friend, and 87of them accept the invitation.

From the 87 “friends”, 82 would unwittingly leak personal particulars to the criminal including names of spouse, curriculum vitae and the maiden name of a user’s mother, a detail requested by banking websites for account access.

The criminal then creates a phishing website or e-mail which is used to steal bank account particulars and credit card numbers by tricking users into believing that it is a genuine website or e-mail account.

The article hit the nail on the head when it said “people link to others without thinking. Some people on Facebook have 1,500 friends. If you have that many links, you may be sharing details with the wrong people”.

Friendster and MySpace are the two other popular social networking websites.

Friendster is the leading social networking website in Asia with over 49 million users. Users of Friendster in Asia are between the ages of 16 and 30 years old and females make up the majority. MySpace is popular in the United States with a sizeable number of users in Malaysia.

CyberSecurity Malaysia says there have been incidents involving local teenagers whose MySpace credentials have been stolen.

Their MySpace accounts, which contain personal particulars, have been hacked and their phone numbers were posted online without their knowledge.

Ironically, exposing “sensitive” information, pictures and videos that affect a victim’s reputation is done by someone who knows the victim personally. Although CyberSecurity Malaysia does not have figures on students who are victims of identity theft, it believes that they could be involved in professional relationships or romantic liaisons where the motive is usually harassment or revenge.

That is a perfect recipe for identity theft, says Pikom (The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry) councillor for content and multimedia as well as iContent Group managing director Gerard M Pillai. He adds that identity theft occurs when someone uses a student’s personal particulars without permission to apply for credit cards, take out loans or even commit fraud.

Since the fraudulent activities are done in the student’s name, he runs the risk of getting caught.

By exposing personal particulars online, paedophiles or kidnappers could even attempt to trace students’ schools and even homes.

If students are not careful, in extreme cases, they may face the prospect of having their names blacklisted by banks due to unauthorised debts through fraudulent credit card transactions.

This makes it difficult for students to apply for loans.

Monash University Malaysia School of Information Technology lecturer Dr Saadat Alhasmi says students are more vulnerable to identity theft because many post their personal particulars online without thinking of the consequences.

The number of identity theft targets is anybody’s guess but Saadat believes that the likelihood of the incident is high as long as students publish their personal particulars online.

Their reputation could be ruined and clearing their names may take months or even years.

Andy Woo, country (Malaysia) manager for Sophos, a computer security company, says students are early adopters of social networking websites.

They seldom think twice about using third-party applications (applications that are not developed by the creator) from social networking websites.

According to a research by University of Virgina in the United States, 90.7 per cent of Facebook’s most popular applications have access to users’ private data.

This could lead to identity theft, phishing attacks and spyware (a software that illegally tracks user’s web surfing habits) threats.

Woo believes that the social networking websites need to address this problem by educating users on how to secure their profiles.

Social networking websites could also improve their own default security settings.

Symatec’s Norton manager for Asia-South region Effendy Ibrahim says, based on its Symantec Internet Security Threat Report Volume XII (January to June last year), people trust social networking websites and their security features implicitly.

Criminals take advantage of this to exploit social networking users.

It can take months for victims to realise that their identities have been stolen. By the time they discover the crime and report it to the authorities, the thief is long gone.

PREVENTION THE BEST FORM OF DEFENCE

PROTECTING yourself from identity theft is the best form of defence.

For starters, do not reveal personal particulars such as mobile phone number and home address in your user profile because anyone from the same social networking website can view them.

Users should also restrict access by applying the security features offered by social networking websites.

Do not send personal particulars via e-mail, instant messaging or pop-up screen that appears on a website. Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers.

The Social Networking blog (http:// socialnetworking.knowhow-now.com/ blog/) advises users to be cautious when making contact with other Internet users because they may not tell the truth about themselves.

Be cautious if a new online friend wants to meet you in person. Do a background search of that person via online search engines, says the Federal Trade Commission in United States (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/ pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm).

The website also urges users not to post photos online because visuals can be altered and broadcast in ways that you may not be happy about.

Chia Wing Fei, security response team manager at F-Secure Security Labs Kuala Lumpur, believes that parents can help prevent identity theft by educating their children on safe computing practices, especially on exchanging information online.

They should teach their children to safeguard their personal particulars especially when registering for online services such as social networking sites, forums and e-mails.

Victor Lo, technology principal consultant at Trend Micro Malaysia Sdn Bhd, another computer security company, says students must install the latest Internet security software in their computers and mobile devices to combat malware threats such as viruses, spyware and phishing attacks. The software must also be updated regularly.

WHAT TO DO

IF you are a victim of identity theft, you must inform:

The police.

CyberSecurity Malaysia via Malaysian Computer Emergency Response Team (MyCERT) (Tel: 03-8992-6969, Fax: 03-8945-3442, e-mail: cyber999@cybersecurity.org.my or mycert@ mycert.org.my, SMS: 019-281-3801 (24 hours), Mobile phone: 019-266-5850 (24 hours).

The social networking website you signed up for.

If someone is using your identification card number to create credit or new accounts, contact the National Registration Department.

Inform your bank and close financial accounts that may have been compromised.

Malaysian Content Industry Wishlist 2007 - 2008

2007-10-21T08:44:00.000+08:00

Wish # 1: SMART EDUCATION

…that the Country’s Educational Blueprint will re-emphasize the importance of nurturing students who are thinkers and creators. Technology spending and bridging the divide between rural and urban schools is one way of pushing towards a wholesome and holistic educational agenda. Let’s see all our schools become smart schools and being reasonably equipped with ICT infrastructure, including scalable software and content that both student and teacher will find exciting and useful…

Wish # 2: MORE CREATIVE PROJECTS

…that in 2007, we will see more ideas and creativity being injected into dynamic projects. Whether initiated or funded by the public or private sector, these projects will be able to lend a degree of excitement in a content market largely dominated by the ‘power’ of SMS/MMS, 3G (?), VOIP and even Blogging! Let these projects instill a ‘can do’ attitude amongst a community hungry for recognition and at the same time, make their owners lots of money. This would also help to create lots of relevant employment opportunities for new graduates…

Wish # 3: GREATER COLLABORATIONS

…that local content players and stakeholders will see the benefits of forging strategic alliances amongst each other rather than attempting to ‘compete’ with each other. Why not opt for ‘co-opetition’, i.e. compete and cooperate to pitch for content projects within the country (small) and also outside (very very large)? Let’s see 2007 as the year where powerful results are achieved by strong alliances like for instance, Mesdaq companies buying into smaller but talented private companies, joint ventures between a software house and a pure content developer. There’s no limit to what can be done…

Wish # 4: GREATER GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

…that the government through its respective agencies will enhance connectivity with the industry players and inject more vibrancy in the content eco-system by revisiting existing grants schemes, loans and other financial aid. However, also of importance would be for these bodies to look at the various aspects of content and not only the animation and film industry…

Wish # 5: GETTING LISTED: GLOBAL OUTREACH

…that our local players will strike it big on a global scale. Let’s see content houses being listed on the Mesdaq and securing contracts from overseas. For the most part of 2006, the Mesdaq celebrated the successes of a couple of high growth technology companies. These companies were/are largely producers of connectivity and data communications related software. What about seeing more of our local content boys getting a piece of the action?...

Wish # 6: ANIMATION RELEASES

…that 2007 will see our first full fledged developed animation release matching the quality we are so used to being dished out by the likes of Pixar and Dreamworks. At least, let’s get a chance to go to our local cineplexes and pay to see a home grown animated film! And let’s not stop there. Let’s pitch the animated film to International distributors and market to the whole world. Then let others pay to see a truly Malaysian creative and colourful endeavour…

The Global Content Industry

2007-10-12T13:56:00.000+08:00

The global market value in the creative multimedia industry (based on market estimates), is expected to reach up to US$644 billion by the year 2009.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT), represents a significant driver for both the supply and demand side of the creative content industry.

The convergence of communications, networks, media content and hardware/devices is continuing to open up new opportunities for content providers, vendors and entrepreneurs. The emerging technologies coupled with new convergence such as the iPhone, iTunes and possibly, the G (google) phone, will only serve to grow the demand for better content applications, hardware and interactive digital content.

Lifestyles can be changed and shaped by the growth of the content industry.

Content producers all over the world are aggressively pursuing new business models to push through their services and products to hungry consumers who are spoilt for choice.

While Malaysia’s own content industry has seen some development, notably, within the last year or so, we are still not exploiting the industry’s potential. Neither are we reaping the true benefits and ‘brand value’ that the content industry brings to some other countries.

The need to have adequate ICT training and Web 2.0 Awareness Bootcamp

2007-09-26T09:39:00.000+08:00

Recent press reports have been flooding the public with the so called Lawyer - Judge Video Clip 'sensation'.

The video clip which was purpotedly circulated by one of the opposition parties, is apparently more than a year old and shows only the lawyer speaking into a telephone.

He is allegedly speaking to a judge and discussing ways of 'fixing' certain judicial appointments.

We have now been informed via media reports, that a special panel is to be set up to investigate the authenticity of the clip. A few days earlier, we had the Bar Council Chairperson, speaking of holding an EGM to deliberate the issue and consider taking disciplinary action against the lawyer in the clip.

That's Malaysian news for you!

Are we not looking before we leap? Are we jumping the gun? Are we merely providing more authenticity to the said video clip by spending all these resources and forming this panel and making all kinds of statements?

While no one is to doubt the seriousness of the said allegation, one needs to also consider some important aspects.

Web 2.0 and its related technologies need to be understood. For instance, the YouTube phenomenon has allowed millions of individuals to post all kinds of video clips which can be shared with others. The peer to peer social networking environment also enables these clips (which can be edited and manipulated for artistic and other reasons) to be commented upon. Some of these clips have become so popular that even TV producers are looking into the possibility of converting them into regular TV programmes.

This is the power of what web 2.0 can do.

It's not just happening in the United States. It's all over the world. It's even happening here in Malaysia.

Web 2.0 also encompasses blogs, forums, chat spaces, emails and so on. Personal spaces such as those provided for by MySpace and Facebook are all 'by products' of the 'web 2.0 factory'. These personal spaces and sites are deemed as 'Social Networking'.

In Malaysia, one needs to question if ICT is being used effectively by the government departments. During a recent trip to a police station (a central one for that matter), I had the shock of my life when the I had to climb up about four flights of stairs (there was no lift) to enter a small cramped investigating officer's room.

That wasn't the shocking part. What was sad was seeing the poor police officer having to slave away on an old P2 or P3 machine and printing out the report on a dot matrix printer.

While the state of his room was greatly disturbing, what was even more disturbing was the fact that there didn't seem to any evidence of the government's computrisation projects. Not at this police station anyway.

Web 2.0 understanding and appreciation by our Policemen? I don't think so.

With the tragedy of 9/11 behind us and the recent spate of child kidnapping and sexual abuse and murder, we appear to have failed to appreciate that we are in living in an age where crime is happening not only on our streets but also virtually.

Criminals are making use of web 2.0 technologies and the power of the Internet, to communicate with each other, launder money, disseminate plans on how to committ various crimes against humanity.

Cyber crimes are not limited to just hacking of websites and sending out viruses. It's much more than that. Much, much more.

But are we actually paying attention to the power of the Internet? It appears that we are quite slow in responding.

But we seem to be reacting very fast. Especially, with the lawyer - judge video clip. For goodness sake, we cannot even SEE the alleged judge who is on the other end of the line.

With the advent of the Internet and now, web 2.0 technologies, we have to remind the powers that be, that anything is possible. Children at the age of 10 are capable of editing such videos clips, adding in the voice overs, rendering the videos and subsequently publishing the clips on YouTube or mass emailing the clip to anyone and everyone.

The clip looks like it could have been done over a couple of drinks. It could have been something done for fun. Sure, the taste is terrible and there's no compassion for people who simply make allegations without proof. The undertone of the allegation stinks and does make a dent in our judiciary.

But how did the clip get print media attention in the first place?

It's understood that sensational 'journalism' sells newspapers. After all, mainstream needs to hard sell their newspapers as circulation has been falling over the years. Losing out to the likes of online media and blogs nonetheless.

Web 2.0 technologies again.

What about the level of ICT competency among our Policemen, government staff and even lawyers?

It doesn't look that good. Take a trip to the Imigration office and Police station. They still look like they are in the stone age (of computers) and do not seem to have basic ICT knowledge.

We probably need to look at our National ICT Rollout plan again and review our ICT Training and Re-skilling programmes. An assessment needs to be done on how effective (really) has been our plans and action strategies.

To reach our targets set out within the Vision 2020 mandate, we should integrate how web 2.0 (by then, we could be looking at web 3.0 or web 4.0?) impacts our daily lives.

ICT and web 2.0 Bootcamps should be a requirement for all government agencies.

Let's not over react to the clip. It's just one old clip. There could be many more home made clips, waiting to be 'discovered'. One needs to understand how digital media works today and what can be done to manipulate such media. This understanding will help us to be responsive and not overact and give them the authenticity they do not deserve.

The Content Industry – Challenges and Direction

2007-10-12T13:57:00.000+08:00

As Malaysia becomes more and more connected in terms of Internet Penetration, PC ownership and eventually the much awaited WIMAX rollout, we in Malaysia should expect multitude of digital assets and content to be churned out in a variety of formats.

With greater accessibility and bandwidth growth expected over the next few quarters and years, the beating of Moore’s Law by leaps and bounds and with improved economic fundamentals in the country and within the region, one should not be surprised that the discerning consumer will have bigger appetites to whet.

Consumers will be demanding more interactive content and digital assets via various platforms, be it: Online games, animated movies, Mobile games and content, Social Networking experiences coupled with greater onslaughts of web 2.0 and much more.

With greater speed of the Internet and with mobile users continuing to grow, it will be the death knell of content service providers should they choose to become complacent and comfortable with whatever positions they are in currently.

The borderless market space that we were so used to reading in prescribed MBA textbooks, already exists. In fact, it has been around for ages (in new economy terms). What this means is that Malaysian content providers and all other stakeholders within the content eco-system, are not alone.

We are not alone. That’s new? Indian companies have been driving their aggregated content through our systems for some time. Whether it’s through a direct approach or via strategic collaborations with large Multinational content providers such as Disney, Malaysian audiences (both Television and Cinema) have already borne witness to the global content onslaught.

While it is great that we in Malaysia talk about selling our local content to international audiences, the reality is that it’s easier said than done. Money makes money. And it does take a huge amount of funds to even produce a mini trailer. And even that’s not enough these days. Now, international content buyers demand that animation and other content production houses, come up with half a season (12 episodes) before they can even start to ‘table talk’.

This is becoming a minimum standard and benchmark.

For smaller content companies (and in Malaysia, we are all small), where would they get the funds? Even if funds were easy to come by (which they are not), can our local companies produce content at globally recognized standards and local costs? And what about the marketing? The traveling to meet potential buyers? The legalities and Intellectual Property issues?

Here, we are not merely talking about the animation companies but the general content industry as a whole. Granted, the creative content industry has within it, various sub – content cluster such as – mobile content, e-learning and say, online games but the challenges facing each cluster are essentially the same.

Namely: Funding, Staff Strength & Talent Pool (and Retention), Project Management, Marketing & Distribution and Intellectual Property.

To add to these challenges, we also have a multitude of issues facing the industry at the moment. We are all too small. Size does matter in some instances.

We should be looking at aggregation of content on a larger scale and also at greater collaboration between our content players.

While it is nice to list down all our home grown content and multimedia related companies in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and create various websites dedicated to creative content companies directly listing, what about the substance and real economic value behind these listings?

What economic and real benefit is the industry contributing towards the country and how are we realizing the global potential of our industry?

While it is good to assess the content industry as a whole and where it is going , one should also be looking at where it should be going. What direction are we charting for our industry and are we able to realize its full potential?

One should be looking at the stakeholders of the content eco-system and how each of these stakeholders is ‘playing off’ each other. How is each of them contributing towards the common goal? What are the plans that each is bringing to the table?

Are we going to just sit back and wait for regional and international content players to ‘make it’ while we are content (no pun intended) with producing the odd content milestone now and then?

According to the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry (KTAK), “Content Industries will become increasingly important with the growth of networked communications.

This growth needs to be nurtured to ensure the achievement of the objectives of making Malaysia a ‘global hub’ for content industries as well as developing local informational and cultural resources that facilitate the national identity and global diversity…”

According to the Ministry, “the largest growth area for content-based services is online communications. With the advent of high speed broadband e.g. 3G technology networks more and more content will be carried on the networks”

It goes on to say that “large content resources within the country are also required for the delivery of on-line services such as distant learning, telemedicine and electronic government. In the promotion of the content industries, encouragement will be given for the development of educational and informational content”.
While the statement is appropriate, it also shows the need for greater collaboration between all relevant Ministries (KTAK, MOSTI), agencies (MDeC, CMC), ICT organizations (PIKOM, TeAM) and other institutions whose say, can have an impact on the direction and roadmap of the industry.

According to a University Malaya paper entitled ‘IMPORTANCE OF CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THE DIGITAL CONTENT INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA’, “the content industry is highly fragmented, wherein the various content developers and distributors work in isolation from each other”.

“The Content Industry in Malaysia is currently operating in relative isolation
from each other, despite common market interests and shared needs for
investment, research and development and skills development. This isolation is
constraining the industry. There must be a wider cooperative activity and
partnerships within the industry to enhance synergies with other industries…”

Less, we forget, what has been happening in other countries?

Aggregating Content and Winning!

2007-08-14T19:20:00.000+08:00

You've designed and developed some nice animation content, probably fit for a 26 episode TV series.

Now, you start to ply your showreel which cost you an arm and a leg, to targeted local 'content buyers' namely: Television stations (in Malaysia, we have the oligopolistic Media Prima Group which owns a whole bunch of TV channels among other things and then, there's ASTRO. Oh! Less we forget our RTM 1 and RTM 2).

These potential content buyers are definitely going to give your showreel and product a chance, so not to worry. Or so you think.

Wait, there's also the regional market and wait....what about going global and talking to Marvista, Buena Vista and all other vistas out there. Surely, someone's going to show interest.

Your product's good, after all. So much time, effort and money spent on the first few episodes. So many staff hiring, which was not cheap (contrary to what you initially thought).

But try and try as you may....you continuously end up hitting a brick wall. 'You don't have enough material', they say. 'Your one showreel isn't enough for us to gauge your company's talent and potential', says another.

What you really do not have is critical mass. Period.

What you need is to aggregate your content (easier said than done!) or plug your content material (whether animation series, mobile content and so on) into a large enough aggregator's pool of content.

In other words, throw your stuff together with a lot of other people's stuff.

Make it all big.

Why not start local by getting all our content developers to pull their material together and aggregate as one big happy portfolio?

What's so wrong with this?

Get a content aggregation model moving in this country or in your country. You want to reach the big buyers and players?

Then, think big and grow big. Get together and create critical mass.

Become the aggregator.

Malaysian Content Industry - Qua vadis?

2007-08-25T11:22:00.000+08:00

Qua Vadis? Who goes there?

This is the question we should be posing with regards to the health and shaping up of the Malaysian content industry.

We have seen various attempts by the authorities and appointed agencies to boost the local content industry especially with regards to the cultivation of original Malaysian content.

But much time has gone by and what we are still seeing is a whole load of foreign content being dished out by the shovel-loads by the telcos and notably our Television Stations.

While there is no doubt that local content has indeed taken off and grown over the years, there still appears to be a huge vacuum in high quality local content. Whether it's animated serial cartoons or made for TV programmes, the quality of these 'products' is questionable.

Why after all these years, do we still get dished out Manga style animatics dubbed in the local language? yes, while there may be high demand for these programmes, we should be looking at developing the local content industry to a higher level.

Undoubtedly, while it can be argued that every nation will face challenges in selling their local content to their own domestic market, there are many case studies where local content has managed to capture a sizable market share provided the content is of high quality, offers a variety and is scalable into the future.

Qua Vadis Malaysia?

Budget 2008 - Goodies for the ICT Industry?

2007-09-11T22:41:00.000+08:00

BUDGET 2008 does provide some tech incentives that can help spur the economy and industry.

Of particular note are the three new incentives introduced to boost broadband adoption namely: investment allowance, import duty and sales tax exemption as well as tax deduction to employers.

The creation of investment allowance of 100 per cent incurred for broadband would be a bonus especially to the last-mile network facilities providers such as the new six WiMax licence holders.

This would help on their move to set up the infrastructure needed to launch the service.

In adition, the exemptions of import duty and sales tax on broadband equipment and consumer access devices will further drive the broadband uptake as most of the converged devices in the market today have Wi-Fi or other broadband connectivity features.”

The allocation of RM45 million to the SchoolNet project shows the Government’s commitment to extend the Internet penetration and bridge the digital gap further.

The allocation will also help increase the market penetration of notebook PCs and projectors in Malaysia as the schools would need these facilities in the SchoolNet project.

The Government’s move to spur the creative content industry via the creation of Malaysian Animation Creative Content Centre is timely to help increase the much needed skilled workers in the content industry.

It should help to attract more foreign companies to set up their business here and do offshoring of creative content services.

The move to spur the R&D and commercialisation via additional sum of RM230 million for the Science Fund, RM300 million for the Techno Fund, and RM546 million for research institutions also indicates the Government’s seriousness to develop our homegrown technology, especially in areas of information security.

Budget 2008 appears to show the Government’s seriousness to boost human capital development such as ensuring adequate supply of skilled workers to support the growing demand of the ICT industry, especially in the creative animation and ICT space, and the focus to increase broadband penetration via new incentives.

PIKOM's chairman David Wong Nan Fay said the three incentives now make it possible to achieve a target of 50 per cent broadband penetration in households by 2010.

He added that other ICT-related incentives reflect a more ICT-friendly Government. “However, we have to dig deeper before we can realise Malaysia’s ambition of becoming a net ICT exporter, have a critical mass of broadband users and subscribers.”

The question now is: Can Malaysia wake up and get the content industry moving along? It's been a lot of talk about setting up this fund and that fund and overall, it may appear that we have lots of incentives and funding to look forward to.

However, just talk to anyone within the community and you get the feeling that there appears to be a lack of urgency and an increase in bureaucracy in securing the so called funds in the last budget allocation.

With the new 2008 budget, we are in fact looking at a decrease in the overall budget allocation for the content industry. In fact, a large portion of funds have been taken away from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTI), which has acted as the 'banker' of the e-content fund.

The role that MOSTI is playing is also confusing many in the industry. Many are asking what MDeC (the Multimedia Development Corporation) is supposed to do with regards to the fund application and disbursement.

This 'tango' between MDeC and MOSTI is surely not helpful and healthy for the industry. With the new 2008 budget announcement by the Prime Minister, many in the industry will be waiting anxiously to see how everything plays.

Goodies for the ICT Industry? Perhaps. But then again...

What's the difference between 'old' dotcoms and 'new' dotcoms?

2007-08-05T15:05:00.000+08:00

Take a peek at the image I have come up with and comment.

Media Advertising Expenditure

2007-07-18T00:29:00.000+08:00

In any media campaign that targets say, youths and aims at spreading messages as serious as the DAT menace, money and budgets become an equally serious constraint and issues. Funding has to come from single or multiple sources. On top of that, the budget team needs to also look at how the messages and educational material/information will be disseminated i.e. what type of media would be used. Here is where the issue of advertising expenditure is raised.

In understanding the role of the mass media in the war against the Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco or ‘DAT’ menace, one also needs to look at how much money is being spent by advertisers in the many media forms such as Newspapers, Television and so on.

These advertising dollars (or in the Malaysian context, Ringgit) called ‘Adex’, is directly correlated with media popularity and audience reach. In the Information and Communication Technology or ICT world, audience reach is often referred to as “eyeballs”. How many people, at any one time, are actually viewing your website or your articles online? Online advertisers continuously look for ways to ‘convert’ these eyeballs into monetary terms, namely revenue.

Companies and advertisers notably Tobacco and Alcohol companies in Malaysia for instance, always gear themselves up and wait in anticipation for the latest reports by AC Nielsen Advertising Information Service or/and the Association of Advertising Association of Malaysia (4As) annual directory and report.

How much is spent in one year is basically determined by the latest figures reported.

If one newspaper falls short in its circulation, then millions of Ringgit will be re-routed to rival newspapers that show better results and popularity or “eyeballs”.

Within the ‘cyber-walls’ of the World Wide Web, there are similar rules.

Advertising banners, email marketing brochures, online contests, online surveys, club membership drives and various syndicated articles are crafted and hosted based on “eyeballs” and target audience pooled from online database and tracking mechanisms.

Websites such as MTV and Cosmogirl not to mention the Yahoos and e-Bays on the Cyber Corridor can be found aplenty with advertising gimmicks which are heavily sponsored by Alcohol and Tobacco giants.

These mainly come in the form of indirect advertising strategies and gimmicks

Interesting Knowledge Management Site - Malaysia

2007-07-09T16:41:00.001+08:00

I searched for the phrase 'content' within this site and found 16 items within the sphere of knowledge management.

Check it out...

Cheers

GP

Some people in the industry have been talking about the dotcom revival. What do you understand from this?

2007-07-31T00:36:00.000+08:00

Slow and steady. But it’s true, a revival is in fact taking shape all over the globe. Even here.

The fact that ‘dotcomers’ such as Google and Yahoo! have stayed the course have also helped to fan the fire. The spin offs such as MySpace, Friendster, YouTube and other social networking sites may not have made much impact on most radars in the past but the fact that many of these sites have already been snapped up by the likes of Google and Yahoo! at the tune of Hundreds of Millions or even Billions of Dollars, has been paving the way for a new ‘dotcom evolution’ of sorts.

“Web dreamers know there's money to be made online again: MySpace and YouTube, America's two most popular Web 2.0 companies, recently sold for a combined $2 billion plus to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and Google, respectively. Yahoo!, Google, and eBay seem hungry for more. And venture capitalists are busy priming the pump, pouring US$455 million into Web-based start-ups in the first three quarters of this year, over twice as much as in all of 2005..”.
Locally, the Air Asia online experience (whether one likes it or not) and commercial success, has also helped to lead to many a teh tarik session at the local Mamak stalls. Young fresh graduates and even seasoned entrepreneurs have been spotted at their favourite cafes around Bangsar, animatedly discussing new dotcom possibilities.

Although our broadband connectivity and accessibility leaves a lot to be desired for, it has greatly improved over the last few years. Speeds are better; more people are using the Internet (although disproportionate to number of mobile phone users), more people are using the Internet to pay their bills, file their taxes, file complaints with their local Municipal Council, check their Traffic Summons status, use their credit cards to purchase gifts, books and all kinds of equipment.

In fact, people are going online not merely for chatting, sending emails or performing a search. These days, people are actually going online to perform various transactions, including monetary ones. Trends are on the upswing and it’s also greatly thanks to the Malaysian government for stimulating such growth by encouraging web based transactions in their own agencies and Ministries. Although the level of Internet usage and commercial value derived could be better improved, it’s a great start. The Wimax roll outs will only help to speed up such ‘revivals’!

All these positive factors are beginning to see results and it’s only natural that dotcoms will be ‘revived’. In fact, many of those dotcom ideas proposed, funded and even ridiculed a few years ago could suddenly turn out to be viable. So, don’t throw away that old business plan of yours!

Content Eco - system: Part 3

2007-07-27T09:44:00.000+08:00

We continue by looking at other components of a content Eco-system namely, Content Aggregators and Content Developers.

These two components are probably the single two most crucial key success factors (that's KSF for you MBA wannabes out there).

Content Aggregators

For a content Eco-system, to be relevant and sustainable, the aggregation or 'sourcing,collating, segmentation and distribution' of content needs to be effectively set up and managed.

According to Wikipedia, 'in computing, an aggregator, also known as a feed reader, is client software or a Web service which aggregates syndicated web content such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts, and blogs in a single location for easy viewing...'

There are a variety of aggregators and one that should be familiar are RSS feeds. But on a large perspective, content aggregators could come in a variety of forms including: Web based, Client software, Media Aggregators, Feed filtering and so on.

On the creative content front, a content aggregator will be one that obtains the 'rights from multiple content providers to resell and distribute content through other communication channels'.

In this context, the aggregator will receive and reformat animated and creative media content, store or forward the content, control and/or encode the content/media for say, security reasons, account for the delivery of content and then distribute the content to the "system" that sell and provide the content to targeted customers.

- to be continued -

Cerita Rakyat Malaysia Workshop - Promoting Original Local Content!

2007-07-23T00:46:00.000+08:00

It's great news to see that MSC Malaysia is organizing a creative competition based on Malaysian Folklore.

The competition will focus on the character designs of many loved Malaysian stories and characters such as Mahsuri, Puteri Santubong, Pak Pandir, Si Luncai and others.

Well done MDeC!

We definitely need to see more ventures that will help stimulate a country's local creative content.

Who will own the content at the end of the day, I wonder?

GP