Given its location in the tropics of Asia, Singapore also has many different influences — (a former trading outpost of the British Empire with Chinese, Malay, Indian, Indonesian, and other immigrants.) But its total embrace of technology for the future is an important lesson we should heed.

As an island nation roughly two-thirds the size of Kitsap County, with a population (4.5 million) slightly larger than the Puget Sound region, Singapore is a small, yet important player in the global economy. It imports almost all its food and energy supplies, even much of its water. Its wealth is not derived from natural resources but instead from trade and labor. It has linked its future prosperity to a knowledge-based economy, not unlike other countries and regions of the US which seek to compete globally.

Singapore has a long history of incorporating Information and Communication Technology (or Infocomm) into economic planning. Computers first arrived in 1963 for use in government and large corporations, then moved into smaller companies, schools and the home. Infocomm’s significance in promoting competitiveness thru efficiency, innovation and broadly deployed applications was recognized early. Infocomm was long seen as complimentary forces, leading to the merger of separate regulatory agencies into Infocomm Development Authority (iDA — www.ida.gov.sg). iDA oversees efforts to direct and promote the expanded role of Infocomm in all aspects of Singaporean life.

We met with Kai Wei Ho, iDA communications manager, who presented us with a limited edition book detailing Singapore’s Infocomm journey over the last 25 years. He introduced some of their plans, including the 10-year Master Plan iN2015 (www.in2015.sg) launched in 2005. This plan is both aggressive and far reaching, and directs Singapore to become number one in harnessing Infocomm to add value to the economy and society. It also specifies targets — 90 percent broadband utilization, 100 percent computer ownership for households with school age children, adding 80,000 jobs, doubling the Infocomm industry value added to S$26Billion and tripling export revenue to S$60 Billion.

Their initiatives underline the central role of Infocomm in Singapore, beyond simple automation and into a transformative role and end product unto itself. One could compare their plans with our own regional goals.

They are upgrading broadband to be IPv6 compliant and capable of supporting widely available 1 GB speeds by 2012. This makes current cable and DSL offerings look like yesterday’s dial up.

With Microsoft support, they are bringing Tablet PCs to all school children. Children will no longer carry stacks of books, and teachers can provide supplemental lessons using PowerPoint and electronic lecture notes. Children there will be prepared using the same tools of industry.

They envision creating rich media-oriented technologies that integrate into all aspects of life. (I recommend seeing the short video on the iN2015 website.)

There is an initiative underway to offer free Wireless Internet within Singapore — growing from 900 to 5000 access points over the next three years. This complements the extensive and growing fiber based infrastructure.

Singapore also deregulated its Telecoms and even advanced the timeframes. They identify firms in a position to control markets and prices thru owning gateways (which are regulated) from those that are truly in competition (market controlled).

There is significant funding for these initiatives, but they realize money spent on efficiency generates returns many times greater. The wide spread adoption of broadband is key to making the delivery of government and other services cheaper and more efficient. Investing in schools prepares children for the future; technology investments supplant traditional educational tools. They are aware of the benefits of both public and private initiatives and seek both cooperation in setting standards and goals, while promoting implementation with competition in the private sector.

As far reaching as Singapore’s goals are, they are not alone and are keenly aware of the global competition. For example, both South Korea and Hong Kong have surpassed Singapore in internet utilization and broadband deployment. South Korea’s usage has been accelerated thru the wide spread adoption of on-line gaming, while Hong Kong and other markets can offer broadband at lower prices due to greater economies of scale in larger markets. While many local technology firms were also affected by the Dot Com bust in 2000, if anything, their efforts have become more focused to overcome limitations.

The lessons we can embrace are clearly evident in comparing their plans with our own goals and visions. Singapore sees the world changing rapidly, and has created an inspiring joint vision for the future. They fund these initiatives, and create realms of cooperation and competition. It is a messy affair, but not one avoided.

This stands in stark contrast to our struggle to seek consensus on the need for drastic change, let alone having a bold vision for the future. Our own efforts seem incremental by comparison — build a few roads, pay our teachers a little more, increase environmental protections, while deeply resisting any significant restructuring — and being skeptical of economic growth. While some goals are laudable, our area is undeniably a valuable resource to our children. , .Our general resistance to change and skepticism of growth promotes considerable status quo thinking. This will be our undoing if we allow it.

We may yet choose to embrace technology like Singapore, but if it is weak so will be our results. To truly be successful, own plans cannot be an afterthought, a tweak to an existing plan or one without funding. We must destroy the old plans and the myth that there is a path of comfortable, incremental improvements. If we resist the future, our communities and prosperity will face increasing pressure from other parts of the world that grab the wave of change. Its time to get involved and make a difference.

(Editor’s Note: Charles Keating is president of Keating Consulting Service, www.kcsco.com a local technology firm and also Vice President of WSTPA (West Sound Technology Professionals Association – www.wstpa.org) which has promoted a local technology future since 2000.)