A Government Cloud Service Drives Thailand Towards ASEAN's Digital Hub
Digital transformation is accelerating at breakneck speed around the world. Many countries have been investing in digital transformation and designing national strategies to establish digital infrastructure and develop a digital economy. They understand that powerful digital infrastructure and a robust digital economy are key to navigating the complexities of digital transformation and enhancing their competitive edge. ASEAN remains one of the world's most vibrant and fastest-growing economic regions. The burgeoning digital economy in this region continues to grow.
Thailand, situated at the heart of ASEAN, has been leading the development of the digital economy in the region and boasts the second largest economy there. In 2016, the government of Thailand announced their Thailand 4.0 strategy, a 20-year plan for national economic and social development. The strategy aims at leveraging innovative technologies to promote high-value-added businesses, pull the country out of the middle-income trap, and enhance its overall competitiveness. The government is pushing forward digital transformation to promote industry transformation and transform Thailand into a high-income country.
IT: Venice: What does a smart city look like?
In a keynote presentation at Merchant Payments Ecosystem 2024 in Berlin, Hemlata Narasimhan, president of Elavon explored what a smart city could look like in 2030, using Venice, Italy as a case study.
The presentation started with an AI of Venice as a smart city speaking to the audience from the future, explaining how it can charge people automatically for congestion, allow tourists to book and pay for gondola rides using biometric technology, and control autonomous electric vehicles as they drive around the city and charge.
US: Connecticut: Bridgeport is a ‘smart city’ — and is working toward a bright future
The term “smart city” was coined in the mid-2000s to describe an idealized blend of modern technologies, enlightened urban planning and broadly inclusive civic engagement. It’s a semi-utopian notion that draws on a deeply rooted human instinct for gathering together and creating shared spaces that provide safety, security, and comfort.
But what does it take for a city to become genuinely smart? The City of Bridgeport offers some intriguing clues. Despite a series of political, economic, and social challenges, the Park City is thoughtfully implementing innovative solutions that qualify it as a “smart city.”
Myanmar’s E-ID system means progress or surveillance?
The new system collects biometric and biographic information from residents
In February 2021, the military staged a coup in Myanmar, citing allegations of “electoral fraud” by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party in the 2020 general elections. We've been monitoring the country since and registered the rise in authoritarian narratives and practices from the military. Our researchers have been on the frontlines of understanding Myanmar's media ecosystem and the many shifts in the narratives spread by the military junta.
One of our researchers wanted to dive deeper into the junta's attempt to implement an electronic biometric identification system, and how that would worsen the country’s human rights situation. The result is the story you can read below, written by our researcher based in Myanmar, whose identity will be kept private for security reasons.
Bridging Tech Gap For Sustainable Digital Inclusion In Nigeria
Digital divide or technology gap, which is the gap that exists in various aspects, including internet access, computer literacy, and skills required to navigate the digital world, has indeed widened in Nigeria, due to advancements in global technology.
While developed nations are creating new technologies that will propel the digital age, Nigeria and other developing nations are having to play catch-up due to inadequate ICT infrastructure.