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Contents Contents The Dream Team 03 - Director’s Pipe Dream 04 - The Publications Team
The Voices of UB 06 - Camp Valea 10 - Of Trials and Tribulations
Life Lessons with Three UB Professors
20 - Imagine 2020 Without . . .
The In Thing 22 - Emerging Food Trends 26 - Tampines Food Co 30 - The Rise of e-Sports 38 - UB Merchandise
The Self (Care & Growth) 14 - This is Only the Beginning of the Road 16 - Outrunning the Fast-paced World
The Past, Present & Future 18 - Looking Back at the 2010s 34 - The Future is Now
Aside from the obvious choice of teleportation, my everyday life would greatly benefit from a better technological organization system. A “one-stop-shop app” that could delete things I don’t want (i.e. advertisements, bad Netflix shows I’d NEVER watch, etc.), organize and privatize all calendars in one, and do a complete synchronization of everything I need. It’s tiring to remember so many different usernames and passwords for countless everyday technology applications. What I wouldn’t give for one username and password for everything – and the ability to “turn it off” whenever I want. - Katie Fassbinder Assistant Resident Director, SIM-UB Programs
Frankly, it would not make a very big difference in my daily routine, but I thought it would be wicked cool to have a device that could sublimate physical objects from a solid to a gaseous state. The objects could then be pressurized and stored in small canisters or transported through pipelines and reconstituted in their original state at some other destination point. I mean, that sounds awesome, and it would help make it easier to carry things to and from work, wouldn’t it?
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- Kevin McKelvey Resident Director, SIM-UB Programs
With today’s technology revolutions, one can’t help but hope to dream future inventions into existence, notwithstanding how incredulous they might seem. For me, it would be a time machine. The flow of time is everlasting, and we all know that time waits for no man. With the hopeful invention of the time machine, we could relive precious moments we hold dearly, revisit important details, and atone for regretful mistakes (I would, however, not recommend the use of this device to fast-forward classes, because learning is important!)
Mine would definitely be the Taketombo Propeller. It would be nice to have one that works in real life instead of merely existing in cartoons! With the Taketombo Propeller, I would probably save a lot of time waiting and traveling — especially to school. By attaching it on our heads and giving directions through body movements, this creative form of transport is not just eco-friendly, but it also gives users a fixed estimated arrival time to their destination. No more late-coming just because of traffic jams, long waiting times or train breakdowns. How convenient would that be!
- Russell Wong President, SIM-UB Student Council 2020
- Andrea Loh Director of Publications, SIM-UB Student Council 2020 It’s hard to narrow down on one technology invention because humans are so innovative. Who knows what the future may bring for the technology field? My daily routine involves lots of late-night showers, and hence, some bath times are not fun — they are, in fact, much dreaded. An all-in-one, shower-and-get-changed machine that could help me get ready for the day, or a good night’s sleep, in no less than a minute or two, would be fantastic. Then again, some of the most creative thoughts I have were born out of shower time, so… - Yong Cindy Director of Publications, SIM-UB Student Council 2020
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PUBLICATIONS CHief Ed itor
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Cont ribut ing Wr i ter s : Sng Ler Jun & C h i a Eu J i n n
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CAMP VALEA
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FRESHMAN ORIENTATION CAMP SPRING 2 0 2 0 FRESHMAN ORIENTATION CAMP SPRING 2 0 2 0
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CAMP VALEA Words by Ru ssell Lai & A l y s s a L i - A n n C h o o Ph ot os by Alex Tan & L i m Da o A n
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We found ourselves in the orientation group (OG) Vitez of Tempus House, and Raka of Chronos House, the two houses of Camp Valea, and we were on a quest to rescue the citizens of La Marville in this Alice in Wonderland themed camp. Our OGs had no shortage of interesting characters. With the constant icebreakers, the once sheltered freshies began to open up. Our conversations were genuine and sincere, and despite our different backgrounds and first impressions, we accepted each other for who we were. At that moment, it felt as though we knew that our life ahead in SIM-UB was going to be filled with laughter, tears, and many unforgettable memories shared with one another.
Right from the start, our accommodating and kind OG Leaders (OGLs) and House Masters played a huge factor in setting the mood for camp. Despite knowing us for such a short time, they never failed to put a smile on our faces, making us feel welcomed with their constant selfless acts. Their genuine care and love that was shown toward us made us feel right at home, even among the initial sea of strangers, now turned friends. As night fell, a SIM-UB camp tradition commenced: the night walk. Down the rabbit hole, the main character Alis fell and fell. What was happening to the great town of La Marville? To uncover the mysteries, we had to brave through the dark, spooky and mysterious forest. As one OG, we had to conquer our fears to retrieve the missing clues, piece them together and solve the secrets of this mysterious land. Walking through the harrowing forest of La Marville, some of us were close to peeing our pants (we kid you not!). The flickering lights, eerie music, and amazing actors contributed to the overall experience we had. Amidst the forest, a beast and the Cheshire Cat roamed. The beast was rumored to be huge, ferocious, fast and gruesome. “Solve the riddle, and do not make a sound. The beast lurks the forest and is attracted to sound�, chanted the Cheshire Cat in a high-pitched voice. We were terrified and even contemplated whether it was too late to turn back. Nevertheless, we persisted in our search for clues. D e s ig ne d b y A ly s s a Li-A nn Cho o
CAMP VALEA
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. On 21st January 2020, the freshmen of SIM-UB embarked on a new journey with Camp Valea, our 2D1N orientation camp at Sembawang Camp Challenge. Many were filled with uncertainty toward a new beginning, and frankly, some of the freshmen, including us, thought it was going to be a bore. Fortunately, we were about to be proven wrong.
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CAMP VALEA
Humpty Dumpty needed saving, and we needed a miracle! As we lurked further into the woods, we came across several magical beasts and creatures. We managed to find the pieces to make Humpty Dumpty whole again. To commemorate the revival of Humpty Dumpty, the Game Masters (GMs) performed a skit that was magical and entertaining. It had us thinking that we were actually living in the fantasy town of La Marville! At last, the long night ended and day broke. It was the last day of Camp Valea, and an exciting segment awaited. Alas, it was the start of the amazing race! We were on a mission to collect ingredients for a potion that would put Humpty Dumpty together again. Throughout the amazing race, there were many fun and interactive stations, but what stood out the most was the blindfold maze and the whisper challenge.
The blindfold maze involved stepping over cans, avoiding masking tape lines and traps on the floor. Being blindfolded increased our fear and uncertainty, but with the help of our OG mates, we knew we would make it through. We had to trust each other and communicate well while
helping our “blind” OG mate focus and clear the maze. The teamwork required to overcome the challenges had undeniably brought us closer, as we had to work collectively towards a common goal. “What do you eat for breakfast? Harry Potter!” In the whisper challenge, two freshmen wore soundproofed headphones that blasted loud music. Both of them read off a list of questions and answers based on what they read from each other’s lips. Though we clearly articulated the questions as best as we could, the whisper challenge undeniably brought so much laughter with all the mismatched, nonsensical answers our fellow freshmen gave. It was definitely one of the more memorable games we played as an OG during the amazing race.
Looking back, Camp Valea nudged the socially awkward freshies out of their shells. The strong bonds and memories created will not be forgotten — they will only grow stronger. With the new-found friendships, we freshmen will look to take on brand new challenges together in our college life at SIM-UB. As camp draws to a close, it is only the start of new beginnings with the friendships formed. The camp vibes will never die, FOC Spring 2020 lives on.
009 Hear what the freshmen had to say 4 members
Tempus House, OG Vitez, Jaymes Lee Camp has brought me friends that I know will last a lifetime.
Tempus House, OG Evka, Stanley Tan UBFOC was really fun! I forged new friendships before school started and was glad the seniors made me feel comfortable being in a new environment with all the new faces, UB huat!
CAMP VALEA
Unread messages Chronos House, OG Leita, Daniel Chee I wish that the camp duration was longer so I could build a stronger bond with my group mates.
Chronos House, OG Raka, Alyssa Choo I never expected myself to stay close with my OG mates, but a few weeks in, they have become my pillars of support.
Message
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Of Trials and Tribulations: Life Lessons with Three UB Professors Wo rds & p ho t o s b y S n g L er J un
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s generations to come envision their future, a burgeoning subset of millennials are discovering the value of retrospection, and how looking back is the new step forward. Here, our writer interviewed three professors from SIM-UB, who shared with him some of their life lessons and how today’s generation can hopefully gather a thing or two from them.
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The Social Media Guru:
Dr. Jessica Covert How would you describe what you do to someone you’re meeting for the first time? I study human behavior and specifically how technology influences that behavior. People love it whenever I say I study technology and social media. It’s a really fascinating topic.
Have you ever been placed in a situation — be it at your previous jobs or in schools — where you were called out for being too vocal? You know, like how some of us can get in trouble for being too vocal online? Honestly, I will say that I haven’t because I’m very strategic about how I communicate with other people and the channels that I use. I think a lot of that comes from studying social media early on in my life. Before I really started using social media I was aware of the consequences of communicating in these public environments. I do agree that there are moments when you do need to be vocal about things, but it is about how you do it, the way that you deliver the message. I think that a big problem with people who grew up on social media is that they tend to get into fights with others on these platforms; a lot of people care more about being heard and getting their message across rather than having that two-way exchange of information with others. It ends up becoming a shouting match.
Why so? I guess, earlier on in when I was an undergraduate, I didn’t give much thought about school. I never showed up. I don’t even know why I was paying tuition because I was more focused on my job and making money. For me, I had no motivation to work hard and get through classes that I didn’t care about. However, later on in my undergraduate career I found something to be passionate about which was research. I guess I was just mad at myself because I felt as though I went through a lot to find something that I was passionate about and then missed an opportunity to follow through with that because I was distracted by all of my other options. What’s your takeaway from this? The universe will always be testing you. You’ve got to recognize that your failures are not the end of the world and use them as wake-up calls. Learn from your mistakes and do better. For me, I’ve learned to get out of my own way and not be distracted. Today, we have so many choices that sometimes it can be overwhelming and potentially distract us from our goals or the things that are actually important to us. I’m not saying you shouldn’t venture out and try new things, but you also need to know how to pace yourself and stop when you need to. And remember, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
What is one regret you had of your younger days then? Not applying to graduate school right after taking my undergraduate degree. I knew what I wanted to do, but I had too many choices tempting me. I took a year off after university and I’m not kidding you, I was miserable. My friends, colleagues, and family did not enjoy being around me at that time. D e s ig ne d b y X a v ie r Cha n
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What’s one common misconception that people have of your job? There are a lot of them. First, everyone thinks I teach English. Which is not true at all. People tend to think I do broadcast journalism, which also isn’t true. My personal study of communication is similar to social psychology. However, I focus less on what happens inside our heads, and more so on the exchanges that we have with others and how technology influences these processes.
012 The Stress Consultant:
Dr. Thomas Saltsman How would you describe what you do to someone you’re meeting for the first time?
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I tell people that I’m a researcher and I study how people deal with stress.
What’s one common question that people ask you about stress? People often tell me they know what stress is like or that they experience stress daily. They’re curious then about what causes stress, and will ask me what’s the most important lesson I’ve learned from my research. Which is really how people appraise certain situations in the moment can determine whether they feel stress negatively or positively. Sometimes, we build situations up in our head to be a lot bigger and scarier than they actually are. So, having ways to put the magnitude of our stressors into perspective can be helpful. Since you are teaching Self and Self-Esteem, how can failure affect self-esteem? It really depends on how you interpret the failure. There’s often a tendency with individuals who encounter failure to assume that there is something inherently flawed and faulty about them. These internal global attributions, which could be as simple as self-blaming, can be very overwhelming and destructive. Certainly it’s important to acknowledge what you could have done differently or could improve upon, but an instance of failing does not mean you ARE a failure. It just means that the situation didn’t go as well as you wished, and gives you insight into what you can do differently in the future. What’s the takeaway then? The more failures you have, the sooner you start seeing trends in how and why they occur and what conditions make them more likely. For instance, after years of data entering and analysis failures on my end, I know I make more careless errors when I’m working late in the evening. So I will often do this detail-oriented work in the morning, and work on more big-picture tasks (literature reviews, writing) in the evening. So in this way, recognizing these personal trends and vulnerabilities, as well as the conditions that ultimately increase the likelihood of my failures, helps me prepare and adjust.
You published an article (“How to make better decisions in a world overwhelmed by choice”) on international news digital publication Quartz last year. What was your motivation behind that piece? To be honest, a lot of research ideas are formed from my life experiences. In this case, I was constantly overwhelmed by the choices I had to make, and all too often, I wasn’t certain if I was making the right choices. After researching, I started seeing evidence of this phenomenon of choice overload or the “Paradox of Choice”. It’s this idea that when we have too many options, we get concerned that we’re not going to pick the right one. And then, no matter what we pick, we wind up disappointed. What I wondered in my work was: What are people experiencing in the moments they’re having to process these choices? Overall, we find that people care more about their decision when there are many options, but at the same time, lack confidence in their ability to actually make this decision. So, it’s like you want to make a good decision, but you think that you cannot make it because it’s too difficult to achieve? Pretty much like Chidi from ‘The Good Place’, right? Yeah, exactly. He’s constantly in a state of choice overload. Chidi is the paradox of choice. Back to the modern demographic, what do you think is our problem? For this generation, I think it’s that fear of making the wrong choice in a sea of so many options, such as their career path and things like that. It can be really overwhelming for some people and I still struggle with that too. But it’s often fine to try something out, even if you aren’t sure if it’s the exact right thing for you or the perfect decision. Sometimes, you just simply can’t know until you decide to try and experience it. Worst-case scenario: It doesn’t go extremely well and you learn from the experience and move on.
013 The Modern-day Philosopher:
Professor Jason Phan How would you describe what you do to someone you’re meeting for the first time? I mentor young people to think about life questions and how they should be living.
How can students get their own epiphanies or callings? Try having diverse experiences. Only then will you expose yourself to things that you might actually enjoy. How has this regret shaped you to who you are today? I came to realize that sometimes we will never really get a second chance. It wasn’t all that clear to me at the start. I used to think that if I couldn’t get something this time, there would always be a next time. It’s not really true. Sometimes, you only have one chance.
Curiously, is it harder to grow up today than ever? It depends on which part of the world you are looking at and what’s your background. In Singapore’s case, it is generally harder to grow up. What I mean by growing is when a young person becomes independent and is motivated to make the world better. It’s harder to do so in Singapore because many people are raised in an environment where they have a lot that they don’t have to fight for. In a sense, most young people are living comfortably here. But in other countries, things might be different. Finally, at the start of the new decade, what is one thing you are looking forward to in 2020? One thing I look forward to is seeing how the new generation can bring about change. I think we are already seeing this everywhere, especially in the US and the UK where young people are pushing the political establishments of the country into new directions. Currently, there are a lot of very serious problems happening around the world, such as climate change or nuclear war. It’s exciting to see what else these young people can do for the world.
This sounds deep. (laughs) Well, there’s another “deep” takeaway too. Things don’t always work out. I used to bear this belief that everything would work out for me no matter the circumstance, which wasn’t true. Sometimes, things don’t work out. And it’s your responsibility at the end of the day. If you don’t do something right, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. So yeah, I guess that gave me a sense of urgency.
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Take me through your personal journey with failures. What is one key milestone in your life that you cannot afford to fail, but you still do anyway? It’s not exactly a failure, but more of a regret I had for not planning ahead. I knew I liked philosophy during my 3rd undergrad year while on exchange. I went on to do my Masters, but didn’t have enough urgency then to prepare immediately for my PhD upon completing my Masters.
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THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE ROAD Words by Chia Eu Jinn
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oming here may not have been your first choice, and it might not have been the last — and that is okay. As the title goes, this is not the end of the road. Whether you are a mildly panicking final-semester senior or a budding freshman, this is my open letter to you. Adulthood is not a struggle that you face alone. A helping hand is never out of reach, and school resources on this very campus in SIM are available and able to provide the head start you need. To preface this, a Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey was conducted by The Committee for Private Education in 2017/18. Out of 45% of graduates from the 2017/18 cohort, 84.7% of the participants were able to secure employment within a year. 50% of such reported full-time employment at a gross median monthly salary of SGD2,700. Sure, the statistics may not tell us much, let alone be representative of SIM-UB students; but hey, these numbers might serve as a hindsight of what to expect when you graduate. What we want to do is to push these numbers up — by boosting your employability. At SIM, you will see an office at Block B level 1 with an enormous “Project 1095” banner plastered across frosted glass panels. This is the Career Connect office, your primary resource to maximize your time here by improving your portfolio. Students may have missed it at times, but these resources have always been around us. Granted, SIM-UB’s intensive trimesters can be time-consuming, but SIM-UB timetables can also be flexible enough for those who are keen to take on internships or parttime jobs. In this article, I will try to shed some light and unpack the student resources in SIM that can help you.
References: Statistics for University Employment: https://www.ssg.gov.sg/cpe/ges.html Prospects improve for private-school graduates 5 years on: http://www.sim.edu.sg/News/NewsClippings/Documents/240219-ST-A10.pdf
PROJECT 1095 Project 1095 is a concept of student life in SIM. 1095 is the number of days a typical student will spend in SIM GE, around 3 years. Project 1095 comprises Career Connect, Global Learning, Student Development and Student Care. Built upon their 3 pillars of Discovery, Development and Deployment, Project 1095 aims to help guide you step by step to your destination.
CAREER CONNECT Career Connect’s main goal is to prepare SIM students to be career-ready by offering a wide range of student initiatives. Career Chapters is a student-run entity that connects external organizations to students. From Hospitality, Supply Chain, to Marketing and Communications, you could probably find a niche you are looking for. Work-trips, employer engagement sessions, and networking events are some of the activities that are organized here with these events being run by fellow SIM students, you can count on your peers to offer you more student-friendly options.
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TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Who said getting an internship requires working outside of school? SIM’s in-house internship with over 150 graduate interns allows you to handle official projects and initiatives that develop the necessary skills required for the working world. With Human Capital Development, Marketing Communication and Business Development clusters to choose from, you might just want to save this slip for the future.
SIM GE Career and Internship Fair is an annual event at the atrium of Block A conducted under two names — DREAMS in Spring and IGNITE in Fall. Established companies will gather to set their booths for promising applicants to network and get a chance of joining their company. P.S. Prepare your resume beforehand for opportunities like this as they might interview you on the spot.
SIM UN I CORN SIM UNICORN is their one-stop platform for all career activities. From workshops to internships and full-time jobs, it can be accessed via your SIMConnect login credentials. Its purpose is to help students connect their field of interest with companies that are looking for potential employees. Courses such as professional image and interview techniques may seem redundant, but they teach you invaluable techniques to look the part while acing your job interviews and anticipate hard-pressed questions in order to ace your job interviews.
If you still feel lost deciding your career path, fret not. Career Connect also offers career guidance and profiling sessions for you to understand yourself better.
By now, you might think that grades are not everything. Well, they still matter to some extent. Grades are an indicator of competitiveness, discipline and attitude in academic achievements. But they don’t tell everything about a person. The grades do not define you, but what you do does— especially in today’s job market. So go seize the fruits of opportunity for this is not the end of the road for you. It is only the beginning.
W a n t qu i c k i n f o rm a ti o n f ro m C a re e r C o n n e c t a n d S IM U n i c o rn ? J o i n th e i r Te l e gra m C h a n n e l o r f o l l o w th e i r s o c i a l s @s i m c a re e rc o n n e c t o n F a c e bo o k a n d In s ta gra m . Te l e gra m L i n k: h ttps :/ / t.m e / c a re e rc o n n e c t S IM U N IC OR N : h ttp:/ / bi t.do / s i m ge - u n i c o rn E- m a i l : c a re e rc o n n e c t@s i m .e du .s g D e s ig ne d b y Nic o le Ta n
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They also run other courses such as Excel VBA, design courses such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop as well as Digital Marketing and Programming. The caveat is that their courses cost money (roughly $50) and these workshops might run the full 9 to 5. Hence, you might only want to consider signing up for these courses on your free days
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12 Here are some ways to maintain your mental wellbeing: Build your self-esteem
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ver feel like we’re constantly running out of time? We live in a fast-paced world where the grind never seems to end! From rushing multiple assignments to cramming for tests and juggling part-time jobs — hmm, sounds familiar? We feel caught in a frenzied whirlwind of activity. Many of us probably struggle with separating work from our personal life, leaving us timecrunched, stressed, and overwhelmed. It’s time to find that perfect balance amidst all the chaos and squeeze in more self-care days! Your mental wellbeing matters just as much and here are a few tips on how to improve it. Mental wellbeing is defined as having positive feelings about one’s self and being able to function well individually, as well as in a relationship. It’s about being able to cope with and manage stress. On the other hand, those with poor mental wellbeing tend to be easily overwhelmed by negative feelings due to stress or anxiety. This can eventually lapse into serious mental health problems. Other issues include fatigue, restlessness, impulsiveness, and having a short attention span, and an overactive mind. Hence, attaining and maintaining good mental wellbeing is vital.
Self-esteem is crucial when improving your mental wellbeing as it gives us self-confidence and the ability to love ourselves. This enables us to strive for a better and more fulfilling life. Some simple ways to boost your self-esteem include mastering new skills, listing your accomplishments because no feat is ever too small; or letting your brain juices flow and getting creative! Try taking a step out of your comfort zone and challenging the beliefs that hold you back. It’s time to stop worrying about what others think and look at failure as a part of growth.
Plan your schedule wisely
Do you find yourself swamped and drowning in work? Ask yourself: Are your priorities in check? It’s time to think beyond today and make the hard choices — what matters most? With school, co-curricular activities, and job commitments, we seem to find our workload piling up before we know it. The trick is to learn to say no and know when you’re taking on too much. Effective scheduling is key to achieve a good work-life balance.
Get some shut-eye
As students, we often burn the midnight oil and mug all night with little to no sleep, looking like raccoons with dark circles under our eyes the next day. Wonder what happens when we don’t get enough sleep? Lack of sleep results in short-term problems such as a drop in our quality of life. We become less alert, with an impaired memory that affects your ability to remember and process information; and our mood becomes negatively affected. If this continues, long-term problems associated with chronic sleep deprivation include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, depression, and obesity can occur. It’s impossible for me to overstress the importance of good quality sleep! Research shows that young adults aged 18 to 25 years old require seven to nine hours of sleep a night. So do have an adequate amount of sleep to maintain good mental wellbeing.
Try out Self-Help Apps Listed below are a few self-help apps that you can find to combat the problems mentioned!
With the aim of improving your self-esteem and confidence levels, Self Improvement — Building Self Confidence gives tips on self-improvement and techniques to help you achieve success. Boosting self-love is absolutely crucial when maintaining one’s mental wellbeing!
Self Improvement — Building Self Confidence
Fabulous: Daily Motivation aids in motivating you to achieve your fitness goals through meditation or yoga, keeping track of your sleep cycle, and discovering mindfulness to reduce anxiety levels. Fabulous: Daily Motivation
To help you stay on track and on top of your busy schedule, To-Do List, Planner, Calendar & Reminders aids you in managing and organizing your daily tasks, to-do lists, notes, reminders, checklists and calendar lists. To-Do List, Planner, Calendar & Reminders
A gamified timer, Forest: Stay focused aims to cure your phone addiction and helps you to stay on task, beating procrastination. It motivates you to throw pesky distractions aside if you want to build your very own in-app virtual forest. Forest: Stay focused
Besides acting as a smart alarm clock, Sleep Cycle tracks your sleep patterns with detailed reports analyzing periods of light sleep, deep sleep and overall sleep quality. Sleep Cycle
A leading phone application for meditation and sleep, Calm is recommended by healthcare professionals. It lowers stress and anxiety levels with quality sleep and guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, masterclasses, and relaxing music. Calm
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Remember the planking trend back in 2010? Or the dizzying rise of social media and meme culture? In the blink of an eye, it is now 2020 — a new era has begun. As we say our goodbyes to the 2010s, The Buffalo Horn (TBH) wants to bring you on a walk down memory lane as we reminisce the past decade and its little quirks, and some big trends. So grab your iPhone 4, and tighten the shoelaces of your Adidas NMDs, ‘cause we’re about to dive deep into the experimental decade one last time!
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he popularity of social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram (IG) and YouTube skyrocketed in the 2010s. Crucially, these sites have revolutionized content creation. Functions such as filters and effects have enabled individuals to make high-quality content on an unprecedented scale. With just a few swipes of the finger, a simple photo can transform into something altogether more aesthetically pleasing or “IG-worthy” so to speak. This phenomenon has led to the rise of social media influencers who rely on their picture-perfect accounts to garner huge followings. The online likes and reposts gained have become a currency of its own and impacted real-world interactions by turning such personalities into bona fide celebrities whose every word and action carry weight. If anything, the past decade has only illustrated the strong link between social media’s rise and the online celebrity.
The increasing convergence of the offline and online worlds in the 2010s was not just limited to social media but extended to the rest of our everyday lives. Consider how we use our smartphones to do just about everything. The same device we use to Netflix and chill also sends out work emails and pays for our cashless monetary transactions. The separation of work and leisure is disappearing, fueled by the rise of the Internet which is finding its way into every aspect of our lives. A testament to this is the increasingly generous mobile data packages people subscribe to. In 2010, the notion of using 10GB of data a month would have been unthinkable. In comparison, 10GB of data usage may just be an insignificant sum. Times have changed, and mobile data is the currency fueling this new trend.
Oh Dank!!! The often outlandish graphics of memes provide bite-sized, instantaneous chunks of humor for many people. While the word “meme” originally referred to ideas that spread from person to person within a culture, today it represents a staple of millennial humor. Some of us may be familiar with the cheesy Hongkong-based online platform 9GAG’s memes of the early 2010s, which still exists today. From the humble Derp and Derpina meme templates, meme pages have branched into more niche topics such as National Service (Memedef) and the adulting woes faced by millennials. There are even memes made from pictures of classical art paintings. With so many new meme templates created each year, the object of humor in memes is limited only by the creativity of the person behind them. Memes have grown to become more than satire and arguably become a means of catharsis for most online users. .
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Photo courtesy of Wall Street Journal
The late 2010s saw an unprecedented shift in streetwear going mainstream. This was embodied best by none other than Hypebeast, a sneaker blog at the head of this trend. With Hypebeast, sneakers have also made their way into high-end fashion with luxury brands getting in on the act with their own renditions of traditional and modern trends and styles. For instance, the all-white sneakers that were once dismissed as a mere part of school uniforms has transformed into an invaluable fashion accessory. So-called “sneakerheads” even collect such shoes and buy and sell them for thousands of dollars.
L O O K I N G BA C K AT T H E 2 0 1 0 S
In every decade, quirky trends abound and the 2010s were no different. Remember the planking challenge, where people would lie face down on any surface, even ON a moving escalator? Or the ice bucket challenge where we doused ourselves in ice-cold water? These trends caught on like wildfire and vanished just as quickly. While it was all done in good fun, and for some, for a good cause, there were casualties too with people getting injured from planking on unstable surfaces for instance. Nothing wrong with having a bit of fun, but beware of letting the fear of missing out (FOMO) get to you.
It is no secret that global warming is harmful to Planet Earth, and the Earth is alarmingly turning into an unbearable furnace. With all the horror stories about the harmful effects of disposable plastics, it is heartening to see people make an effort to do better. The growing popularity of reusable metal straws and utensils, for example, shows us just how taking some ownership over our own carbon footprint can go a long way for the environment. Still, there is arguably much to do in the fight against environmentally unsustainable practices, but the reusable utensils trend points us in the right direction. If anything, it accentuates the need to continue doing and showing more care for the environment that we cherish.
The 2010s have shown us that the notion of marrying style with the functional is very much in vogue. The lines between casual and formal dressing blurs as people want the best of both worlds in their everyday wardrobe. Add to the mix millennial sensibilities and the Hypebeast and athleisure trends are now born.
When paired with the now ubiquitous Hypebeast or Supreme T-shirts along with skinny jeans for good measure, we have a fashion trend that personifies the late 2010s. This coming together of fashion and comfort is also seen in the athleisure clothes we wear today. Athleisure has brought track pants and sweaters into the domain of fashionistas. Stylish activewear designed to accentuate their wearer’s physique and make them appear sharper have emerged. Gone are the ill-fitting old clothes people wear to the gym, replaced by something altogether more aesthetic, versatile enough to be worn outside the gym.
Photo courtesy of HYPEBEAST OUTFITS D e s ig ne d b y Ta ny a U t e P e nda rie s
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Imagine 2020 Without...
We asked our UB students for some throwback trends that they would prefer not to see in 2020. Here’s what they have to say:
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Co mp ile d b y A lice M ay & Tan H u i X in; D e s ig ne d b y X a v ie r Cha n
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Emerging Food Trends Words by Jae-lyn Yiew Photos by Jonathan Lim
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re you tired of the overused rainbow-colored, unicorn-themed food trend? Are crazy milkshakes and truffle-infused grub just not cutting it for your taste buds anymore? Well, fret not! From halal options to eco-dining, we have a plethora of dining choices for you to tantalize your taste buds! If you’re looking for something fresh, new and exciting, read on and jump on the bandwagon with our top five picks of the latest food craze.
EMERGING FOOD TRENDS
BUBBLE TEA HOTPOT L o c atio n: 3B R ive r Valley Rd, # - 10 6/ 07 . Sing ap o r e 179 0 21 Calling all bubble tea addicts: I’m sure you’ve heard of the famed brown sugar milk tea trend, bubble tea ice cream and even boba pizza! Let’s take things one step further, for Singapore’s love for bubble tea clearly knows no bounds. Introducing Spice World’s Mala x BBT Hotpot! For $39.90, you’ll get to sip on chocolate or matcha milk tea broth in a pot with two long bubble tea straws, whilst waiting for the restaurant’s signature spicy mala bear paste to dissolve in the other. Savory toppings provided include: Oreos, sweet potato, yam, pumpkin, jelly, popping boba and small beef cubes. While milk-tea-marinated beef may sound like an intimidating combination to some, the fact that this mala and milk tea duo remained as a permanent menu item two months after its debut really shows its likability.
Photo courtesy of Eatbook
HALAL RAMEN L o c a ti o n : S u n te c C i ty Ma l l B 1 - 1 3 5 N o rth W i n g, 3 Te m a s e k B l v d, S i n ga po re 03 8 98 3 Searching for the right halal ramen option is certainly no mean feat, let alone one that’s traditional and authentic. It’s time to get your ramen fix! Why not give Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen a taste? Known as Singapore’s first halal-certified Hokkaido restaurant, the restaurant serves various types of ramen such as their savory IchiSmoked Duck Ramen and Ichi-Beef Ramen ($12.90), spicy Hokai Jigoku Ramen ($13.90), and flavorful, tangy Tomato Ramen.
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H A L A L R A MEN L o c a ti o n : 78 7 N o rth B ri dge R o a d, S i n ga po re 1 98 755
CAU L IF L OWE R I S T HE NE W KALE With healthy eating as a rising trend, the cauliflower has been a huge hit in 2019 and is expected to retain its title as the new ‘it’ vegetable in 2020 as well. Serving as a healthier alternative for carbs such as rice and flour, dishes such as cauliflower gnocchi and cauliflower pizza crust have allowed consumers to indulge in their favorite comfort food guilt-free! Its popularity is also attributed to the vegetable’s versatility and mild flavor, making it well-liked when used in various recipes. Why not have some fun experimenting in the kitchen? We challenge you to try and recreate some of renowned chef Jamie Oliver’s distinguished recipes, such as Cauliflower Cheese, Pot Roast Cauliflower, and Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew with Fluffy Couscous!
Photo courtesy of Food.com
D e s ig ne d b y Nic o le Ta n
EMERGING FOOD TRENDS
Photo courtesy of Daniel Food Diary
Another relatively well-known halal ramen restaurant is The Ramen Stall. Some signatures that are worth trying include the Volcano Ramen ($11) with three spice levels to choose from, Dry Ramen ($11), and Beef Ramen ($12.90) with a rich beef broth. Besides their ramen, this popular supper spot also serves other dishes such as a colorful bowl of Kaisen Don ($16.90) full of fresh sashimi and salmon roe. They also offer an affordable and filling Kushiyaki Bento Set ($12.90) consisting of Chicken Yakitori, a skewered prawn, shiitake mushrooms, quail eggs and french beans in a long rice box!
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S U S TA IN A B L E DIN IN G L o c a ti o n : 1 2 P u rv i s S tre e t, S i n ga po re 1 8 8 591 In recent years, sustainable dining has become a hot topic amongst consumers. There is now a need to know if one’s food is sustainably and ethically sourced. With a rise in food waste awareness comes an increase in demand for fresh and locally grown produce, shelf-life extending products, sustainable seafood, and the elimination of single-use plastics. Several restaurants are jumping onto the sustainability train, and here are a few to note!
EMERGING FOOD TRENDS
Photo courtesy of Time Out
Stuff yourselves silly with tender meat at Salted and Hung! This modern Australian restaurant was created with the philosophy of minimal waste in mind. Known for their creative use of forgotten parts, their menu consists of dishes using all parts of an animal from the skin to the bone, protein to innards. Some menu items include the Chef’s Selection ($28), an appetizer that comes with five types of cold cuts; the Blackmore Wagyu Tri-Tip ($38) served with liquid nitrogen-frozen beer and corn puree; Lamb Charsiew ($48) and Chilli and Quail ($22) served with sausage stuffing and gravy made from quail bones and stock.
S U S TA IN A B L E DIN IN G L o c a ti o n : 8 R a f f l e s Av e , 02 - 2 3 , S i n ga po re 03 98 02
Photo courtesy of Daniel Food Diary
If you’re craving for some local cuisine or looking for a fancy restaurant to bring a date, why not treat yourself at award-winning Restaurant Labyrinth? A one-star Michelin restaurant, Labyrinth is known for its new expression of Singapore cuisine and was inspired by Chef LG Han’s memories of growing up in Singapore. Its unique menu consists of dishes comprised of locally sourced ingredients such as clam tarts using clams produced from the fish farm — Ah Hua Kelong, topped with XO sambal and Chinese spinach. They also serve a unique dish, the “Nasi Lemak” Chee Cheong Fan, which uses the skin of the Cheong Fan, egg yolk gel as the filling, and Nasi Lemak sambal, ikan bilis and cucumber as toppings.
025 Into greens but always wondered about the taste of meat? Have your burger cravings satisfied with an Impossible Burger! You can barely decipher the imitation from the actual meat! Made from a combination of beetroot, soy, nuts, and tempeh, these plant-based burgers make cheat day everyday possible. The secret ingredient? The iron molecule — heme. Found in plants, where the taste of beef comes from, these vegan burgers not only reduce your intake cholesterol and fat but minimizes animal cruelty as well.
G OIN G MEAT - F R EE: IMP OS S IB L E B U R G ER L o c a ti o n : 1 2 1 T y rw h i tt R o a d, S i n ga po re 2 0754 8
Photo courtesy of The Smart Local
GOING M EAT - FREE: IMP OSSIB L E BURGER L o c atio n: Sunte c C it y Mall B11 48 No r th Wing , 3 Temasek Blvd, S in gapo r e 038983 Serving both Asian and Western cuisines, The Nature Cafe offers Beyond Meats burgers ($16.90) with vegan cheese and a generous helping of crispy potato wedges. This guilt-free burger also comes in four unique flavors: Mayo, Kimchi, Spicy Satay and Black Pepper. Other dishes available in this vegetarian restaurant include the Preserved Vegetable Stew ($7.90) and the Stone Pot Monkey Rice ($12).
D e s ig ne d b y Nic o le Ta n
EMERGING FOOD TRENDS
Jumping onto the bandwagon, in 2019, The Tiramisu Hero Cafe released two juicy impossible burgers — the vegan and vegetarian Pussibergs ($22) served with criss-cut fries. This pet-friendly cafe is also known for its scrumptious Western mains, and just as its name suggests, a must-try is their famed tiramisu dessert ‘MommaHero’ ($7.50 - $9.50) which comes in over 10 flavors!
TA M P I N E S F O O D C O
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Words by N a ta s h a C h a n dra Ph o to s by J o n a th a n L i m & N a ta s h a C h a n dra
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s an introvert myself, I sometimes feel shy or intimidated interacting with service staff during mealtimes. If you face the same dilemma as me, fret not. This article is for you.
Recently, I was introduced to a futuristic dine-in concept that requires minimal interaction between people, a perfect place for introverts or anyone who wants an undisturbed mealtime.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a quaint dining area, with aesthetics similar to cafes I visited before. I headed to an order kiosk that directs diners to an online menu. This allows diners to place their orders via a quick response (QR) code from the comfort of their seats, eliminating the anxiety of holding up the queue at the kiosk while deciding what to order. Furthermore, dining in allows you unlimited orders. This means that you can mix and match in a single order across the 20+ participating brands listed in the Tampines Food Co’s online menu. These include brands like The Flame Shack, Send Noods, Smoo’D, Ayam Penyet and Potayto Potahto, amongst many more. With the availability of such offerings, diners can get the best of both worlds — convenience and variety. This makes Tampines Food Co a great option for groups who cannot come to a consensus on what to eat. Perfect!
Photo courtesy of Eatbook
D e s ig ne d b y D ap hne Wo ng X in H u i
TA M P I N E S F O O D C O
Tucked away in a quiet industrial area in Tampines, Tampines Food Co is Singapore’s first digital food court. It is a common public space where you can order food from restaurants selling a range of cuisines, with Halal, Western, Indian and Asian food available.
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After your orders are placed, they are directed to the respective restaurants to be prepared. During non-peak periods, the delivery is efficient and food arrives pretty quickly. However, be prepared to wait for your food during peak timings such as lunch and dinner time, especially if you order from popular brands such as The Flame Shack. If you are feeling a little bit more sociable and visiting with family or friends, there are board games available onsite for entertainment while waiting for your food. Otherwise, you are more than welcome to simply relax in the comfortable environment. A side perk — free coffee is available here on the weekends!
TA M P I N E S F O O D C O
When your orders are ready, your order number will flash on screen and you can collect your food from a row of lockers. Simply open the respective locker, and your food would be waiting there for you. No need to interact with staff, unless there is a problem with your order. During my visit, I only interacted with one staff member, who sat behind the lockers making sure people got the right orders. My one pet peeve with Tampines Food Co was how everything is served in disposable packaging. While there is a dine-in area, there were many delivery riders dropping by the eatery to collect orders from the lockers too. Rather than being a dine-in only eatery, Tampines Food Co seems to be more of a collection point for these riders, which explains the extensive usage of disposables. Perhaps this was the direction the eatery is heading towards, but having an aesthetic and “chill� place to enjoy a meal alone is a unique selling point of the place that can be expanded on. Besides being an eatery, Tampines Food Co is also open for space bookings for up to 80 people, and guests can create a customized menu for their events. Digital food courts are not yet common around us, but Tampines Food Co is a F&B concept with a lot of potential. Its concept also allows a space for eatery start-up owners to gauge their consumer market before setting up a physical store. This encourages entrepreneurship which is a growing ambition for many people nowadays. With the food delivery industry on the rise, it would not be surprising to see such eatery concepts becoming popular in the near future. I love how it offers an avenue for new startups to experiment with a relatively small investment while offering many options for diners to choose from. While there are still ways to improve this eatery concept (such as providing sustainable cutlery and utensils), restaurants with this simple yet new dine-in concept are worth looking out for.
Tampines Food Co is located at 10 Tampines North Drive 4, #01-05 JTC Space, Singapore 528553. It opens Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm.
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At Tampines Food Co, food is collected from lockers.
TA M P I N E S F O O D C O
The cozy interior of Tampines Food Co is a stone’s throw away from cafes we’re used to. D e s ig ne d b y D ap hne Wo ng X in H u i
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the rise of
e-Sports Wor d s b y B r a n d on G oh
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THE RISE OF E-SPORTS
hen one thinks about sports, we tend to gravitate towards the likes of physical activities such as football, basketball, and athletics. However, in the past decade, we witnessed previously unconventional sports such as eSports rise and even established themselves for the 2020s. Well, what is eSports? eSports or electronic sports is, in essence, competitive level video gaming. Needless to say, the upswing in this form of competition does challenge the notion of sports, namely physical exertion on the part of its participants. To begin, let’s look at the history of eSports, with the first such event held in 1972 at Stamford University. Participants took part in the space combat game Spacewar in the hopes of winning a year-long subscription to the Rolling Stone magazine. With the rise of the Internet in the 1990s, personal computer (PC) gaming gained traction as multinational game companies like Nintendo sponsored video game championships worldwide. Over time, games such as the military science fiction strategy game Starcraft revolutionized gaming with its real-time gameplay. More was to follow, as the now-famous Defence of the Ancients (Dota) mod, an online fantasy-themed real-time strategy gaming platform, was launched in 2003.
Photo courtesy of Intel Extreme Masters
This heralded the start of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre of games that have a tremendous following till today. In 2017, the total eSports prize money awarded amounted to a whopping $110.6 million from 3765 tournaments. With eSports revenue projected to increase to $1.5 billion by 2020 and the ever-growing popularity of professional leagues such as Major League Gaming (MLG), eSports is definitely something for the future.
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Photo courtesy of Dallas News
Another widely subscribed gaming genre worth mentioning is the firstperson shooter (FPS) genre. FPS games involve players using weapons from a first-person perspective in a simulated game map. Objectives can vary from capturing the opponent’s flag to deathmatches where one attempts to kill off all opposing players to win the game. Naturally, this makes for an adrenaline-pumping genre that attracts both viewers and participants. It is thus little wonder that FPS games such as Halo and the Call of Duty franchise became very popular. Such adulation even extends to many of us, who grew up playing multiplayer first-person shooter games like Counter-Strike or Halo 2 and continue to play FPS games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) today.
D e s ig ne d b y X a v ie r Cha n
THE RISE OF E-SPORTS
Now that our brief overview of eSports is done, let’s explore some of the most popular genres and games played. First up is the aforementioned MOBA genre, a key cornerstone of the eSports industry. In general, MOBA games involve two teams competing to destroy each other’s bases on a gaming map. Individual players control champions with unique skill sets that are used to break down enemy defenses or kill enemy champions. Apart from the opposing teams, wild monsters known as creeps also exist on the map which players can kill to harvest points or abilities. The fun in MOBA lies in how it combines the intricacies of strategic thinking with teamwork among the competitors. The nature of MOBA games has made them among the most viewer-friendly genres. This has in turn allowed games such as Warcraft and League of Legends to become tremendous hits, with gaming subscriptions in the millions.
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THE RISE OF E-SPORTS
At their highest level, all competitive disciplines become vehicles for the expression of one’s human potential. - Duncan “Thorin” Shields
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Photo courtesy of Liquipedia
In the words of renowned eSports historian Duncan “Thorin” Shields, the appeal of competitive gaming lies in how it is a means for people to push past their limits. It would be wrong to assume that the dynamics of a casual local area network (LAN) gaming session are the same as high stakes eSports matches. In eSports, the margin for error is low. A fraction of a second can make a difference in winning or losing millions of dollars worth of prize money. eSports clubs are in fact professional entities, where the work ethic is comparable to that of other professional athletes. Gamers are paid salaries for their positions and a system of transfer between professional clubs exists. Complexity Gaming, one of the biggest names in eSports, has its gamers attend regular gym sessions and follow a nutritionist-designed diet to ensure peak performance at gaming matches. Gamers take their craft very seriously and that is where we see how the whole concept of professional sports is being redefined. Equating sport with physical exertion is no longer sufficient to capture what it means.
THE RISE OF E-SPORTS
Closer to home, eSports hasalso found a niche here in Asia. At the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, eSports was featured for the first time, and awarded medals for games such as DOTA 2 and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, up for grabs. While this inclusion of professional gaming is controversial, it shows just how times are changing. Such activities are showing us how the fledgling eSports arena is gaining legitimacy as a bona fide endeavor worth respecting. We are witnessing the rise of another Megasport before our eyes and the coming years will attest to this. It is not just adults, but children who are getting in on the act as well. 7-year-old Simone Lim has even won the 2020 Pokemon Oceania International Championships — Video Game Junior Division in Melbourne this year, making her Singapore’s youngest eSports champion. Unlike many eSports pioneers who faced parental objections, her parents had even hired a competitive Pokemon player, Melvin Keh, to coach her in the sport. Thus, like any other budding sport, eSport is no longer being seen as a fringe activity but part and parcel of growing up. Indeed, this bodes well for the future of eSports. Having spoken so much about the eSports revolution, the question is: How do we respond to such changes? The gamers among us will certainly rejoice while admittedly the rest of us may be more apathetic to this trend. We may not fully understand it completely but it does not hurt to know a thing or two about eSports. After all, with many conversations revolving around notable sports such as basketball and football, it is certainly interesting to see how the 2020s will bode for eSports after its meteoric rise.
Photo courtesy of Game Spot
D e s ig ne d b y X a v ie r Cha n
THE FUTURE IS NOW
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THE FUTURE IS NOW Nestled in the heart of City Hall, the recently refurbished Funan Mall stands out among grey concrete, with an equally exciting interior.
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The past decade saw groundbreaking development in the ways we lived our lives, pushing limits as to what the human race could create and do. Our imagination knows no boundaries, and as the future approaches, we may not have noticed the futuristic concepts that have already made their way into our everyday lives.
Since we have arrived in a new decade, the 2020s, it would be nice to examine some futuristic concepts that may have quietly popped up around us.
Wo rds by N a ta s h a C h a n dra P h o to s by L i m Da o A n & N a ta s h a C h a n dra
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Funan Mall houses an array of concept and experiential stores, aimed at giving shoppers an immersive, futuristic shopping experience.
Upon entering, rows of Instagram-worthy eateries lined the corridor with their eye-catching neon signs; At the atrium, shops were “hanging� overhead, with light emitting diode (LED) banners decorating the pillars instead of the traditional printed banners at other malls. It became clear to me that Funan is centered around elevating the shopping experience for visitors of the lifestyle mall. In addition, Funan is made up of more than just flagship and concept stores. It also boasts other facilities such as a climbing wall, indoor cycling track and co-living and working spaces for a tangible glimpse into the future of retail and lifestyle shopping.
A pilot project currently in its trial period, this robot arm allows shoppers to pick up their shopping after hours!
D e s ig ne d b y D ap hne Wo ng & Ta ny a P e ndarie s
THE FUTURE IS NOW
The recently reopened Funan DigitaLife Mall has been revamped from an Information Technology (IT) mall to a lifestyle mall boasting eateries and retail flagship stores. Having never frequented Funan in the past, its reopening initially failed to pique my interest. The futuristic concept of the mall only dawned on me when I entered the mall.
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THE FUTURE IS NOW
Photo courtesy of Nike
Love Alarm centers around a mobile application which allows users to know if someone in the vicinity likes them.
The Netflix Korean drama based on a popular webtoon series Love Alarm centers on the simple disruptive technology, the Love Alarm, that alerts users if someone in the vicinity has romantic feelings for them. So, how does it work? The Love Alarm will cause a registered owner’s alarm to ring if someone within a 10m radius has feelings for them, making one’s concept of love reliant on the alarm.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Like many other existing technology concepts that bring convenience to our lives, the Love Alarm makes love confessions easier and less daunting, but also introduces a new social danger: If one’s alarm does not ring, he or she more often than not believes the dangerous notion that they are not loved, and some [spoiler alert!] resort to self-harm due to this belief. This is something to ponder on — if our creations may do more harm than good to the human race, our dreams for a better future may just greatly impact our social interactions and warp our self-perceptions as seen in this Korean romance drama.
037 American super shoe brand Nike has launched Nike Adapt, which they market as the future of footwear. This is a smart shoe which implements a self-lacing system that can electronically adjust shoes to the size of your feet. Nike Adapt allows users to customize their shoe preferences through the Nike Adapt Application on their smartphone, making it even easier for one to adjust their shoes on the go without the hassle of squatting down to lace up. This concept makes lives easier not only for those whose shoelaces are constantly untied, but also for those who face mobility difficulties. Such handicap-friendly inclusivity initiatives have been gaining traction over the years, and it is interesting to see how concepts like Nike’s can expand in the near future.
According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), Singapore’s robot density is at 658 robots to every 10,000 human workers in 2018, consistently taking second place for the highest robot-to-human worker density in the world, right behind South Korea. These robot staff are also being used prominently in hospitality industries as hotel room service staff, and even the medical industry as medication dispensers and surgery assistants.
Photo courtesy of Bloomberg
Yet, this development can threaten available jobs, should these robots be able to replace humans for systematic and routine chores. Companies often seek higher productivity, something which they can achieve more efficiently with robots than humans. The question is, will robots remain as assistants to the human workforce or will they one day be able to replace us in the work we do? Photo courtesy of Hotel Jen
While we may not realize it now, look around carefully at our surroundings and we would be able to spot these futuristic concepts subtly popping up around us, with the human imagination present in the very things we create. These concepts, once symbolic of a future we could only dream of, may soon become part and parcel of our lives through baby steps, showing that the future is indeed now. D e s ig ne d b y D ap hne Wo ng & Ta ny a P e ndarie s
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Sitting in a hawker center and seeing a robot going around collecting dirty trays? These smart systems are widely used not only at our food courts, but also in restaurants such as Haidilao Hot Pot, where food is served by a robot, as well as at public libraries for users to return browsed books. These machines are programmed to stop when someone stands in their way and are definitely becoming more visibly common in Singapore.
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