Ingenieur Vol 58 April-June 2014 Ingenieur Vol 58 April-June 2014 | Page 8

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE INGENIEUR ICT Convergence T he emergence of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has not only changed the lifestyle of all walks of life; it has transformed the work culture and the way business is conducted. A packet of beef at the supermarket will have a QR code indicating the farm source and processing plant. A scan of the QR code at a tourist spot will provide all information related to it without the need of explanation of local guide. Consulting engineers without computing software can no longer survive in the present competitive environment. ICT convergence will raise integration between smart devices, peripheral devices, ubiquitous networks and robust cloud data centers that allow consumers to perform multiple applications such as uploading documents, downloading data and a variety of functions. ICT convergence will prompt more mobile device transactions as network coverage extends to all corners of the region. With this, we expect to see a new ecosystem of opportunity, a communications and information infrastructure that has the potential to advance the economic and social well-being of the nation and its people. 6 6 VOL 58 APRIL 2013 2014 VOL 55 JUNE – JUNE The Malaysian Government has the foresight to engage ICT, notably in the setting up of the National Information Technology Council (NITC) whose vision is to transform Malaysia into an information society, then to a knowledge society and finally to a value-based society. The NITC Strategic Agenda highlights the five areas critical to our migration to E-World