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I wonder how umuch footballers earn

I wonder how much floorballers earn

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I wonder how they get the car in the mall

I wonder what was the first phone

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Q1 : How are youngsters suppose to find what their career are.

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Q1: Are they unique ingredients in the meals

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Q1: What can we do to promote a safe and clean envorment

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Link:https://www.wsg.gov.sg/home/career-practitioners/foundational-programmes/career-facilitation-programme?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn-2tBhDVARIsAGmStVkYDFAwN2T2TFRFm1hl_79BeDMa8wXhMFbMSzQeioRzAqmE7TWjd54aAnlDEALw_wcB

Q1.

• they can go to counseling and find help.

• Use surveys or try out various activities and jobs

• Find what's comfortable and fun for you

______________________________________

Link: https://www.quora.com/What-unique-ingredients-are-essential-in-creating-signature-dishes-from-your-local-culture-or-heritage-cuisine

Q1:

• They do have unique ways and not ingredients

•They use different techniques for dough

•Some dishes are also good for health

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How do we stop use diseal
How to stop greenhouse gases

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Reduce emissions
Use electric without emissions
Cut the use of electric

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Food Manufacturing Process: How Food Is Made

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Food manufacturing is the process of transforming raw ingredients into processed food products for consumption. With the growing population and the increasing demand for convenient and ready-to-eat food, food manufacturing has become an important industry globally.

In the United States, the food manufacturing sector significantly contributes to the economy, employing over 1.7 million workers and generating over $800 billion in revenue annually.

Food manufacturing involves several steps, including sourcing raw materials, processing, packaging, and distribution. The type of food product determines the manufacturing process, and each step of the process can have an impact on the quality and safety of the final product.

To ensure food safety, food manufacturers must comply with various regulations and guidelines, including those set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As consumers, we often take for granted the effort that goes into creating the foods we eat. However, it is important to understand the food manufacturing process to ensure that our food is safe, healthy, and sustainable.

From sourcing ingredients to packaging the final product, each stage of the food manufacturing process plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and safety of the food we consume.

In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the food manufacturing process and explore how various technologies and techniques are used to create the foods we know and love. We will also examine the impact of food production on our environment and the efforts being made to create more sustainable and ethical food manufacturing practices.
Here's what we shall cover in this post:
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Introduction to Food Manufacturing Process

Food manufacturing is the process of converting raw ingredients into finished products that are suitable for consumption by humans. It is a complex and highly regulated process that involves multiple stages, including ingredient preparation, mixing and blending, cooking, cooling, packaging, and storage.

The food manufacturing process varies depending on the type of food being produced, but all food manufacturing processes must adhere to strict safety and quality standards to ensure that the final product is safe and of high quality.

In this article, we will provide a brief overview of the food manufacturing process, its various stages, and the different types of food products that are produced using this process.

Raw Materials Used in Food Manufacturing

Raw materials play a critical role in the end product's quality, safety, and taste. Here are some points that explain the various raw materials used in food manufacturing:

Food Manufacturing Equipment and Machinery

Food manufacturing equipment refers to machines and tools used to prepare, process, and package food products. The use of high-quality equipment and machinery is critical in food manufacturing to ensure product consistency, safety, and quality.

Cleaning and Sanitization in Food Manufacturing

Cleaning and sanitization are crucial aspects of food manufacturing that ensure the safety and quality of food products.
Importance of cleaning and sanitization Cleaning and sanitization procedures Best practices for cleaning and sanitization

Develop and implement a written cleaning and sanitization program that includes specific procedures for each piece of equipment and surface in the facility.

Train employees on proper cleaning and sanitization procedures, including safely handling and using cleaning chemicals.

When handling cleaning chemicals, use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and eye protection.

Monitor the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitization procedures through regular testing and inspection of equipment and surfaces.

Follow a cleaning and sanitization schedule that considers the frequency of use and level of contamination for each piece of equipment and surface.

Document all cleaning and sanitization activities, including the date, time, and individuals responsible, to ensure accountability and traceability.

Food Processing Methods (e.g., Canning, Freezing, Dehydration)

Food processing methods are techniques used to transform raw food materials into edible products with improved shelf life, taste, texture, and nutritional value. These methods have been used for centuries to preserve food, make it more convenient to store and transport, and enhance its sensory attributes.

Some of the commonly used food processing methods include canning, freezing, dehydration, and fermentation.

Canning: Canning is a method of preserving food by packing it in airtight containers and heating it to destroy microorganisms that can spoil it. The process involves:

This method can be used to preserve a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish. Canned foods have a long shelf life, are convenient to store and transport, and can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Freezing: Freezing is a food preservation method that involves reducing the temperature of food to below freezing point (-18°C) to slow down the growth of microorganisms that can spoil it. This method can be used to preserve a wide range of foods, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish.

Frozen foods are convenient to store and can be enjoyed throughout the year. They retain their nutritional value and sensory attributes, making them a popular choice among consumers.

Dehydration: Dehydration is a food processing method that involves removing water from food to prevent the growth of microorganisms that can spoil it. This method can be achieved through various techniques, such as sun-drying, oven-drying, and freeze-drying.

Dehydrated foods have a long shelf life, are lightweight, and are easy to store and transport. They can be used in a variety of dishes and can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Fermentation: Fermentation is a food processing method involving converting sugars and other carbohydrates into organic acids and alcohol by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, or fungi.

This method can be used to preserve a wide range of foods, including dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Fermented foods have a unique taste and aroma and are rich in probiotics that can improve gut health. Some examples of fermented foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and sourdough bread.

Mixing and Blending of Food Ingredients

Mixing and blending are essential steps in food manufacturing, as they allow for the creation of homogeneous food products with consistent quality and taste. These processes involve combining different ingredients in precise proportions to achieve the desired final product.

Here are some points to consider about mixing and blending food ingredients:
Importance of mixing and blending in food manufacturing Different methods of mixing and blending Factors to consider when mixing and blending food ingredients Automated mixing and blending equipment
Packaging and Labeling of Food Products

Packaging and labeling are essential components of the food manufacturing process. They help to protect and preserve food products, provide information to consumers about the product, and aid in marketing and branding efforts.

Types of Packaging

Packaging Materials

Labeling Regulations

Smart Packaging

Sustainable Packaging

Quality Control and Testing in Food Manufacturing

Quality control and testing are critical components of food manufacturing to ensure that food products are safe, high-quality, and meet regulatory standards.

Importance of Quality Control and Testing

Methods of Quality Control and Testing in Food Manufacturing

Sensory evaluation: sensory evaluation is a method of quality control and testing that involves human senses such as sight, smell, taste, and touch to assess food products quality. Sensory evaluation is used to determine product characteristics such as flavor, texture, and appearance.

Chemical analysis: chemical analysis involves the use of chemical tests to identify and measure the amount of specific compounds in food products. This method is used to determine the nutritional content of food, detect contaminants, and verify product authenticity.

Microbiological testing: microbiological testing involves the analysis of microorganisms in food products. This method is used to detect the presence of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi that could cause foodborne illness.

Physical testing: physical testing involves the measurement of various physical characteristics of food products, such as size, shape, density, and color. This method is used to verify product consistency and quality.

Environmental testing: environmental testing involves testing the production environment, equipment, and surfaces for the presence of contaminants, such as allergens, pathogens, or foreign materials that could impact food safety and quality.

Implementation of Quality Control and Testing in Food Manufacturing

Food Safety Regulations and Compliance

Food safety regulations and compliance are critical components of the food manufacturing industry. These regulations help to ensure that food products are safe for consumption and free from harmful contaminants that can cause illness or disease.
Importance of Food Safety Regulations:
Food safety regulations are essential to ensure that food products are safe for consumption. These regulations provide guidelines for the manufacturing, processing, and packaging of food products to minimize the risk of contamination. They also establish requirements for labeling, storage, and transportation of food products.

Food safety regulations help to protect public health by ensuring that food products are free from harmful contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and chemicals. They also help to prevent foodborne illnesses and outbreaks that can occur from consuming contaminated food products.
Regulatory Bodies that Enforce Food Safety Regulations:
There are several regulatory bodies responsible for enforcing food safety regulations. These bodies include:
Compliance Requirements for Food Manufacturers:
Food manufacturers must comply with various regulations to ensure the safety of their products. These regulations include:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs): GMPs establish requirements for the manufacturing, processing, and packaging of food products. These requirements include maintaining a clean and sanitary environment, proper labeling, and employee hygiene.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP): HACCP is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards that can cause illness or disease. Food manufacturers must implement a HACCP plan to ensure the safety of their products.

Labeling Requirements: Food manufacturers must comply with labeling requirements, including ingredient lists, nutrition information, and allergen declarations.

Import Requirements: Imported food products must meet the same safety standards as domestically produced food products.

Recall Requirements: Food manufacturers must have a plan in place to recall products that may be contaminated or unsafe.

Challenges of Food Safety Regulations and Compliance:
Complying with food safety regulations can be challenging for food manufacturers. The regulations can be complex and difficult to understand, and the compliance requirements can be time-consuming and costly.

Food manufacturers must also stay current with changing regulations and ensure that their products comply. Failure to comply with food safety regulations can result in fines, legal action, and damage to the company's reputation.
Future of Food Safety Regulations and Compliance:
The future of food safety regulations and compliance is likely to focus on new technologies and processes that can improve food safety. This may include the use of blockchain technology to improve traceability and transparency in the food supply chain.

Advancements in food safety testing and monitoring may also help to prevent foodborne illnesses and outbreaks. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning also plays a role in improving food safety compliance.

Food Storage and Transportation

Food storage and transportation are critical components of the food supply chain that play a crucial role in ensuring food safety and quality. Proper storage and transportation practices can help to minimize the risk of contamination, spoilage, and other issues that can impact the safety and quality of food products.

Importance of Food Storage and Transportation

Proper storage and transportation practices are essential for ensuring the safety and quality of food products.

Food storage and transportation are critical components of the food supply chain that help to maintain the integrity of the products.

Appropriate storage and transportation practices can help to prevent spoilage, contamination, and other issues that can impact the safety and quality of food products.

Food products are perishable and can quickly deteriorate if not stored or transported correctly, leading to food waste and economic losses.

Proper storage and transportation practices are necessary to ensure that food products reach consumers in the best possible condition.

Challenges Associated with Food Storage and Transportation

Food storage and transportation can be challenging due to the perishable nature of food products and their susceptibility to spoilage, contamination, and damage during handling and transportation.

Storage facilities need to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels to prevent spoilage and contamination.

Transportation requires specialized equipment and vehicles that are designed to maintain the required temperature and humidity levels during transportation.

The long distances involved in food transportation increase the risk of spoilage and contamination during transit.

Food storage and transportation also require proper planning, monitoring, and record-keeping to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Best Practices for Food Storage and Transportation

Maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels in storage facilities and during transportation to prevent spoilage and contamination.

Use specialized equipment and vehicles that are designed to maintain the required temperature and humidity levels during transportation.

Conduct regular inspections and maintenance of storage facilities and transportation equipment to ensure that they are in good working condition.

Properly package and label food products to ensure that they are properly identified and stored.

Use appropriate cleaning and sanitation practices to prevent contamination during storage and transportation.

Implement proper inventory management practices to ensure food products are rotated and used before expiration.

Monitor and record temperature and humidity levels during storage and transportation to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Importance of Sustainability in Food Manufacturing

Food manufacturing plays a critical role in meeting the demand for food worldwide. However, the traditional approach to food manufacturing has negatively impacted the environment and society, such as resource depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, and social inequality.

Thus, sustainability has become increasingly important in the food manufacturing industry to ensure that the production of food is environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable.
Environmental sustainability:
Environmental sustainability is the most crucial aspect of sustainability in food manufacturing. Food manufacturing can significantly impact the environment, including air and water pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

To achieve environmental sustainability in food manufacturing, companies can adopt sustainable production methods such as reducing water usage, energy consumption, and waste production and incorporating renewable energy sources.

Moreover, companies can use sustainable sourcing practices, such as sourcing raw materials from suppliers that follow sustainable farming practices, to reduce the environmental impact of their products.
Social sustainability:
Social sustainability is another important aspect of sustainability in food manufacturing. Social sustainability aims to promote fair labor practices and protect human rights within the supply chain. Food manufacturing companies can achieve social sustainability by ensuring that their workers are treated fairly and respectfully and that they work in safe and healthy conditions.

Moreover, companies can work with their suppliers to ensure that they adhere to ethical and sustainable sourcing practices and that they treat their workers fairly.
Economic sustainability:
Economic sustainability focuses on the long-term viability of the food manufacturing industry. This includes ensuring that the industry can continue to meet the growing food demand while generating profits. Companies can focus on reducing costs through sustainable production methods, such as reducing energy and water usage and increasing efficiency to achieve economic sustainability.

Moreover, companies can invest in research and development to create new products and technologies that are more sustainable and that can help reduce costs and increase profitability in the long run.
Consumer demand:
Sustainability has become a critical factor in consumer decision-making, with an increasing number of consumers preferring to purchase environmentally and socially sustainable products.

As a result, food manufacturing companies that adopt sustainable practices are more likely to attract and retain customers. Moreover, sustainable food products are perceived as healthier and of higher quality, which can lead to increased sales and profitability.
Legal and regulatory requirements:
Legal and regulatory requirements play a crucial role in promoting sustainability in food manufacturing. Governments around the world have introduced regulations and policies that require food manufacturers to adopt sustainable practices.

For example, the European Union has introduced regulations that require food manufacturers to reduce the environmental impact of their products and improve their supply chain sustainability. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and legal action, which can damage a company's reputation and profitability.

Food Manufacturing and Consumer Preferences

Here are some key points to consider regarding food manufacturing and consumer preferences:

Trends and Innovations in Food Manufacturing

Plant-Based Products: The rise of plant-based products is one of the most significant trends in the food manufacturing industry. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and seeking alternatives to meat-based products. Plant-based products are not only healthy, but they are also environmentally friendly.

The production of meat requires a significant amount of resources, such as water and land, and it is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, plant-based products require fewer resources to produce, and they have a lower environmental impact.

Clean Labeling: Another trend in the food manufacturing industry is clean labeling. Consumers are becoming more aware of their food's ingredients and seeking products with fewer additives and preservatives.

Clean labeling involves using simple and natural ingredients that are easy to understand. This trend has led to the removal of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives from many food products.

Food Safety: Food safety has always been a priority in the food manufacturing industry, but recent technological advancements have made it possible to improve food safety even further.

For example, there are now sensors that can detect food contamination and pathogens in real-time. These sensors can be used to monitor food products throughout the entire supply chain, from production to consumption, and can help prevent foodborne illnesses.

Automation: Automation is another trend in the food manufacturing industry. Advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence have made it possible to automate many processes in the food manufacturing industry.

This has led to increased efficiency, reduced costs, and improved product quality. Automation can be used for mixing, packaging, and quality control tasks.

Importance of Food Manufacturing in the Global Food Supply Chain

Food manufacturing plays a critical role in the global food supply chain, ensuring that food products are produced, processed, and distributed efficiently to meet the needs of the world's growing population. Here are some key points that highlight the importance of food manufacturing in the global food supply chain:

Challenges in Food Manufacturing Industry

Changing Consumer Preferences: One of the most significant challenges facing the food manufacturing industry is changing consumer preferences. Consumers are becoming more health-conscious and are looking for healthier and more sustainable options.

This shift in consumer demand has forced manufacturers to rethink their product offerings and find ways to cater to this new market.

Food Safety Concerns: Food safety is another major challenge facing the food manufacturing industry. The industry is under constant pressure to ensure that its products are safe for consumption.

The risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses is high, and manufacturers must implement stringent food safety protocols to minimize these risks.

Supply Chain Disruptions: The food manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on a complex supply chain. Any disruption in the supply chain can have significant consequences for manufacturers, such as delayed deliveries and increased costs.

Disruptions can occur due to various factors, such as natural disasters, geopolitical events, and pandemics.

Sustainability: As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the food manufacturing industry is under pressure to adopt sustainable practices. However, sustainability initiatives can be costly to implement, and many manufacturers may struggle to balance the need for sustainability with profitability.

Labor Shortages: The food manufacturing industry is facing a labor shortage as the demand for workers continues to outstrip the supply.

Food Manufacturing Jobs and Career Opportunities

Food manufacturing is a large and diverse industry offering various job opportunities across various roles and levels. The industry is responsible for producing and packaging food products consumed by millions of people worldwide.

With the growing demand for safe and healthy food, the food manufacturing industry has been experiencing significant growth, which has created numerous job opportunities.
Food Scientist
Food scientists play a crucial role in the food manufacturing industry. They are responsible for developing new food products, improving existing products, and ensuring the safety and quality of food products.

Food scientists also conduct research on food ingredients, processing techniques, and packaging methods. They use their food chemistry, microbiology, and engineering knowledge to develop innovative food products that meet consumer demands.
Quality Control Technician
Quality control technicians are responsible for ensuring that food products meet industry standards and regulations. They monitor the production process to ensure that products are manufactured according to specifications and conduct quality tests to detect any defects or contamination.

Quality control technicians work closely with food scientists to ensure that food products are safe for consumption and meet customer expectations.
Production Supervisor
Production supervisors oversee the production process and ensure that production schedules are met. They work closely with production workers and quality control technicians to ensure that products are manufactured efficiently and meet quality standards.

Production supervisors also monitor the use of equipment and resources to ensure that they are used efficiently.
Packaging Engineer
Packaging engineers are responsible for designing and developing packaging solutions for food products. They work closely with food scientists to ensure that packaging materials are safe for food contact and preserve the quality of food products.

Packaging engineers also consider the environmental impact of packaging materials and strive to develop sustainable packaging solutions.
Food Safety Specialist
Food safety specialists are responsible for ensuring that food products meet safety regulations and standards. They monitor the production process to ensure that products are manufactured in a safe and hygienic environment.

Food safety specialists also conduct training sessions for production workers to ensure that they follow safety protocols and regulations.
Maintenance Technician
Maintenance technicians are responsible for ensuring that equipment and machinery used in the food manufacturing process are well maintained and operating efficiently. They conduct routine maintenance checks and repairs, troubleshoot any equipment malfunctions, and ensure that equipment is calibrated and functioning properly.

Maintenance technicians play a critical role in ensuring that the production process runs smoothly and efficiently.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing professionals are responsible for promoting food products to consumers and retailers. They work closely with food scientists and packaging engineers to develop marketing strategies and campaigns that highlight the unique features and benefits of food products.

Sales and marketing professionals also work with retailers and distributors to ensure that products are widely available to consumers.
Logistics and Supply Chain
Logistics and supply chain professionals are responsible for managing the transportation and distribution of food products. They work closely with production supervisors to ensure that products are shipped and delivered according to schedule.

Logistics and supply chain professionals also monitor inventory levels and work to optimize the supply chain to ensure that products are delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.

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Deskera ERP and MRP system can help you:

Manage production plans

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Deskera ERP is a comprehensive system that allows you to maintain inventory, manage suppliers, and track supply chain activity in real-time, as well as streamline a variety of other corporate operations.

Deskera Books enables you to manage your accounts and finances more effectively. Maintain sound accounting practices by automating accounting operations such as billing, invoicing, and payment processing.

Deskera CRM is a strong solution that manages your sales and assists you in closing agreements quickly. It not only allows you to do critical duties such as lead generation via email, but it also provides you with a comprehensive view of your sales funnel.

Deskera People is a simple tool for taking control of your human resource management functions. The technology not only speeds up payroll processing but also allows you to manage all other activities such as overtime, benefits, bonuses, training programs, and much more. This is your chance to grow your business, increase earnings, and improve the efficiency of the entire production process.

Conclusion

The food manufacturing process is a complex and dynamic system that involves many different steps and stages, each critical to ensuring the final product's safety, quality, and nutritional value.

From sourcing ingredients to packaging and labeling, food manufacturers must adhere to strict regulations and guidelines to ensure that their products meet the highest quality and safety standards.

While there are certainly challenges associated with food manufacturing, there are also many opportunities for innovation and growth in this important industry. As consumers become more aware of the impact of their food choices on their health and the environment, food manufacturers will need to continue to evolve and adapt to meet these changing needs and preferences.

By investing in new technologies, improving supply chain management, and prioritizing sustainability and social responsibility, food manufacturers can help to create a more sustainable and equitable food system for all.

Ultimately, the future of food manufacturing will depend on our ability to balance the need for efficiency and profitability with the need for safety, sustainability, and accessibility, ensuring that all people have access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food now and for generations to come.

Key Takeaways

Food manufacturing involves several processes that transform raw ingredients into food products that are safe, nutritious, and appealing to consumers.

The process typically involves several steps, including cleaning, sorting, processing, packaging, and distribution, each of which plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and safety of the final product.

Some common food manufacturing processes include baking, canning, freezing, dehydration, extrusion, and fermentation, each of which is suitable for specific types of food products.

The type of equipment used in food manufacturing can also vary depending on the specific process, with some examples including ovens, mixers, blenders, and fillers.

Proper sanitation and hygiene practices are essential in food manufacturing, as they help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and ensure the safety of the final product.

Food manufacturers must comply with various regulations and guidelines, such as the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act, to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

Automation and technology are increasingly being used in food manufacturing to improve efficiency and reduce the risk of contamination, with examples including robotics and sensor technology.

Sustainable and eco-friendly practices are becoming more important in food manufacturing, with manufacturers exploring ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower their environmental impact.

Traceability and transparency are becoming increasingly important in food manufacturing as consumers want to know more about the origin and quality of the food they consume.

The global food manufacturing industry is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by factors such as population growth, changing consumer preferences, and technological advancements.

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Food Manufacturing Process: How Food Is Made

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Food manufacturing is the process of transforming raw ingredients into processed food products for consumption. With the growing population and the increasing demand for convenient and ready-to-eat food, food manufacturing has become an important industry globally.

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i wonder how could technologies further improve to help the elderly

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Car displays inside malls are often assembled on-site.

Large doors or openings in the mall's architecture, specifically designed for such events, allow the car to be brought in.

some malls may have removable panels or sections that facilitate the installation of cars or other large items for promotional purposes.

The IBM Simon, also known as the IBM Simon Personal Communicator (SPC), is widely considered the first smartphone.

It was introduced in 1992 and had features such as a touchscreen interface, phone capabilities, and the ability to send and receive emails.

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Go on the electric car
Promote people to stop use diseal
Stop buy overseas food and use energy efficient appliances

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Technology
Q1: I wonder how do Steve Jobs have the idea on inventing an iPhone
Q2: What are the upcoming trends in technology?

Culture:
Q1: What are some popular dishes in Western Cuisine?
Q2: Can you recommend a must-try food from your culture?

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Technology:
History on how Steve Jobs invented his first iPhone.
Culture:
https://theeatguide.com/most-popular-western-dishes-you-should-try/
-Popular food in Western Cuisine

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Steve Jobs presenting the iPhone 4

First iPhone on display under glass at 2007 Macworld

The history of the iPhone development by Apple Inc. spans from the early 2000s to about 2010. The first iPhone was released in 2007. By the end of 2009, iPhone models had been released in all major markets.

The idea of an Apple phone came from Jean-Marie Hullot, a software engineer from NextStep, and later, MacOS. Initially, making an Apple phone was not favored by CEO Steve Jobs, but eventually Hullot was able to convince him. The first team was created in Paris; however, it was not until a few years later that he took the project more seriously: the French engineers were asked to work back in the US, but Hullot declined and resigned from Apple with his team. Another engineer, Henri Lamiraux, became the new head of the project with Scott Forstall, to develop the iPhone software.

Initially, the iPhone started from a conflict between Steve Jobs and his brother-in-law working at Microsoft, then convinced by a French high-level engineer, Jean-Marie Hullot, working for Apple France to do so. The project within Apple Inc. for developing the iPhone began with a request in 2004 from CEO Steve Jobs to the company's hardware engineer Tony Fadell, software engineer Scott Forstall and design engineer Sir Jonathan Ive to work on the highly confidential "Project Purple".

While pitting two teams of engineers led by Fadell and Forstall, Jobs decided to investigate the use of touchscreen devices and tablet computers (which later came to fruition with the iPad). Jobs ended up pushing for a touch-screen device that many have noted has similarities to Apple's previous touch-screen portable device, the Newton MessagePad. Like the MessagePad, the iPhone is nearly all screen. Its form factor is credited to Apple's Chief Design Officer, Jonathan Ive.

Jobs expressed his belief that tablet PCs and traditional PDAs were not good choices as high-demand markets for Apple to enter, despite receiving many requests for Apple to create another PDA. In 2002, after the iPod launched, Jobs realized that the overlap of mobile phones and music players would force Apple to get into the mobile phone business. After seeing millions of Americans carrying separate BlackBerrys, phones, and Apple's iPod MP3 players; he felt eventually consumers would prefer just one device.

Jobs also saw that as cell phones and mobile devices would keep amassing more features, they will be challenging the iPod's dominance as a music player. To protect the iPod new product line, which by the start of 2007 was responsible for 48% of all of Apple's revenue, Jobs decided he would need to venture into the wireless world. So at that time, instead of focusing on a follow-up to their Newton PDA, Jobs had Apple focus on the iPod. Jobs also had Apple develop the iTunes software, which can be used to synchronize content with iPod devices. iTunes had been released in January 2001.

Several enabling technologies made the iPhone possible. These included lithium-ion batteries that were small and powerful enough to power a mobile computer for a reasonable amount of time; multi-touch screens; energy-efficient but powerful CPUs, such as those using the ARM architecture; mobile phone networks; and web browsers. Apple approached glass manufacturer Corning in 2005 to investigate the possibility of a thin, flexible, and transparent material that could avoid the problem of metal keys scratching up phone screens. Corning reactivated some old research material that had not yet found an application to produce Gorilla Glass.

The iPhone beta was created in 2004 to test the device and its functions. The beta version enabled Apple to develop the phone's capabilities before launching a final product. While it may technically have been the first iPhone that was created, it was never released to the public, so it has not been considered the first iPhone.[failed verification ]

In an effort to bypass the carriers, Jobs approached Motorola. On September 7, 2005, Apple and Motorola collaborated to develop the Motorola ROKR E1, the first mobile phone to use iTunes. Steve Jobs was unhappy with the ROKR, among other deficiencies, the ROKR E1's firmware limited storage to only 100 iTunes songs to avoid competing with Apple's iPod nano. iTunes Music Store purchases could also not be downloaded wirelessly directly into the ROKR E1 and had to be done through a PC sync. Apple therefore decided to develop its own phone, which would incorporate the iPod's musical functions into a smartphone.

Feeling that having to compromise with a non-Apple designer (Motorola) prevented Apple from designing the phone they wanted to make, Apple discontinued support for the ROKR in September 2006, and, after creating a deal with AT&T (at the time still called Cingular), released a version of iTunes that included references to an as-yet unknown mobile phone that could display pictures and video. This turned out to be the first iPhone (iPhone 2G).

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone at the Macworld convention, receiving substantial media attention. On June 11, 2007, Apple announced at the Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference that the iPhone would support third party applications using the Safari engine. Third parties would be able to create Web 2.0 applications, which users could access via the Internet. Such applications appeared even before the release of the iPhone; the first of these, called OneTrip, was a program meant to keep track of users' shopping lists.

On June 29, 2007, the first iPhone was released. The iPod Touch, which came with an iPhone-style touchscreen to the iPod range, was also released later in 2007. The iPad followed in 2010.

Connection to AT&T

When Apple announced the iPhone on January 9, 2007, it was sold only with AT&T (formerly Cingular) contracts in the United States. After 18 months of negotiations, Steve Jobs reached an agreement with the wireless division of AT&T to be the iPhone's exclusive carrier. Consumers were unable to use any other carrier without unlocking their device.

Apple retained control of the design, manufacturing and marketing of the iPhone. Since some customers were jailbreaking their iPhones to leave their network, AT&T began charging them a $175 early-termination fee for leaving before the end of their contract.

An iPhone 6 Plus alongside two models of the iPhone 6S (back)

Questions arose about the legality of Apple's arrangement after the iPhone was released. Two class-action lawsuits were filed against the company in October 2007: one in Federal court and the other in state court. According to the suits, Apple's exclusive agreement with AT&T violated antitrust law.

The state-court suit, filed by the law office of Damian R. Fernandez on behalf of California resident Timothy P. Smith, sought an injunction barring Apple from selling iPhones with a software lock and $200 million in damages. In Smith v. Apple Inc., the plaintiffs said that Apple failed to disclose to purchasers its five-year agreement with AT&T when they bought iPhones with a two-year contract and cited the Sherman Act's prohibition of monopolies.

The second case was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiff, Paul Holman, filed a complaint against Apple and AT&T Mobility that he could not switch carriers or change SIM cards without losing iPhone improvements to which he was entitled. Holman also cited a Sherman Act violation by the defendants. On July 8, 2010, the case was affirmed for class certification. On December 9 the court ordered a stay on the case, awaiting the Supreme Court's decision in AT&T v. Concepcion (disputed whether the state's basic standards of fairness were met by a clause in AT&T's contract limiting complaint resolution to arbitration). On April 27, 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that AT&T met the state's fairness standards.

In 2017, Apple was sued after they admitted to slowing down older phone models. The plaintiffs, Stefan Bogdanovich and Dakota Speas, filed the lawsuit when their iPhone 6S was slower after an update. The plaintiffs were entitled to compensation due to the interferences and the economic damages they suffered.

People waiting to buy the iPhone upon release in New York City, June 29, 2007

On June 28, 2007, during an address to Apple employees, Steve Jobs announced that all full-time Apple employees and those part-time employees who had been with the company for at least one year would receive a free iPhone. Employees received their phones in July after the initial demand for iPhones subsided.

Initially priced at $499 (equivalent to $704 in 2022) and $599 (equivalent to $845 in 2022) for the 4 GB models and 8 GB models respectively, the iPhone went on sale on June 29, 2007. Apple closed its stores at 2:00pm local time to prepare for the 6:00pm iPhone launch, while hundreds of customers lined up at stores nationwide.

In the US and some other countries, iPhones could be acquired only with a credit card, preventing completely anonymous purchases of iPhones. At the time, there was no way to opt out of the bundled AT&T data plan. At first, iPhones could not be added to an AT&T Business account, and any existing business account discounts could not be applied to an iPhone AT&T account. AT&T changed these restrictions in late January 2008.

The Associated Press also reported in 2007 that some users were unable to activate their phones because, according to AT&T, "[a] high volume of activation requests [was] taxing the company's computer servers."

Early estimates by technology analysts estimated sales of between 250,000 and 700,000 iPhones in the first weekend alone, with strong sales continuing after the initial weekend. As part of their quarterly earnings announcement, AT&T reported that 146,000 iPhones were activated in the first weekend. Though this figure does not include units that were purchased for resale on eBay or otherwise not activated until after the opening weekend, it is still less than most initial estimates. It is also estimated that 95% of the units sold were the 8 GB model.

Stories of unexpected billing issues began to circulate in blogs and the technical press a little more than a month after iPhone's heavily advertised and anticipated release. The 300-page iPhone bill in a box received by iJustine on Saturday, August 11, 2007 became the subject of a viral video, posted by the following Monday, which quickly became an Internet meme. This video clip brought the voluminous bills to the attention of the mass media. Ten days later, after the video had been viewed more than 3 million times on the Internet, and had received international news coverage, AT&T sent iPhone users a text message outlining changes in its billing practices.

On September 5, 2007, the 4 GB model was discontinued, and the 8 GB model price was cut by a third, from US$599 to US$399. Those who had purchased an iPhone in the 14-day period before the September 5, 2007, announcement were eligible for a US$200 "price protection" rebate from Apple or AT&T. However, it was widely reported that some who bought between the June 29, 2007, launch and the August 22, 2007, price protection kick-in date complained that this was a larger-than-normal price drop for such a relatively short period and accused Apple of unfair pricing.

In response to customer complaints, on September 6, 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs wrote in an open letter to iPhone customers that everyone who purchased an iPhone at the higher price "and who is not receiving a rebate or other consideration", would receive a US$100 credit to be redeemed towards the purchase of any product sold in Apple's retail or online stores.

With the July 11, 2008, release of the iPhone 3G, Apple and AT&T changed the US pricing model from the previous generation. Following the de facto model for mobile phone service in the United States, AT&T would subsidize a sizable portion of the upfront cost for the iPhone 3G, followed by charging moderately higher monthly fees over a minimum two-year contract.

There had been ongoing speculation in the United States that Apple might offer a CDMA-compatible iPhone for Verizon Wireless. This speculation increased on October 6, 2010, when The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple would begin producing a CDMA-compatible iPhone, with such a model going on sale in early 2011.

On January 11, 2011, Verizon announced during a media event that it had reached an agreement with Apple and would begin selling a CDMA iPhone 4. The Verizon iPhone went on sale on February 10, 2011. The CDMA version was a bespoke model, lacking a SIM slot and with a revised metal chassis, the design of which would be reused on the iPhone 4S.

During Apple's official unveiling of iPhone 4S on October 4, 2011, it was announced that Sprint would begin carrying the reconfigured CDMA iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in the US on October 14. Cricket Wireless announced on May 31, 2012, that it would become the first prepaid carrier in the US to offer iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, beginning June 22, 2012. A week later, Virgin Mobile USA became the second American prepaid carrier to offer iPhone 4 and 4S, announcing plans to release the phones on June 29, 2012. T-Mobile USA's inability to provide iPhone to customers raised its subscription churn rate, decreased the percentage of lucrative postpaid customers, and contributed to parent Deutsche Telekom's decision to sell it to AT&T in March 2011, although AT&T canceled the deal in December 2011 because of antitrust concerns. T-Mobile began offering iPhone on April 12, 2013.

The international release of iPhone was staggered over several months. Today, the iPhone is available in most countries.

Date

Country

Carrier(s) (released date)

June 2007

United States (1)

AT&T ( 2007), Verizon ( February 2011), Sprint ( October 2011), C Spire Wireless ( Late 2011), Cricket ( June 2012), Virgin Mobile ( June 2012), T-Mobile ( April 2013), Boost Mobile ( November 2013), U.S. Cellular ( November 2013)

November
2007

O₂, 3, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, EE, Tesco Mobile§, Virgin Mobile ( November 2013)

July
2008

3, movistar, Optus, Orange Rogers Communications (Fido Solutions,[89] Rogers Wireless), (Mobistar, One, Optimus), América Móvil (Telcel), TeliaSonera (NetCom), SoftBank, Swisscom, TIM, Telstra, T-Mobile, Vodafone

August
2008

3, América Móvil (Claro, Comcel, Porta), Era, movistar, O₂, Singtel, Bharti Airtel, Aircel, Orange, TeliaSonera (EMT), Globe, Smart - December 2011, Swisscom, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Telenor

September
2008

TIM, TeliaSonera (LMT, Omnitel), América Móvil Vodafone (Vodacom), (Claro), Turkcell, Vivo, MTN Group, Oi

Later
2008

América Móvil (Claro, MiPhone), Chunghwa Telecom, movistar, Orange, Vodafone

January
2009

True Move

March
2009

GLOBUL, T-Mobile, Telkomsel, Maxis

October
2009

China Unicom

November
2009

KT

December
2009

GTA Teleguam, Vodafone, Orange, Pelephone, Cellcom, StarHub, M1

March
2010

Viettel Mobile, MobiFone, VinaPhone, Orange

September
2010

(95)

Orange

June
2011

Trinidad & Tobago[97] (97)

December
2013

Sri Lanka[98]

Dialog Axiata

May
2014

Kosovo[99] (98)

IPKO

October
2014

† iPhone offered by multiple carriers under contract from Apple (country not carrier-exclusive)

‡ iPhone offered without contract and without carrier lock

Apple has filed more than 200 patent applications related to the technology behind the iPhone.

LG Electronics claimed the design of the iPhone was copied from the LG Prada. Woo-Young Kwak, head of LG Mobile Handset R&D Center, said at a press conference: "we consider that Apple copied Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006." Conversely, the iPhone has also inspired its own share of high-tech clones.

On September 3, 1993, Infogear filed for the U.S. trademark "I PHONE" and on March 20, 1996, applied for the trademark "IPhone". "I Phone" was registered in March 1998, and "IPhone" was registered in 1999. Since then, the I PHONE mark had been abandoned. Infogear trademarks cover "communications terminals comprising computer hardware and software providing integrated telephone, data communications and personal computer functions" (1993 filing), and "computer hardware and software for providing integrated telephone communication with computerized global information networks" (1996 filing).

In 2000, Infogear filed an infringement claim against the owners of the iPhones.com domain name. The owners of the iPhones.com domain name challenged the infringement claim in the Northern District Court of California. In June 2000, Cisco Systems acquired Infogear, including the iPhone trademark. In September 2000, Cisco Systems settled with the owners of iPhones.com and allowed the owners to keep the iPhones.com domain name along with intellectual property rights to use any designation of the iPhones.com domain name for the sale of cellular phones, cellular phones with Internet access (WAP PHONES), handheld PDAs, storage devices, computer equipment (hardware/software), and digital cameras (hardware/software). The intellectual property rights were granted to the owners of the iPhones.com domain name by Cisco Systems in September 2000.

In October 2002, Apple applied for the "iPhone" trademark in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and the European Union. A Canadian application followed in October 2004, and a New Zealand application in September 2006. As of October 2006, only the Singapore and Australian applications had been granted.

In September 2006, a company called Ocean Telecom Services applied for an "iPhone" trademark in the United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, following a filing in Trinidad and Tobago. As the Ocean Telecom trademark applications use exactly the same wording as the New Zealand application of Apple, it is assumed that Ocean Telecom is applying on behalf of Apple. The Canadian application was opposed in August 2005, by a Canadian company called Comwave who themselves applied for the trademark three months later. Comwave has been selling VoIP devices called iPhone since 2004.

Shortly after Steve Jobs' January 9, 2007, announcement that Apple would be selling a product called iPhone in June 2007, Cisco issued a statement that it had been negotiating trademark licensing with Apple and expected Apple to agree to the final documents that had been submitted the night before. On January 10, 2007, Cisco announced it had filed a lawsuit against Apple over the infringement of the trademark iPhone, seeking an injunction in federal court to prohibit Apple from using the name. In February 2007, Cisco claimed that the trademark lawsuit was a "minor skirmish" that was not about money, but about interoperability.

On February 2, 2007, Apple and Cisco announced that they had agreed to temporarily suspend litigation while they held settlement talks, and subsequently announced on February 20, 2007, that they had reached an agreement. Both companies will be allowed to use the "iPhone" name in exchange for "exploring interoperability" between their security, consumer, and business communications products.

On October 22, 2009, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple for infringement of its GSM, UMTS and WLAN patents. Nokia alleges that Apple has been violating ten Nokia patents since the iPhone initial release. This and further lawsuits by Nokia were eventually settled.

In December 2010, Reuters reported that some iPhone and iPad users were suing Apple Inc. because some applications were passing user information to third-party advertisers without permission. Some makers of the applications such as Textplus4, Paper Toss, The Weather Channel, Dictionary.com, Talking Tom Cat and Pumpkin Maker have also been named as co-defendants in the lawsuit.

In August 2012, Apple won a smartphone patent lawsuit in the U.S. against Samsung, the world's largest maker of smartphones; however, on December 6, 2016, SCOTUS reversed the decision that awarded nearly $400 million to Apple and returned the case to Federal Circuit court to define the appropriate legal standard to define "article of manufacture" because it is not the smartphone itself but could be just the case and screen to which the design patents relate.

In Mexico, the trademark iFone was registered in 2003 by a communications systems and services company, iFone. Apple tried to gain control over its brand name, but a Mexican court denied the request. The case began in 2009, when the Mexican firm sued Apple. The Supreme Court of Mexico upheld that iFone is the rightful owner and held that Apple iPhone is a trademark violation.

In Brazil, the brand IPHONE was registered in 2000 by the company then called Gradiente Eletrônica S.A., now IGB Eletrônica S.A. According to the filing, Gradiente foresaw the revolution in the convergence of voice and data over the Internet at the time. The final battle over the brand name concluded in 2008. On December 18, 2012, IGB launched its own line of Android smartphones under the tradename to which it has exclusive rights in the local market. In February 2013, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (known as "Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial") issued a ruling that Gradiente Eletrônica, not Apple, owned the "iPhone" mark in Brazil. The "iPhone" term was registered by Gradiente in 2000, seven years before Apple's release of its first iPhone. This decision came three months after Gradiente Eletrônica launched a lower-cost smartphone using the iPhone brand. In June 2014, Apple won, for the second time, the right to use the brand name in Brazil. The court ruling determined that the Gradiente's registration does not own exclusive rights on the brand. Although Gradiente intended to appeal, with the decision Apple can use freely the brand without paying royalties to the Brazilian company.

In the Philippines, Solid Group launched the MyPhone brand in 2007. Stylized as "my|phone", Solid Broadband filed a trademark application of that brand. Apple later filed a trademark case at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) against Solid Broadband's MyPhone for "confusingly similar" to the iPhone and that it may likely "deceive" or "cause confusion" among consumers. Apple lost the trademark battle to Solid Group in a 2015 decision made by IPO director Nathaniel Arevalo, who also reportedly said that it was unlikely that consumers would be confused between the "iPhone" and the "MyPhone". "This is a case of a giant trying to claim more territory than what it is entitled to, to the great prejudice of a local 'Pinoy Phone' merchant who has managed to obtain a significant foothold in the mobile phone market through the marketing and sale of innovative products under a very distinctive trademark", Arevalo later added.

Brian Merchant (2018). The One Device: The Secret History of the iPhone. Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-54624-9.

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The history of the iPhone development by Apple Inc. spans from the early 2000s to about 2010. The first iPhone was released in 2007. By the end of 2009, iPhone models had been released in all major markets. The idea of an Apple phone came from Jean-Marie Hullot, a software engineer from NextStep, and later, MacOS.

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Topic - Career

Q1 : How do people decide their career?

Q2 : What do you think you should do at this age to start achieving that career?

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https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=35767be6b3fc61cd&hl=en&sxsrf=ACQVn0-FIuJ3b1uVpoVJ4Brw91UAYGpHXw:1706846177703&q=how+can+technology+further+improve+to+help+the+elderlies&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQvO7A4YuEAxWxga8BHe13Cv0QBSgAegQIBxAC&biw=393&bih=658&dpr=3

1. AI can help elderly build their thinking / mindset and help them to remember things

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8 Ways to Keep the Earth Clean

1. Bring a bag. ...

2. Invest in a reusable water bottle. ...

3. Bring your own reusable cup. ...

4. Refuse single-use items. ...

5. Avoid products with microbeads. ...

6. Make sure your waste goes to the right place. ...

7. Compost.

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Link:https://www.sportingnews.com/sg/football/news/cristiano-ronaldo-salary-saudi-arabia-contract-net-worth/acb5hk0gkqdl1yxwfmhrupfx#:~:text=Ronaldo%27s%20mind%2Dboggling%20new%20salary,Daily%3A%20%24633%2C928
Some footballers earn up up to 17mil as a professional footballers

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Volunteers play an important role in community building and uplifting the well-being of Singaporeans and all who live here.

You are welcome to connect with agencies or schemes aligned to your interests, or browse through all the opportunities below

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An integrated and intelligent volunteering ecosystem to help people step up and partner agencies to contribute back to society, and also co-deliver meaningful programmes for fellow citizens.

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Skip to content
;

Volunteering goes beyond the number of hours contributed to a cause - it has the power to change and improve lives. Find your calling, and support a cause close to your heart.

Volunteering as an individual

Acts of volunteering and donating can help you connect with your community and make it a better place. The actions you take will make a difference by positively impacting those you interact with.

Volunteering in a group

The actions you take will make a difference by positively impacting those you interact with. Volunteer with any of the organisations below today!

Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore - promoting effective governance

Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore (CSIS) is a non-profit professional institute promoting effective governance and administration of organisations in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. It sets the professional standards for Singapore Chartered Secretaries and governance professionals and provides training.

Explore opportunities at CSIS

Singapore Medical Association - addressing needs in medical and public health

Singapore Medical Association (SMA), formed in 1959, is the national medical organisation representing the majority of medical practitioners in both the public and private sectors. SMA's slogan, 'For Doctors, For Patients', reflects our recognition that the doctor-patient relationship lies at the heart of any scientific revelation, technological innovation, policy decision and business practice that affects healthcare, as well as our commitment to protect this relationship.
Explore opportunities at SMA

Singapore Nurses Association - enhancing community's health

Singapore Nurses Association was founded in July 1957 with the main objective to work towards recognising and enhancing the professional contributions of Nurses. Its mission is to raise the profile of nursing in Singapore, facilitate and support the contributions of nurses to improve and enhance the health of the population.

Explore opportunities at SNA

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Volunteer For a Cause | Volunteer Opportunities Singapore - SG Cares

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Skip to content ; Volunteering goes beyond the number of hours contributed to a cause - it has the power to change and improve lives. Find your calling, and support a cause close to your heart. Acts of volunteering and donating can help you connect with your community and make it a better place.

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SINGAPORE: More people are volunteering for various causes in Singapore, as the country pursues a goal of raising its volunteerism rate to 70 per cent by next year.

It is a target that those in the community are confident can be achieved, with new programmes to attract and retain volunteers and a rising bloc of youth volunteers getting a headstart in school.

Volunteers form a significant core of manpower in the humanitarian and charity services sector, without which many activities cannot be carried out, members of the community here told CNA938 on Monday (Dec 5), which is International Volunteer Day.

The day has been marked by the United Nations since 1985, to recognise and promote the tireless work of volunteers around the world.

IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS

Ms Charis Chan, director of global engagement for the Singapore Red Cross, said that at least 80 per cent of the organisation's programmes are run by volunteers.

These include humanitarian services such as blood donation drives, overseas disaster response, as well as assistance for local vulnerable families, children and the elderly.

"We will never be able to do so much without volunteers. Especially after COVID, we've been expanding our work so much to reach out to more people," she said.

"A lot of them believe in the true cause and the mission, and the people that they serve."

Ms Michelle Chew, a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Youth Commission representing the Asia Pacific, said that for volunteers like herself, the day is more than just celebrating volunteerism, but to attract more people to step up.

The IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network, supporting local bodies in more than 192 countries.

"The significance of the day is also to promote the importance of volunteerism. We really want more and more people to take up volunteering because it gives so much impact back to the community and to those around us," said Ms Chew.

She noted that volunteers are people who know their communities the best and are well-equipped with the knowledge to intervene and help.

"We really believe that the volunteers who are from the community themselves will often know best what the community needs and wants, when they face emergencies or certain vulnerabilities that they might have. That is why we put full trust in our volunteers to really, in most cases, run the show," she explained.

DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Volunteers come from all age groups and all walks of life, said Ms Chan, noting that they can be categorised into three groups.

The first group is the youth, some of whom were exposed to the movement through their co-curricular activities in school.

"They are taught humanitarian values and knowledge, and even after graduating from school and when they eventually start working, they will often volunteer for us," said Ms Chan.

"They do first aid response, they do our overseas missions. This group of people are very impactful and inspiring. They do things out of the box, and they always teach us something new."

Ms Chew herself started out as a young volunteer in secondary school when she was 13 years old, a journey which has continued for the past 10 years.

What draws her to volunteering is that she can help those who are less privileged, and in the process gain many valuable lessons.

"I've learned that there are a lot of people from a variety of backgrounds that are different from myself, and that might be on different pathways of life. But at the end of the day, we are all humans and that is why we're all here for one another," she said.

The second group, said Ms Chan, are people in their mid-40s, who are "quite comfortable in life and want to seek opportunities to help others".

She added that they have relevant skill sets to contribute to the organisation, and form the core manpower of the Singapore Red Cross' programmes.

The last group is people in their mid-50s and older people who have retired early, who want to stay active and healthy and have time on their hands, said Ms Chan.

YOUTH VOLUNTEERS

Ms Chew said everyone has different motivations for volunteering, and the same goes for the youth segment.

In her role, she advises the IFRC governing board on matters concerning youth and youth-related activities.

She explained that more than half of the volunteer base in her organisation is actually made up of young people, so having a dedicated body like hers to represent them is "very important".

"Often, as much as young people are the ones who are on the ground serving their societies or their communities, we don't really get much of a voice at the decision-making table," said Ms Chew.

She said that the landscape has changed over the years, with more people becoming more open-minded in terms of allowing young people to speak up.

"But then comes into the picture whether certain acts are an act of tokenising, or whether it's an act of what I would like to call 'youthwashing'," she noted.

Ms Chew said youth volunteers may be passionate about different areas based on the environment they grew up in.

There are some who are more concerned about local issues within their communities, such as floods and disasters, but there are also others who are very passionate about social movements like mental health, she said.

70 PER CENT TARGET

Singapore is currently pursuing a target of raising its volunteerism rate to 70 per cent by next year, in an effort to address a fast-ageing population.

It was a target announced by then-Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu in 2018, to double the rate from 35 per cent in 2016.

Ms Chan said it is a noble and achievable goal.

She noted that the Singapore Red Cross recently launched a new programme to help bring more people on board the movement. The programme equips people with standard first aid and psychological first aid within two weekends.

"The challenge that we see among volunteers is that they want to give, but we need to train them. We want to make them go on the ground (only) when they are equipped with the relevant skills," she said.

Ms Chan added that the organisation has developed a system to attract, empower and retain its volunteers.

"We don't only train them with the skill sets, we also train them on leadership. We groom them to make important decisions for us on the ground," she said.

Ms Chew said that the 70 per cent target is reachable, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic when a lot more people have been inspired to step up to volunteer.

"What I would really like to emphasise is that volunteerism can come in a lot of forms, and the way forward might really be digital volunteering because we are living in a world which is increasingly without borders," she said, adding that organisations also need to transform to keep up with the times.

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Rising volunteerism in Singapore boosted by youth action, new outreach initiatives

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International Volunteer Day falls on Dec 5 annually, a day marked by the United Nations since 1985, to recognise and promote the tireless work of volunteers globally.

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Smart Nation is the national effort of Singaporeans, businesses and government to support better living using technology, by having smarter ideas, apps and solutions.

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Follow the latest news and comprehensive coverage on Smart Nation at CNA

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In our recent study on false information, conducted with over 2,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents, seniors, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, were found to be more susceptible to false information.

Even people we would consider informationally savvy, such as younger Singaporeans with tertiary education, are equally vulnerable. About 47 per cent of respondents from this group failed to recognise a manipulated article, indicating that nobody is immune to false information.

People with high confirmation bias and low knowledge of the digital media landscape were more vulnerable. They were more likely to believe falsehoods aligned with their existing beliefs and were unaware of how and where information online originated from.

These findings highlight key areas of improvement in strengthening Singaporeans' digital psyche. In particular, public education encouraging residents to be introspective about individual biases when navigating the online space can be ramped up to build national resilience against misinformation that exploit such vulnerabilities.

Another is to equip people with more knowledge on the digital media and tech landscape, so they can better appreciate and assess the credibility of the online information they receive.

There are instructive overseas examples. Digital literacy programmes like MediaWise for Seniors in the US have been successful in encouraging seniors to adopt the habits of professional fact-checkers when assessing information online. Seniors are encouraged to ask questions like "who is behind the information?", "what is the evidence?" and "what do other sources say?"

About 85 per cent of seniors who completed the course could accurately identify disinformation, a 22 percentage point increase from before they started.

Such interventions are resources we can turn to when enhancing digital literacy programmes here by adapting what works for our local context.
CLOSING THE PARTICIPATION GAP
A second thrust of our national Smart Nation strategy should focus on closing the participatory gaps formed along age, income, and occupational lines.

The success of our Smart Nation ambitions depends on whether every Singaporean can fully leverage the affordances of technology.

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Commentary: Singapore needs a new Smart Nation vision that doesn't leave any citizen behind

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In our recent study on false information, conducted with over 2,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents, seniors, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, were found to be more susceptible to false information. Even people we would consider informationally savvy, such as younger Singaporeans with tertiary education, are equally vulnerable.

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20 Emerging Technologies That Will Change The World

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Over half in Singapore say society, technology changing too fast, and in ways that don’t benefit them: Survey

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SINGAPORE: More than half of people here believe that society and technology are changing too quickly and in ways that do not benefit them, a survey has found. More than one in four (28 per cent) of Singapore respondents also believe innovation is poorly managed, while 24 per cent say it

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Learn how Singapore will transform into a global city of sustainability with the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

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Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment

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The Gist 2023: The biggest environment stories in Singapore

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Record high temperatures and a plastic bag charge in supermarkets made the news this year. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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HealthHub lets you access your family's health records and learn about what's best for their health.

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There was an increase in the number of Singapore residents engaging in leisure exercise from 29.4% in 2017 to 33.4% in 2020. However, participation in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, as a reflection of the desired sustained intensity of physical activity, has been declining since 2017. Singaporeans who engaged in a moderate to high level of physical activity dropped from 80.9% in 2017 to 76.4% in 2020, even prior to the pandemic.

To overcome the disruptions brought by the pandemic, active lifestyle programmes were moved to virtual or hybrid platforms. Singaporeans can continue to take charge of their health by leveraging existing health promoting programmes and infrastructure as part of the healthy community ecosystem.

The National Steps ChallengeTM continued to motivate and support Singaporeans in keeping active. Season 6, which ran from October 2021 to March 2022 against a COVID-19 backdrop, saw more than 670,000 sign ups. The weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity duration among participants rose from 87 minutes in Season 5 to 93 minutes in Season 6.

The ActiveSG Circle launched in April 2020 has enabled Singaporeans to access health and wellness programmes and remain active during the pandemic. The platform has developed more than 3,000 hours of digital content since its launch, with more than 67 million views. More than 1,800 persons from vulnerable segments, including children, youths, persons with disability, and isolated seniors have also continued to connect with their coaches and peers via these programmes.

As at June 2022, over 320,000 Singaporeans have improved their understanding of their health status and adopted a more active lifestyle through the Fitness and Health Assessments and other workshops at the Active Health Labs.

The MOVE IT programmes, including the Community Physical Activity Programme and Sunrise in the City, encouraged close to 630,000 participants in 2021.

A multi-pronged approach is also being taken to curb smoking amongst Singaporeans, including public education, smoking cessation programmes, legislation, and taxation. For example, the minimum legal age for tobacco use has been raised to 21 years since January 2021, to discourage young people from taking up smoking. In 2020, 10.1% of Singapore residents were daily smokers, down from 11.8% in 2017.

Singaporeans receive support to take care of their mental health. The percentage of Singaporeans aged 18 to 74 years willing to seek help when they feel mentally unwell was 39.8% in 2019, 53.1% in 2020, and 46.2% in 2021.

As at 2021, 68 community outreach teams have been set up to enable the early identification of mental health needs and linking to relevant services. The teams have reached out to over 500,000 persons and assisted more than 30,000 persons at risk of developing mental health conditions or dementia.

The "It's OKAY to Reach Out" campaign was held from October 2021 to March 2022 to raise awareness and encourage Singaporeans to seek support. The campaign engaged more than 124,000 Singaporeans through initiatives such as community dialogue sessions and webinars.

There were over 300 General Practitioners (GP) partners under the Mental Health GP Partnership Programme as at 2021, trained to diagnose and support persons with mental health conditions.

Read more: Active Lifestyle Programmes | National Population Health Survey 2019/2020

Read more: Retirement

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There was an increase in the number of Singapore residents engaging in leisure exercise from 29.4% in 2017 to 33.4% in 2020. However, participation in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, as a reflection of the desired sustained intensity of physical activity, has been declining since 2017.

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WHO's primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations' system and to lead partners in global health responses.

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Active Health aims to support Singaporeans' journey towards better health with guided expert knowledge backed by science.

Standing by its belief that "Better Beats Perfect", Active Health believes that making a big impact on one's health hinges on forming small habits in our daily lives. Active Health labs managed by qualified specialists, a mobile app to track your fitness progress conveniently, and fun community activities are available for participants to start building these routines and tracking their progress. Active Health focuses on four domains: physical activity, nutrition, screen time, and sleep.

Visit the Active Health website to embark on this road towards better health.

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Active Health aims to support Singaporeans' journey towards better health with guided expert knowledge backed by science. Standing by its belief that "Better Beats Perfect", Active Health believes that making a big impact on one's health hinges on forming small habits in our daily lives.

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HealthHub is a Singaporeans' "digital healthcare companion", providing one-stop access to their personal medical records, links to healthcare services and institutions and related information and tools so they can take control of their health.

You can access it via the HealthHub website, or by downloading the app.

Features to Note

Access your personal medical records with Singpass

HealthHub provides access to your personal hospital records, lab test results (for chronic diseases), medical appointments and referral letters from public healthcare institutions (polyclinics and hospitals). You can also access yours and your child's immunisation records, dental health and medication records and even set reminders on when to take your medication!

Track your appointments

With the Caregiver Access module, you can grant your caregivers access to your health and medical records and medical appointments.

Easily manage your prescriptions

Conveniently request refills to your existing prescription or repeat a previous prescription.

Pay your medical fees seamlessly

Easily pay your medical fees via the HealthHub portal without having to visit the clinic or hospital in-person.

Stay connected to healthcare and lifestyle facilities and services

Access an extensive directory of healthcare and lifestyle facilities and services, such as locations of polyclinics, healthy food places and sports facilities. There's even a tool that assesses whether you are at risk for diabetes.

Earn and accumulate Healthpoints

Sharing health articles or events from HealthHub on your social media platforms can earn you Healthpoints, which can be converted into rewards such as NTUC LinkPoints.

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HealthHub is a Singaporeans' "digital healthcare companion", providing one-stop access to their personal medical records, links to healthcare services and...

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Latest Singapore health News & Headlines, Top Stories Today - The Straits Times

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Singapore health News - Find latest News & top stories about Singapore health. Get more information about Singapore health at straitstimes.com.

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The role of sports (and athletes) in strengthening national identity

In August 2016, Joseph Schooling won Singapore's first-ever Olympic gold medal by winning the men's 100 metres butterfly at the Rio Olympics in record time.

(Image: Olympics)

Singapore erupted in joyful celebration, cheering the achievement of a Singaporean athlete who beat one of the greatest Olympians in history, American Michael Phelps.

The Olympic win by Schooling further propelled the role of sports in bringing Singaporeans of different backgrounds together, whether to cheer for our athletes or to participate in sports.

Earlier generations of Singaporeans will fondly recall how Singaporeans of different backgrounds bonded through their support for the Lions' "Dream Team" that won the 1994 Malaysia Cup. Today, Singaporeans continue to display this same national spirit as they draw pride in the achievements and efforts of "Team Singapore".

Schooling's Olympic win is an important milestone in Singapore's efforts to nurture world-class athletes. Schooling, along with other athletes such as national silat exponent Sheik Farhan bin Sheik Alau'ddin, national sprinter Shanti Pereira, and swimmer Joscelin Yeo, have inspired Singaporeans to believe in our nation's ability to achieve extraordinary sporting achievements.

Singapore's representation and success on the international sporting stage has been steadily growing. In 2021, Sheik Farhan was featured on Forbes' sixth list of 300 Asians under the age of 30 "who are braving the challenging environment brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and finding new opportunities amidst the new normal". In late 2021, shuttler Loh Kean Yew made national history by winning the World Badminton Championships.

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 23 Singaporean athletes competed in a record 12 sports, including first-time appearances in equestrian, marathon swimming, and diving events.

Meanwhile, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, swimmer Yip Pin Xiu won her fourth and fifth gold medals. In late 2021, Aloysius Yapp became the world's Number 1 player in pool, while Shayna Ng won gold at the International Bowling Federation Super World Championships.

The sporting journey of an elite athlete is rarely a smooth one, and our national athletes' experience of failure helps us as a nation to embrace a broader definition of success. Schooling's failure to qualify for the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics spurred national conversations about the importance of mental health and resilience, particularly during the gruelling pandemic when many athletes trained in isolation. The outpouring of support from many Singaporeans for Schooling, and the affirmation that "it is okay for Olympic Champions not to be okay" reflect the spirit of solidarity as we rally around our fellow Singaporeans in good and bad times.

Sports also help shape our identity as healthy, fit, and resilient Singaporeans. Sport Singapore (previously known as Singapore Sports Council) has sought to instil a love for sports and exercise in Singaporeans through strategic blueprints such as "Sports for Life" in 1996, and "Sporting Singapore" in 2001.

These blueprints sought to use sports as a common ground for forging camaraderie among Singaporeans. For example, in our public housing estates, there is careful urban planning to provide easily accessible spaces for sports, such as basketball and badminton courts and running tracks. Sport Singapore has also built a network of ActiveSG Sports Centres, which offer sports facilities to the general public in different parts of the country. Many of these facilities are made free or available at low-cost to encourage Singaporeans to gather and exercise.

The current "Vision 2030", which spans 2013 to 2030, lays out aspirations for Singaporeans, such as becoming "future-ready through sport" and tapping into "sport as a national language".

One highlight of this vision is the creation of the Super Sports Club to help ensure more people stay active in sports after they leave school. After a year of conceptualizing and planning, ActiveSG was formed to realise the Super Sports Club recommendation, by providing experiential sport-related programmes at sports centres island-wide. This reflects the importance of encouraging more Singaporeans of all fitness and skill levels to experience sports together.

As we continue to root for our national athletes and the aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen among us, our national identity is growing stronger. Our national spirit celebrates not just sporting achievements but also the core attributes of "Pride, Performance and Perseverance" that anchor the ethos of Team Singapore.

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In August 2016, Joseph Schooling won Singapore's first-ever Olympic gold medal by winning the men's 100 metres butterfly at the Rio Olympics in record time. (Image: Olympics) Singapore erupted in joyful celebration, cheering the achievement of a Singaporean athlete who beat one of the greatest Olympians in history, American Michael Phelps.

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SINGAPORE - In the months after former national swimmer Tao Li sprinted her way to a fifth place finish in the 100m butterfly event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the expectations for her to deliver a medal at her next outing weighed on her mind.

She is still the first and only Singaporean female swimmer to make it into the finals of a swimming event at the Olympics thus far.

And being only 18 at that time, there were hopes that she could achieve a medal in the 2012 London edition of the Games, when she had matured further as an athlete.

However, the 32-year-old told TODAY that the expectations and pressures of reaching the top became too much for her.

"Once you reach the top, many things can distract you, and then you're not focusing as much anymore, and you don't want to take that much pain anymore, you don't want to train that hard anymore, and then things will just change, immediately," she said.

"If over the course of one year, you're still out of the top eight (swimmers) in the world, then that's it. You won't just get back to where you should be anymore."

Sure enough, the years between the two Olympics were turbulent for her, with several coaching disruptions and a dip in form.

Though she improved her pool timings before the 2012 Games, it could only guarantee her a 10th place finish in the 100m butterfly, which did not earn her a spot in the finals.

But to Tao, what matters is that she had tried her best.

"Everyone's perspective is different... some fans will say that national swimmers should try to break the world record, but the swimmer might think that this is their best (effort) already," she said.

"Both parties are not wrong - the swimmer represents themselves, but the public wants some more, and that's fair."

While Tao, who now runs her own swimming academy, has made peace with the ups and downs of her sporting career, the same pressures that she had faced continue to hound the current crop of active sportsmen and sportswomen in Singapore.

One example is national rower Joan Poh, who had to contend with her own perceived failure during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which was only held last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 31-year-old had been an inspirational figure - both locally and internationally - during the sporting extravaganza, having juggled her training for the Olympics with her job as a nurse at the height of the pandemic.

Poh said that given the upheaval caused by the pandemic, even qualifying and making it to the start line at the Olympics was "a feat on its own".

During the Games, she was placed 28 out of 32 competitors in the women's single sculls competition - which left her feeling discouraged.

"That is not winning, so I naturally came back and felt this sense that my outing to Tokyo was a failure," she said.

It was only during the National Day Rally last year, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong lauded Poh's feat as embodying "the best of being Singaporean", that she began to see her efforts in a different light.

"When the Prime Minister called what I was doing the Singapore spirit, and something we can celebrate, it actually lifted my spirit.

"At this point, we don't celebrate hard work, we work so hard, but then (it's as if) when we don't have a medal, we don't deserve celebration," Poh said.

The various pressures faced by athletes - both in and out of the sporting arena - have come to the fore once again following the recent case of drug use by Olympic champion Joseph Schooling and national swimmer Amanda Lim.

The 27-year-old Schooling said in a public apology that he had given in to "a moment of weakness after going through a very tough period of my life". The swimmer lost his father Colin, who had played a key role in his success, to cancer in November last year.

In her own apology, Lim, 29, said her swimming career has been filled with "many ups and downs" over the past 10 years, and that she has "always strived to be better in and out of the pool".

While some may argue that the pressures faced by Singapore's national athletes are part and parcel of being in their chosen field, and it is up to them to find ways to cope with the stress, the fact remains that unlike most working adults, there are only so many ways a sportsperson can unwind and de-stress, veteran sportspeople told TODAY.

Other than the obvious no-nos such as the consumption of illegal substances, even simple pleasures like an alcoholic drink or a late night supper may seem sacrilegious for these athletes, since they are also expected to keep their bodies in tip-top condition for their competitions.

And the scrutiny is even worse for athletes who have already gained some success in their sport, said the veteran athletes.

The pressure for them to stay on the straight and narrow, while continuing to produce sterling results, can often be too much for them to handle.

Amid the intense scrutiny faced by Schooling and Lim on a personal level, a bigger question has also arisen from the saga:

Is Singapore capable of ever producing a serial world beater who can bring home multiple world titles - given that the creme de la creme in the sporting fraternity are often find it hard to stay at the top, with the pressure to perform in the next major games only mounting in the wake of their initial achievements?

For instance, Schooling himself and 2021 Badminton World Champion Loh Kean Yew - Singapore's two most high-profile sportsmen in recent years - have yet to match their career-defining achievements or even come close since then.

THE PRESSURES ATHLETES FACE

In the world of elite sports, the pressures that athletes face creep in long before they dance under the lights. And on the big day, the competition itself is a stressful experience - but the pressure is often due to extrinsic factors.

Former national sailor and Asian Games gold medallist Benedict Tan said the fact that many of these top athletes receive public funding only adds to the pressure on competition day.

The Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) by national sports governing body Sport Singapore, for example, provides financial support for high-performance athletes, as well as more opportunities to train and compete at major games, among other benefits.

"If (the athlete) is very conscientious, he will be under more pressure, as he feels that he has to perform well to justify the public funding," said Dr Tan, 54, who was also Singapore's chef de mission to the Tokyo Olympics.

"If you feel that your funding level is not commensurate with your performance... then there's that added 'guilty' feeling which makes you want to perform harder, want to try harder and, of course, that puts more pressure on you."

And while most athletes who do not make it to the top of their sport remain relatively anonymous to the public, a whole new dimension of pressure sets in the moment they prove themselves on the world stage.

Take it from Schooling's former coach, Sergio Lopez. Speaking to TODAY from the United states where he lives and coaches, the former head coach of Singapore's national swimming team said that with success in the sporting arena comes the loss in an athletes' "sense of self".

"Winning an Olympic medal (means) you start being in the public image, and people start looking up to you as an example, and you lose ownership of who you are," said the 54-year-old, who had coached Schooling for five years leading up to his Olympic triumph, and again in 2020 to prepare for the Tokyo Games.

Lopez, who is presently the head coach of Swimming and Diving at Virginia Tech University, said that when Schooling first announced as a child that his dream was to beat American swim legend Michael Phelps, nobody other than his parents believed in him.

"After the Olympics, everybody came out of the woods saying 'I was part of Joseph's journey', and people only want to see the positives of life... and to have a perfect life, a perfect family... that's a lot of pressure for anybody," he said.

Indeed, the public interest over Schooling's life and fitness began to mount after his Olympic victory, with questions raised whenever he fell short in subsequent major games.

Even his physical appearance and weight became a talking point during the 2019 SEA Games.

Lopez said: "The biggest pressure is losing ownership of who you are, and having to live your life by everybody else's expectations."

National athletes also face "Uniquely Singaporean" pressures, like having to keep one eye on their longer-term careers - be it in or outside of their sport.

And this is the key difference between athletes here and some of their foreign counterparts, said former national diver Jonathan Chan, 25.

His last competition as a national athlete was at the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam which was held in May this year due to the pandemic.

"For a lot of other countries, (athletes') priority will be sports, and then school is at the side. But for us, school is always the priority, and sports is more of a co-curricular activity," said the 25-year-old Olympian, who also competed in the Tokyo Games.

For instance, he said it is not uncommon for student athletes to have their training cut down when they do not perform well at school.

Chan added that pursuing diving as a sport throughout his university years had come at a huge opportunity cost.

"In university, the time that I spend doing my sport, other people spend doing internships, and if you go out there and get interviewed for a job, the company will obviously pick the people with more experience in the job, they won't say 'wow, this guy went to major games'.

"They always say do well in sports and you can go far, but it's not (always) true," said Chan.

Singapore's culture of prioritising academics over sport is also harmful for young athletes, said sports psychologists.

Dr Jay-Lee Nair, psychologist and practice owner of Mental Notes Singapore said a lot of parents are invested in their children's' sporting excellence not because they want their kids to become full-time sportspeople, but because it can help them gain entry to their preferred schools.

"Singapore is bursting with highly competitive developing athletes and their parents... they see success in sport at the youth level as a valuable addition to their resumes, either for top academic institutions, or as a vehicle for scholarship opportunities for university abroad," she said.

She added that one accelerator for this trend is the Direct School Admission programme, where students can gain entry into top educational institutes based on their sporting merit.

This can have a negative outcome for children, who find themselves doing the sport for a very utilitarian purpose, other than pursuing it as a passion.

"The child might not feel like they have a lot of autonomy... maybe they feel like it's something that is forced upon them and if they don't enjoy the sport, then I think it can be really quite difficult and have a lot of negative consequences," said Dr Jay-Lee.

MANAGING TEMPTATIONS WELL

Veteran athletes said that no matter what the era, there's always the proverbial forbidden fruit somewhere to tempt or distract sportsmen and sportswomen from performing well.

These can range from gambling, alcohol, and even drugs. Even innocuous deeds to the common man, like playing computer games, spending late nights with friends or a visit to a fast-food restaurant, can be seen as taboos.

Ultimately, it is only human to err, and elite sportspeople cannot be expected to stay away from all of life's temptations during the years they spend training and competing.

Former national sportsperson Nicholas Fang, who has represented Singapore in both fencing and triathlon said that these sportspeople are in a high-pressure environment, and have fewer outlets than most to de-stress.

"For normal people, sporting activities can be a relief from the daily grind, but elite athletes don't have this avenue, which might explain why they seek other ways to blow off steam and release stress," he said.

Ultimately, said Schooling's former coach Lopez, it is unrealistic to expect athletes to not want to do the things that normal people do.

Lopez, who had won the bronze medal in the 1988 Olympics, returned to his country a hero, having been the first person born and raised in Spain to win an Olympic medal in swimming.

He had gone to a nightclub to celebrate the achievement, only to have some members of the public came up to him and criticise him for consuming alcohol.

"I'm not excusing any of that, but I think what people need to understand is that people are people and they go through a lot of things, and they feel very lonely and they make decisions that they shouldn't."

However, the sportspeople interviewed all agreed that a line has to be drawn with illegal substances, such as recreational or performance enhancing drugs.

When athletes make such grave mistakes, they have to own up to it, because after all, they are still in the public eye and a role model to many.

"When you break the law, you have to be accountable, and you have to be responsible and you have to be honest with the mistakes that you make," said Lopez.

CAN SINGAPORE PRODUCE SERIAL WORLD-BEATERS?

While the world celebrates serial winners - Roger Federer in tennis, Michael Phelps in swimming, Lionel Messi in football, and a select group of others who have gained sporting immortality - can we expect Singapore itself to produce more than one-hit wonders?

The nation has occasionally produced world beaters, such as Schooling, who went on to beat his idol Phelps en route to a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics, and shuttler Loh, who outplayed then world number one Viktor Axelsen to clinch the world championship title last year.

However, such feats have yet to be repeated on the same scale for either of the two athletes, which begs the question: Is it fair for Singaporeans to expect a repeat of world beating performances from our athletes?

The answer, according to veteran athletes, is "no".

Explaining the difficulty behind such an endeavour, Dr Tan said there is a big difference between the time when an athlete is chasing for the top spot, and when he has reached there and is trying to maintain his dominance.

"It's not easy to stay at world number one, because ... it's easier to be the one chasing," he said. "Once you're at the top and you're the one being chased, your training strategy will have to change."

Using a business analogy, Dr Tan pointed out that growing a small company often requires a very different set of skills from keeping a big company steady.

"The skills to stay at the top are much more complex... Most of the time, you practise chasing to reach the top, but how many get to practise staying at the top?"

Ultimately, it all boils down to the nation's sporting culture, said Schooling's former coach Lopez, echoing the sentiment expressed by other athletes interviewed.

He gave the example of when he was coaching swimming in Singapore between 2015 and 2016. While he saw many children with the potential to excel in the pool, they were never pushed by their parents to give their all to the sport.

He added that Schooling's path to success was in contrast to what he had observed in other young swimmers here.

A confluence of factors - Schooling having the potential to be a world champion, him daring to dream of beating Phelps one day, and most crucially, his parents believing fully in his dreams - was what led to an unlikely Olympic gold for Singapore, said Lopez.

Whatever the future holds for Singapore's elite sportspeople, Lopez felt that an Olympian like Schooling "doesn't need to win another Olympic medal to be somebody that can change the country, because he has already changed it."

"He has a lot of experience from living abroad, racing, and he can share that with the Singaporean youth, and it's invaluable, you cannot pay for that with money."

"So it's really up to you guys, how you want to appreciate your own."

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The Big Read in short: The pressures and temptations that S'pore athletes face

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SINGAPORE - In the months after former national swimmer Tao Li sprinted her way to a fifth place finish in the 100m butterfly event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the expectations for her to deliver a medal at her next outing weighed on her mind.

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A vibrant, cohesive home where diverse dreams can thrive. Find out more about MCCY's COS 2024 announcements here.

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The arts belong to everyone. As audiences, participants, practitioners, patrons, or partners, we all contribute to the vibrancy and energy of the arts scene. In return, the arts touch and inspire us, root us in our identities, and help make our city iconic and distinctive.

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NAC's Strategy Our SG Arts Plan (2023 - 2027) Singapore Arts Policy

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NEW FIVE-YEAR PLAN

The Our SG Arts Plan was moulded by over 16,500 stakeholders. They weighed in on how to build on efforts by the previous roadmap in 2018, which aimed to develop the domestic arts scene but was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local interest in the arts has grown, rising from 29 per cent in 2020 to 34 per cent in 2022, according to NAC's Population Survey on the Arts.

Launched at the Sands Expo And Convention Centre by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong on Tuesday (Sep 5), the roadmap includes the launch of a new portal.

Named Catch, the digital platform will allow patrons to browse and book cultural events in Singapore.

It was developed with the help of other arts organisations, including the Esplanade, and also gives smaller arts groups an accessible platform to promote their initiatives for free.

To provide them with even greater exposure, NAC will partner Mediacorp to build up cross-industry connections.

"The walls or the borders between arts and media are very porous. So the talents move between the two sectors pretty freely," Mediacorp's chief customer and corporate development officer Angeline Poh told CNA's Singapore Tonight on Tuesday.

Other partnership initiatives include the Hear65's year-long I Play SG Music campaign, a collaboration between NAC and SMRT Trains which will allow commuters to listen to Singaporean music at train and bus stations.

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New road map for the arts scene seeks to build up creative industry, infuse art into everyday life

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The Our SG Arts Plan was moulded by over 16,500 stakeholders.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
HealthHub is a Singaporeans' "digital healthcare companion", providing one-stop access to their personal medical records, links to healthcare services and institutions and related information and tools so they can take control of their health.

You can access it via the HealthHub website, or by downloading the app.

Features to Note

Access your personal medical records with Singpass

HealthHub provides access to your personal hospital records, lab test results (for chronic diseases), medical appointments and referral letters from public healthcare institutions (polyclinics and hospitals). You can also access yours and your child's immunisation records, dental health and medication records and even set reminders on when to take your medication!

Track your appointments

With the Caregiver Access module, you can grant your caregivers access to your health and medical records and medical appointments.

Easily manage your prescriptions

Conveniently request refills to your existing prescription or repeat a previous prescription.

Pay your medical fees seamlessly

Easily pay your medical fees via the HealthHub portal without having to visit the clinic or hospital in-person.

Stay connected to healthcare and lifestyle facilities and services

Access an extensive directory of healthcare and lifestyle facilities and services, such as locations of polyclinics, healthy food places and sports facilities. There's even a tool that assesses whether you are at risk for diabetes.

Earn and accumulate Healthpoints

Sharing health articles or events from HealthHub on your social media platforms can earn you Healthpoints, which can be converted into rewards such as NTUC LinkPoints.

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HealthHub is a Singaporeans' "digital healthcare companion", providing one-stop access to their personal medical records, links to healthcare services and...

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Singapore Industry Landscape, Industries, Singapore industries, World of Work, Work, Singapore Jobs, Jobs, Pathways

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WSDeg allows students to acquire deep, work-relevant skills that help in transition to the workplace upon graduation