IDA Develops Common Infrastructure for Animation Industry

IN A FURTHER BOOST to its Digital Exchange initiative, IDA is galvanising the animation industry players to develop a common IT infrastructure to grow the animation business in Singapore. IDA's Digital Exchange initiative aims to position Singapore as a global distribution hub and trading centre for the processing, management and distribution of digital assets.

Working in tandem with the Singapore infocomm Technology Federation- Digital Media Chapter (SiTF-DMC), IDA recently held a half-day session with over 70 industry players to discuss ways to develop the Digital Exchange Common infrastructure (DXCF) for animation rendering.

At the session Mr Thomas Lim, Director of Games & Entertainment, IDA, said that IDA has adopted a two-pronged approach in positioning Singapore as a Digital Exchange. Firstly, by developing individual vertical sectors like digital cinema and online games and secondly by putting in place best-of-breed shared infocomm facilities and infrastructure to support Digital Exchange. He added that the animation rendering was one of the target areas that IDA is looking at to develop a common infocomm infrastructure. The potential in this area is promising, he added, with market research predicting US$70 billion in revenue for the global animation market by end 2005.

Mr Lim added that business users of the animation rendering facilities will come from both local and international markets, India was cited as an example of Singapore's potential market partner.

Invited speakers from various companies and organisations also shared their views. Professor Lawrence Wong, Director of the National Grid Office, said that grid computing could offer a suitable platform and technologies to power such shared animation rendering facilities. Mr Quentin Staes-Polet from IBM Digital Media Solutions Asia-Pacific, spoke about the business opportunities for animation rendering infrastructure and facilities, citing some offshore case studies.

A specific case study and showcase on a computer animation trailer was also presented by an institution of higher learning here, to demonstrate the local capabilities in developing both technical and creative aspects of animation.

Following this event, IDA and SiTF-DMC are encouraging animation industry players to cluster and collaborate in the various upcoming DXCF activities.

[Source: Singapore Wave Infocomm News from IDA Oct 2004]