LED Panels Installed as Smart Nation Goal
Conventional noticeboards at lift lobbies are being replaced by smart LED video-information screens to aid in improving communication with residents
LED panels may soon be replacing all noticeboards at HDB lift landings
By Ria Riana
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Light-emitting diode (LED) video-information screens have replaced noticeboards at lift landings for better communication with residents, but the idea may not be welcomed.
The LED panels were first installed in the Chua Chu Kang GRC and extended to the
Hong Kah North SMC in December last year.
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Singapore Press Holdings and China’s Focus Media Holding came together and launched a joint venture company called Target Media Culcreative Pte Ltd to develop the smart in-elevator media delivery platform.
The aim of the LED panels is to increase the effectiveness of resident engagement efforts.
The content will be produced by the Choa Chu Kang Town Council (CCKTC), governmental agencies and community organisations.
The LED panels will stream content ranging from local events such as the National Day Celebrations and children’s carnivals and weekly news headlines from The Straits Times such as “What is fake news?”.
Mr Jeremy Foo, CCKTC’s Corporate Communications Manager, said that the benefits of the LED screens are effective communications, localised news and targeted content in informing residents of their immediate neighbourhood and in a timely manner.
Crucial announcements such as upgrading works, dengue outbreaks and water supply outages will also be shared with the residents through the LED panels.
The first instalment of the LED screens took place in December last year but not many seemed to be happy about it.
Members of Hardware Zone Singapore, an online forum, and Facebook users criticised the instalment of the LED panels.
Comments ranged from the netizens include the waste of the extravagant spending as well as the ineffectiveness of the LED panels due to the short amount of time residents spend in the elevators.
Hardware Zone Singapore member, Kiwi8, commented: “How can anyone even defend this extravagant spending on the video screens? Are they even necessary?”
“Complete waste of money and useless,” a Facebook user commented at the Straits Times post.
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When asked about the cost of the LED screens, Mr Foo said, “CCKTC would like to reiterate that this initiative is at no cost to the Town Council. All costs will be borne by the successful tenderer.”
One of the many smart-LED panels installed in elevators
Ms Dharshini D/O Jayakrishnan, 19, resident of the Hong Kah North SMC, disagreed with the netizens’ comments and thought that the LED panels were extremely effective.
“[The] LED screens are more effective than the noticeboards as it attracts a larger scale of audience, especially children, because its digital advantages,” said Ms Dharshini.
Ms Nur Fatin Binte Sazali, 18, another resident of the Hong Kah North SMC also agreed that the LED panels were great investments.
“The screens are more eye-catching and thus, gets the immediate attention of the residents,” Ms Fatin said.
However, Ms Fatin added that the LED panels will only be effective in the short run.
“Similar to how the residents ignore the information on the noticeboards, they will eventually ignore the information and notices shown on the LED screens,” Ms Fatin said.
To ensure the effectiveness of the LED panels, the CCKTC has initiated the “Content Management” effort.
“In this respect, the content will be created tastefully and refreshed weekly,” Mr Foo said in response.
While residents of the CCK GRC and Hong Kah North SMC can expect fresh and unique content on the LED panels every week, others can expect new LED panels right in their HDB elevators.
The results of a survey conducted in the neighbourhood in Hong Kah North SMC