Real traffic info where art thou?

YOU see them in major roads and highways, but most of the time they're either not working or not giving the much needed information to road users.

I'm referring to the sophisticated traffic electronic display known as ITIS, a short form for Integrated Transport Information System (ITIS), which are designed and implemented to make driving easier and more convinient.

However, after millions of ringgit spent to set up the system, it's sad to know that only a portion of them are working (see NST Street's report http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/Streets/Tuesday/Stories/2458018/Article/index_html).

The system not working is one thing (maybe due to wire theft, network down, etc), but as a road user, I find that most of the time these traffic electronic displays fail to display (most of the time) information relevant to motorists.

For example, you do not want to see the system displaying “Pandu Cermat Jiwa Selamat” or “Berhati hati di Jalan Raya” or even worst “Untuk Maklumat Trafik sila layari www.........”. People already know that.

It's okay to have this reminder once in a while, but not 70 percent of the time, especially when your are stuck in a bumper to bumper wondering what's happening ahead, and what you see displayed on the system is “Ingatlah Yang Tersayang”.

What people want is the condition of the roads and connecting roads 10 to 20 kms away or if there's an accident or roadworks ahead, before they turn into the road or highway. This will give them enough time to make route adjustment.

System such as ITIS was developed to enable informed decisions to be made on travel such as on choice of routes, modes and schedules.
It's capable of capturing real-time traffic information for incident management and long-term transport planning and helps to alleviate traffic congestion and delays during the rush hour and in emergency situations. So it should perform what it is intended to do.

When the number of cars, motorbikes, lorries, and buses keep flooding our roads and increasing in numbers, it's good to have an efficient and relevant traffic information system.

Malaysian “Pixar” becoming a reality?

WHILE channel surfing the TV last night, I came across this preview of a soon-to-be-shown three-dimensional (3D) animated movie, called Geng The Movie with Upin & Ipin on Channel 4 Astro.

It's about an adventurous journey of a group of Kampung kids into the world mystery.
At first I didn't believe that this is a local production based on the quality of the movie, mmmm.... it's almost near Hollywood's 3D films like Nemo, Cars, The Incredible, (I'm just exaggerating here), but the truth is the international quality is there, and I was just watching it from my normal 29-inch TV.

What amazed me is that the characters in the movie look alive and with emotions – the facial expressions, the movements, voice over, and the surroundings in the film look perfect too.
The production house that produces the movie is Les' Copaque or some would pronounce it Last Copac (which in Bahasa Pasar means last minute).

I've heard about this company a couple of years ago when covering ICT-related events especially those related to Multimedia Development Corporation (MdeC), but never had the chance to meet up with the people behind it.

I know that MDeC has been nurturing local technoprenuers (that is IT entrepreneurs) to enhance the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative and has been giving out grants and technology assistance to those who are interested to pursue business in the ICT area, and generating 3D content is one of the focus areas.

At first I thought some famous local film producers may have been involved in the making of this animated movie, but I was wrong.

Les' Copaque was made up of energetic youngsters, fresh graduates and even school kids that apparently have lots of talent.

The movie is said to have cost RM4 million to produce, but based on the quality, it's way cheaper than any Hollywood's animated 3D films.

Since producing such movie needs really powerful computers, it's good to know that Mimos (the country's R&D arm) has lend its hand to Les' Copaque by allowing the production house to use its Grid Computing facilities – which is a network of really powerful computers.

Kudos to Les' Copaque and all the talents behind it, MDeC, MOSTI, Mimos and others for making this first truly Malaysian 3D animated film a reality.

Who knows this film may be making its way to the Cannes Film Festival and put Malaysia in the spotlight in the international film arena.

Geng The Movie will start screening from Feb 12, 2008. Go watch it to support our first truly animated 3D film. I'm taking the whole family there.

Hello There

Hi, finally I have my own blog after years of reading people's entries.
Why Malaysian MoJo? This got to do with my job as a journalist with the New Straits Times.
Mojo is a short form for mobile journalist.
Most of the postings will be on happenings in the local ICT industry, but I will also talk about current issues.
Hope you'll enjoy this blog.

Izwan Ismail
Malaysian MoJo