Asylum designs office of the future

<P>Leading IT companies Microsoft, Intel and Fujitsu have pitched in to conceptualise the 'Office of the Future', kicking off a S$2 billion (US$1.2 billion) government masterplan to bring the city-state up to speed in terms of office design. </P> <P>Fondly known as 'Genie', the prototype workspace represents a futuristic, IT-enabled office that will be used by civil executives by 2010. </P> <P>Sixteen prototype technologies, developed by the IT companies, are featured in Genie.</P> <P>Singapore design shop Asylum advised on the design of the office, re-shaping office walls and doors to integrate high-tech gadgets such as eye scans, palm-vein readers and electronic e-papers. </P> <P>"Anyone walking into Genie will get a powerful and people-ready experience of futuristic productivity," said Barney Lau, managing director of Microsoft Singapore. </P> <P>The initiative is led by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), Genie will be available to viewing by upcoming IMF/World Bank delegates to experience Singapore's costly attempt to hasten infocomm deployment. <BR></P>