2 Things You Didn't Know Singapore Made: A Talking PC And A Rollei Camera | On The Red Dot

Key Concepts

• Singapore's Industrial History: The video explores Singapore's past as a manufacturing hub, particularly in electronics and camera production.
• Made in Singapore Products: Highlighting items designed and manufactured locally, showcasing Singapore's technological capabilities.
• Technological Advancement: Tracing the evolution of technology in Singapore, from early computers to modern devices.
• Cultural Impact: Examining how technology influenced Singaporean society, education, and daily life.
• Personal Memories: Connecting historical artifacts with personal stories and family histories.
• National Heritage: Emphasizing the importance of preserving historical items as part of Singapore's national identity.

Cubic 99: The World's First Talking Computer

• Introduction: The hosts visit a house filled with numerous historical items, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
• The Item: The focus is on the Cubic 99, introduced as the world's first talking computer, released in 1984.
• Functionality: The computer could speak in English and translate to Chinese, making it a useful tool for teaching Chinese.
• Historical Context: The Cubic 99 was created in response to the "Speak Mandarin" campaign launched in 1979 by Singapore's previous prime minister, encouraging the use of Mandarin over dialects.
• Made in Singapore: The computer was designed and assembled in Singapore using internationally sourced components, including a locally made motherboard.
• Demonstration: The hosts demonstrate the computer's typing function, noting the satisfying tactile feedback and sound of the keyboard.
• Personal Connection: The owner, Brenda, shares that her father bought the computer for the family, and they initially mistook it for a small TV. She primarily used it to play games like Load Runner.
• Commercial Failure: The Cubic 99 was not a commercial success due to price wars with clones.
• Creative's Shift: This led Creative to focus on audio technology, resulting in the development of the Sound Blaster card, which brought them international recognition.

Rollei Camera: Singapore's Photographic History

• Introduction: The hosts examine a Rollei SL35ME camera, purchased around 1973.
• Made in Singapore: The camera was manufactured in Singapore in the 1970s, a fact that surprises one of the hosts.
• Rollei's Significance: Rollei, a renowned German photographic company, established a presence in Singapore in 1971 and operated for about 10 years.
• Skills Transfer: Rollei brought precision engineering, tool and die skills, and optical manufacturing skills to Singapore, which were previously lacking.
• Employment: The camera production provided significant employment to Singaporeans, with approximately 13,000 to 14,000 people employed at its peak.
• Historical Context: Singapore was transitioning from a labor-intensive economy to a higher value-added one, and Rollei's investment brought new technology and know-how.
• First SLR: The SL35ME was the first single-lens reflex camera built by Rollei in Singapore, designed and built locally.
• State Gift: Queen Elizabeth II was presented with gold-plated Rollei cameras as state gifts during a visit to Singapore in 1972 and was photographed using them.
• Group Photo: The hosts take a group photo using the Rollei camera.

Fairchild Employee Handbook: A Glimpse into Factory Life

• Introduction: The hosts visit the Heritage Conservation Center to view a Fairchild employee handbook.
• Security: The handbook is stored under tight security, requiring face recognition and staff escort for access.
• Fairchild's Role: Fairchild, an American semiconductor MNC, established a factory in Singapore in 1969 at the invitation of the EDB (Economic Development Board).
• Personal Connection: Jeffrey donated the handbook, which belonged to his mother, who worked as a factory operator at Fairchild for over 10 years.
• Shift Work: His mother worked the graveyard shift (11 PM to 7 AM) to earn a shift allowance of $3 per day.
• State Property: Once donated to the National Museum of Singapore, the handbook became state property, hence the high security.
• Content: The handbook contains policies and guidelines for employees, with illustrations primarily featuring women, reflecting the workforce composition in electronics factories.
• Historical Significance: The handbook represents the contributions of many Singaporeans, particularly women, to the country's industrialization.
• Refuting Stereotypes: The handbook challenges the notion that women were solely homemakers during the nation-building phase, highlighting their role in the workforce.

C. Kunalan's Omega Watch: A Symbol of Athletic Achievement

• Surprise Guest: The hosts are surprised by the arrival of C. Kunalan, a legendary Singaporean athlete.
• The Item: Kunalan presents an Omega watch, engraved with "Mr. C. Kunalan, Sportsman of the Year 1968 from Singapore AAA."
• Significance: Kunalan was named Sportsman of the Year in 1968 due to his outstanding athletic performance, including running 10.38 seconds in the 100m at the Olympic Games.
• National Record: His 100m record stood for 33 years.
• Award Money: Kunalan received $5,000 for each Sportsman of the Year award (1968 and 1969), which went to the Singapore Amateur Athletic Association (now Singapore Athletics).
• Gift: The association gifted him the Omega watch in 1969 as a token of appreciation.
• Living Legend: The hosts express their admiration for Kunalan and his enthusiasm.

Conclusion

• Rollei Photo Reveal: The hosts reveal the developed photos taken with the Rollei camera to Dr. Maga, who expresses his satisfaction with the results.
• Phone Card Gift: Dr. Maga presents a phone card as a gift, hinting at the significance of the person featured on it.
• Main Takeaways: The video highlights the importance of preserving historical artifacts to understand Singapore's industrial past, technological advancements, and the contributions of its people. It connects personal stories with national history, emphasizing the cultural impact of these items.