NUS launches the first Computing Gallery in SE Asia dedicated to the early history of computing education in Singapore
The National University of Singapore School of Computing (NUS Computing) has unveiled a new Computing Gallery, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, which documents the nation’s computing education journey at Singapore’s flagship university, among other aspects of Information Technology (IT). The 120-sqm NUS Computing Gallery was officially launched by Dr Maliki Osman, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs.
The aim of the NUS Computing Gallery is three-fold: to showcase the history and evolution of computing education and its impact in the context of Singapore; to inform and educate the public about key ideas in computing; and to inspire the young to create a better world through IT.
“This initiative underscores the School’s and the University’s commitment to Singapore’s technological legacy, and commemorates the remarkable growth and accomplishments in computing education and IT over the decades. It will be a learning journey for visitors to revisit the interesting and now obsolete gadgets of the past before the advent of modern-day devices. We are indeed most appreciative of our generous donors who have contributed a number of items for exhibit at the Gallery,” said Professor Tan Kian Lee, Dean of NUS School of Computing.
The creation of the Gallery was led by Associate Professor Terence Sim, Director of the NUS Computing Gallery, in collaboration with NUS Libraries. Conceptualisation and preparation for the Gallery started in 2022 and the entire showcase was completed in December 2023.
The exhibition is curated around three main themes:
- Historical: Life before the Internet and technology; and the evolution of computing at a global level
- Education: History of Singapore’s computing education through the decades; and the impact of educational programmes on Singapore’s changing IT landscape
- Industry: How industry has been transformed by IT
Before visiting the Gallery, visitors are encouraged to first view the display at the lobby of COM1, which comprises three sections: Innovations through the Ages; Computing Milestones in NUS; and Desks of a Computing Student – Then and Now.
The setting up of the NUS Computing Gallery was made possible through the generous contributions of individuals and organisations who shared their valuable insights, collections of historical IT gadgets, and visual materials with the School. The National Heritage Board provided funding support for the Gallery, and the School collaborated with Seagate Technology, Singapore Airlines and Joysteak Studios, a Singapore-based indie game studio, on three exhibits in the Gallery respectively.
“Seagate is honoured to collaborate with the National University of Singapore School of Computing on the NUS Computing Gallery. This project reflects our commitment to preserving technological heritage and illuminating the evolution of computing, that is intricately interwoven with the advancements in data storage technologies, notably hard drives. Furthermore, it highlights the ingenuity and dedication of our engineers. We hope the exhibition inspires visitors to continue to explore and drive innovation,” said Mr Barish Chakravarty, Senior Engineering Director, Seagate Research Group at Seagate.
“The exhibits will be refreshed periodically to showcase other historical artefacts and how different industry sectors in Singapore have benefited from IT. We will also incorporate more interactivity with the visitors,” said Assoc Prof Sim. “As interest grows, we hope to increase our floor space in tandem.”
The Gallery opens from Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11 am to 5 pm, and admission is free. More information on the Gallery is available at comgallery.nus.edu.sg/.
Capturing the history and evolution of IT in Singapore
The Gallery comprises about 100 artefacts displayed across 10 sections to illustrate Singapore’s IT story at significant milestones. One of the highlights at the Gallery is a life-size replica of the IBM 1130 – the first mainframe computer used at Nanyang University and the University of Singapore to simplify administrative processes. The IBM 1130 also marked the start of local tertiary-level computing education in Singapore.
“In the old days, we could not just type in a computer programme and get the results immediately like what we do today. We had to punch a card – every card is one statement in the programme. We would submit a deck of cards to the operator and we would get the results the next day. If you made a mistake, you would need to punch the card again. So, this was a time consuming and costly process,” recounted Associate Professor Tan Sun Teck, who is among the third batch of Singapore’s locally-trained computing graduates. Assoc Prof Tan is currently a faculty member in NUS Computing’s Department of Computer Science.
There is a section dedicated to the evolution of computing education in Singapore. Here, visitors will learn how developments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) had shaped the curriculum of NUS Computing.
Besides serving as a heritage showcase, the Gallery aims to be a vibrant place for activities such as school visits, talks and workshops, as well as space for student discussions. For a start, visitors to the Gallery can try out the Songbird Symphony video game, which was developed by four alumni from NUS Computing. This is a musical adventure game that combines platforming and rhythm gameplay mechanics to emulate a Disneyesque storytelling experience.
Please refer to the Annexe for more information on the various exhibits.