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| Youngsters check out mobile technology solutions in an SK Telecom T.um Mobile booth located in the National Museum of Korea, downtown Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom |
‘T.um Mobile' provides rural students with opportunity to experience ICT
By Kim Yoo-chul
SK Telecom launched a year-long "T.um Mobile" tour Wednesday as part of its campaign to address the nation's regional digital divide.
It will establish mobile booths to provide youngsters in rural areas and small cities with opportunities to experience advanced Internet and telecom technologies via the new travelling format, T.um.
T.um is the symbol of the company's information communication technology (ICT).
SK Telecom identified "ICT-nomics" as one of its key growth strategies over the next three decades. This refers to transformational changes in life triggered by the technological convergence between big data infrastructure, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.
SKT said the T.um Mobile campaign is aimed at narrowing the educational opportunity gaps between urban and rural students. Rural tour stops will focus on schools and student groups.
Visitors to the T.um Mobile kiosks will have an opportunity to understand the concepts of information technologies of the past, present and future.
The Past Section houses a lot of mobile devices that were released over the past three decades.
The Present Section highlights today's key information technologies pushed by the company, such as ICT in healthcare, smart robots and augmented reality shopping.
Visitors can experience the concept of a future home containing advanced technology, such as three-dimensional (3D) printers, holograms and ICT devices in the "Future Section."
The "Academic Section" offers software learning courses.
SK Telecom teamed up with the National Museum of Korea.
The collaboration is calling for curators in the museum to explain the history behind artifacts and lead discussion sessions as T.um Mobile will use equipment to show pre-eminent works displayed in the museum.
"During the first one-year tour, T.um Mobile will travel to 20 locations. We will visit the venue of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon," said Yoon Yong-chul, head of SK Telecom's public relations office.
It will also establish mobile booths in rural areas such as Haenam in South Jeolla Province and Taeback in Gangwon Province.
T.um, launched in 2008, has had nearly 57,000 visitors including students, tourists and company officials.
SK Telecom has sought to grow the Internet of Things and the healthcare business as key drivers in fleshing out its ICT-nomics.
"In the mid- to long-term perspective, we are about to witness a drastic change in the ICT ecosystem comprising the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data," Yoon said.
The company will refrain from providing illegal subsidies in the telecom market and instead lead a paradigm shift towards product and service centric competition.
"We will lead the ICT-nomics by developing new businesses in line with customer needs," he said.
