- Joined
- Jul 14, 2008
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GMS comments on the SimplyGoneCase Saga. 
SimplyGoneCase Saga
Some people say we should UPGRADE to HIGH Tech solution like SimplyGo because we want "progress" to become Smart City.
I guess these people are missing the point altogether.
We are not against progress for the society but the New Technology must serve the people's interests and welfare, not the other way round.
1) Most of the time, there are promises of fanciful functions for new technology but the key is, at what cost? Are these functions necessary?
2) Most importantly, are there any compromises on old trusted functionality?
3) Does it serve ALL the people it is supposed to serve?
SimplyGo promises some functions which the people didn't need previously. Using App to add and remove cards, make payments for Top Up, open up usability of credit cards, Apple Pay all other possible electronic wallets for payment of public transport fares etc.
What are the ADDITIONAL COST of implementing SimplyGo vs the tested and trusted EZ link cards? This is not revealed but only the cost of maintaining EZ Link system is put up!
The "additional high cost" of maintaining 2 systems actually comes from the introduction of SimplyGo instead of the pioneer EZ Link!
NOT EVERYONE could benefit from the additional new SimplyGO functions as many don't have credit cards.
There are also concerns on privacy, security and reliability of the SimplyGo system.
It has proven to be unreliable as we can see from the many negative reviews. Wrong deductions of fare, slow updates of trip fares and details while no immediate display of trip fares when it has a track record of wrong deductions!
If everyone is to check on the fares of their trips each and everytime they exit from their MRT or buses, then there will be more access to the system which seems to have insufficient bandwidth!
It is just a matter of time SimplyGo system will crash.
The cost of maintaining such high volume bandwidth as well as hardware to ensure that trip fare data are updated instantly will be humongous.
It is just like trying to an expensive high tech controller with Lazer cutter to help you cut your meat to precise weight as compared to just using your own trusted Chef knife to cut the meat.
High Tech system should not just be used for the sake of being High Tech and should not be adopted Blindly without full consideration on social impact, tangible and intangible costs to BOTH users as well as operators.
Apparently for this SimplyGoneCase Saga, MOT and LTA are only looking at very superficial benefits to customers, ignoring the more important aspects of public concerns while trying to score points for being First and Smart City without much brain.
Goh Meng Seng
4 d ·SimplyGoneCase Saga
Some people say we should UPGRADE to HIGH Tech solution like SimplyGo because we want "progress" to become Smart City.
I guess these people are missing the point altogether.
We are not against progress for the society but the New Technology must serve the people's interests and welfare, not the other way round.
1) Most of the time, there are promises of fanciful functions for new technology but the key is, at what cost? Are these functions necessary?
2) Most importantly, are there any compromises on old trusted functionality?
3) Does it serve ALL the people it is supposed to serve?
SimplyGo promises some functions which the people didn't need previously. Using App to add and remove cards, make payments for Top Up, open up usability of credit cards, Apple Pay all other possible electronic wallets for payment of public transport fares etc.
What are the ADDITIONAL COST of implementing SimplyGo vs the tested and trusted EZ link cards? This is not revealed but only the cost of maintaining EZ Link system is put up!
The "additional high cost" of maintaining 2 systems actually comes from the introduction of SimplyGo instead of the pioneer EZ Link!
NOT EVERYONE could benefit from the additional new SimplyGO functions as many don't have credit cards.
There are also concerns on privacy, security and reliability of the SimplyGo system.
It has proven to be unreliable as we can see from the many negative reviews. Wrong deductions of fare, slow updates of trip fares and details while no immediate display of trip fares when it has a track record of wrong deductions!
If everyone is to check on the fares of their trips each and everytime they exit from their MRT or buses, then there will be more access to the system which seems to have insufficient bandwidth!
It is just a matter of time SimplyGo system will crash.
The cost of maintaining such high volume bandwidth as well as hardware to ensure that trip fare data are updated instantly will be humongous.
It is just like trying to an expensive high tech controller with Lazer cutter to help you cut your meat to precise weight as compared to just using your own trusted Chef knife to cut the meat.
High Tech system should not just be used for the sake of being High Tech and should not be adopted Blindly without full consideration on social impact, tangible and intangible costs to BOTH users as well as operators.
Apparently for this SimplyGoneCase Saga, MOT and LTA are only looking at very superficial benefits to customers, ignoring the more important aspects of public concerns while trying to score points for being First and Smart City without much brain.
