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In 1997, the Singapore government developed its e-citizen center portal. From a single education services package in 1997, the portal grew gradually and by April 1999 it included 49 life events with about 150 transactions possible on the site. Once a citizen logs on to the portal, his/her connection speed is automatically detected and graphics are adjusted accordingly. The citizen is led down on a road of life, along which he or she can stop at signs that indicate a series of life events. At the first sign, citizens can apply for a birth certificate and find out about immunizing their child. Subsequent life events involve attending school, registering for national service, looking for a job, pursuing career, going overseas, employing people and finally, retirement.
Each life event has a corresponding virtual town or building that a citizen can enter. For example, in the Education Town, students can sign up to attend schools, register for national exams, request a place in student hostels and apply for government grants. At Health Town, patients can book appointments with a doctor or dentist, register for admission at the Singapore General Hospital, obtain weight and height charts, and even purchase handbooks and cassette tapes on health and fitness. In Business Town, companies can apply for patents, submit applications for industrial facilities and apply for research and training grants for IT professionals and students. In Housing Town, people can apply to get their telephone and other utilities connected, inform government of a change of address and have their mail redirected. They can also receive information on renting or buying publicly subsidized apartments. Employment Town integrates work-related services such as applying for jobs, recruitment, retirement, and training. People can also post job vacancies, file income tax returns, and request social security statements. The three agencies responsible for overseas travel are joined together in Transportation Town, along with organizations dealing with domestic transport. Citizens can apply for a passport, notify the authorities of an overseas trip and apply for an exit permit as well as order a taxi, take an online driver's test and renew their vehicle registration.
Singapore has been able to deliver a high level of integrated, transactional public services more easily than most governments because it is a small country with a single layer of government and a highly developed technological infrastructure. Its population of just 3.8 million people is financially secured, educated and computer literate.
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