Virtual reality (VR) is not new and has been portrayed in science fiction ("IMDA helping firms think out of the box using latest tech"; Oct 1, and "Using virtual reality to get more people to cycle"; Sept 17).

Singapore now has a great opportunity to jump straight to the forefront of the VR market, by doing research and development into how VR can be incorporated in both teaching and future assessment in education.

Two areas are geography and science. Senior subject experts can form a committee to team up with polytechnics to see how current educational content can be programmed into VR, and to explore the possibility of incorporating a VR portion in future examination questions.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises can also do research and development to ensure that VR devices are portable, lightweight and cost-effective for all students.

On a national level, the Info-communications Media Development Authority of Singapore can create a globally recognised communication platform for VR devices to be used for educational assessment and in examinations.

We are deep into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Let us not be left behind and end up solely as end users with no influence on direction.

Colin Ong Tau Shien