How Singapore played a role in developing Dyson’s advanced CameraJet toothbrush
Dyson does not make such claims lightly: its engineers partnered with the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Dentistry to develop “proxy plaque”. With this proxy plaque, it was possible to test and iterate the CameraJet’s plaque-blasting capabilities, without the hassle of running multiple clinical trials on real human mouths.
In fact, much of the development for the device – which was six years in the making – happened right here in Singapore, at Dyson’s St James Power Station global headquarters.
Out of 661 Dyson engineers who worked on the CameraJet, some 300 were based in Singapore. Additionally, 43 Singapore-based inventors are named on 25 of the 38 patents filed for the product.
The work done in Singapore included – but was not limited to – technology development, design engineering, rapid prototyping, colours, materials, and finishes engineering, acoustics testing, product testing and user trials.
Head of design engineering Steven Ong, a Singaporean who has been with the company since 2011, was part of the team based here.
Ong, 40, has also worked on Dyson products such as the Supersonic hair dryer and the Airwrap multi-styler range.
“I’m really proud to see this product finally go out, and the huge work done by the Singapore team, together with the global team (to make it happen),” he tells The Straits Times during a visit to its Singapore headquarters in late August.
“I think people will be amazed to see how much we’ve managed to pack into such a compact, ergonomic device,” he adds.
“It condenses a whole (dental) routine that normally takes 10 to 15 minutes into a two to three-minute session, where everything is done for you automatically (by the device).”
Work on a bigger wetland habitat in Gardens by the Bay will begin in the first quarter of 2027, which will triple the number of mangroves and coastal plants there.
Wetlands by the Bay will be opened by end-2028 in tandem with the new Bay East Garden, as well as a bridge linking pedestrians and cyclists between Marina Centre and the upcoming Founders' Memorial.
Speaking in Parliament during his ministry's budget debate on Wednesday (March 4), Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said that the new 5 ha Wetlands by the Bay is an expansion on current Kingfisher Wetlands attraction.
Opened in 2021, the 1.5 ha attraction has more than 200 mangroves, including some critically endangered species.
Tan, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said that the new amenities include a canopy boardwalk over the wetlands which connects Gardens by the Bay MRT station to attractions within Bay South Garden.
Glade Lawn, a new community green space, will host event and activities for visitors to unwind.
In a media factsheet, Gardens by the Bay said international art collective teamLab will open its flagship museum with a "multi-sensory pedal kayak experience".
"Blending installations with natural landscapes, the experience will take visitors on a journey through wetlands habitats," said Gardens by the Bay.
Its spokesperson told AsiaOne that the museum will be "purpose built" and not a pop-up.