Hong Kong shows off latest in locally made apps

@Hong Kong Smart Airport

In an effort to make Hong Kong International Airport friendly to visitors, the facility has developed the “HKG My Flight” mobile application to track your luggage in real time. Time spent standing at the luggage belt can now be reduced by the app alerting you when the suitcases are coming.

Tourists could also use the app to translate text signs written in English and Mandarin languages into other languages, including Thai and Indonesian, said an airport official.

 

@Smart City

To reduce air pollution from traffic on the Island, the Hong Kong government is promoting the use of electric vehicles (EV), and that has led to variety of new products and services aimed at creating a “smart city”.

For example, the Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre (APAS) funded by the Hong Kong Administration, has developed a portable charger kit for EV. The handheld EV charger with a proprietary AC power socket through wireless authentication.

The driver could simply plug the charger into a nearby PCK socket and get medium-fast charge for the vehicle after parking.

It replaces the traditional bulky wall mounted AC chargers, resulting in low-cost and easy installation and maintenance . 

APAS has also developed a smart streetlamp project that uses a wireless network to control and monitor streetlamps. Its key features include remote on/off control of streetlamps; voltage, current and power measurement of individual street lamps; dimming control and automatic detection of malfunctioning streetlamps and report alerts.

 Hong Kong companies are also developing many new products and services, which were demonstrated at the event.

 

@Smart Eyeshade

A smart eyeshade designed to enhance quality of sleep is being developed by the Hong Kong Enter Trade Technology Co. Named “Luuna”, the shade is equipped with special sensors that could capture the user’s brainwave activity with electroencephalography (EEG) technology in real time. The data is then transferred to an application embedded with an AI algorithm and machine learning ability. The app will determine and play music tailored to the user to help them relax and get better sleep.

The company is now raising funds through the Kickstarter platform with a target retail price of US$127 (Bt3,953). The company has already launched an eyeshade product for naptime at a $149 price tag.

 

@DIY tool for creating animation

GoAnimate Hong Kong Ltd has developed an animation tool for DIY video. It is very simple as it is designed for non-technical users. No coding is needed – users just use a mouse and the drag-and-drop tool to create video, said Billy Chung, director of business development.

He said his company is now focused on business clients after a previous effort to reach individual consumers. The monthly subscription fee is $39 (Bt1214) and annual fees are $300 for the basic version. Free trails are available.

The tool would allow simple production of animated videos that could be posted on popular social media and other channels. Animation can be an effective tool to communicate complicated issues more easily than using text alone, said Chung.

Users could use their own language as the company employs text-to-speech technology owned by Amazon. 

Customers have used the tool to create 22 million videos since the company launched in 2007. “Most of our customers are in North American and Europe, accounting for 80 per cent,” said Chung. 

The company has research and development facilities in Hong Kong and a sales office in the Silicon Valley of the United States.