VTC students showcase innovative works in InnoCarnival 2016
The Smart Airer has been jointly developed by graduates and students of the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), both VTC member institutions. All students or graduates of the HKDI Higher Diploma of Product Design and IVE Higher Diploma in Software Engineering and Higher Diploma in Multimedia, they have developed a product that allows its users to leave home without needing to worry about sudden weather changes that could affect their clothes left drying in the sunlight. The Smart Airer’s built-in moisture sensor is able to detect raindrops then activate a canopy to shield the clothing from the rain. Users can also control it remotely through smartphones.
The 3D Food Printing with Edible Ink project has been co-developed by students and teachers of the IVE Higher Diploma in Food Technology and Safety, who have formulated techniques for turning edible materials like chocolate, jelly, minced meat, cheese and pizza dough into a slurry, which can then be printed into exquisite 3D patterns based on individual preferences on food texture and nutritional needs. Apart from enhancing flavour and making the food more visually appealing, such an application of technology in the catering industry opens the door to food innovation and creates new business opportunities in food research and development. The project team hopes to use Chinese ingredients like white rice in the future to print out brand new food that can be offered to homes for the elderly to boost the appetites of elderly people and the chronically ill.
Meanwhile students and teachers of another VTC member institution, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), have co-developed a Self-Cleaning Glass Coating. Glass curtains forming the outer wall of buildings are easily stained by dust and particulates. Dirt cannot be easily removed when raindrops combine with these pollutants. The innovative self-cleaning glass coating is a thin layer of transparent nanomaterial made of titanium oxide (TiO2). When applied to glass walls, it swiftly oxidises the organic pollutants, transforming them into non-toxic carbon dioxide (CO2) and water when sunlight, or light from lamps, falls on the wall. Raindrops falling on the glass surface will then form a thin water layer that washes away the pollutants. Unlike conventional glass, the coated glass can easily dry up raindrops without leaving imprints on the surface. The outer walls of buildings remain clean and shiny if the self-cleaning glass coating is applied. The product significantly reduces cleaning costs, especially for buildings with glass curtains.
Other teacher-student joint technological research projects include a Smart Robotic Companion for the Elderly 2.0, a Brand-new Healthy Ice-Cream for diabetic patients, a newly-developed Augmented Reality (AR) application called “Galaxy” and “JOY: Reconnecting Humans with Greenery”, an innovative design for on public seating and planters.
Under the theme “Smart Living．Innovative Hong Kong”, InnoCarnival 2016 run from today (29 October) to Sunday (6 November) at Hong Kong Science Park in Sha Tin. Members of the public are welcome to view the innovative projects by VTC member institutions THEi, IVE and HKDI. During the Carnival, academics and the public will explore research topics for the future together, including “Feeding the Future: Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming”, “Sustainable Agricultural Development in Hong Kong”, and “The Technology, Design and Future of Solar Powered Electric Vehicle – SOPHIE”.
Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) is the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in Hong Kong with some 250,000 students and trainees each year. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide support to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions, namely the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) , the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK) , the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) , the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) , the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) , Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI) , Chinese Cuisine Institute (CCI) , International Culinary Institute (ICI) , Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI) , Youth College , Pro-Act by VTC ,
Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC) and Shine Skills Centre.
VTC web site: www.vtc.edu.hk
Media enquiries: 2836 1046 / 2836 1790
