21 IN FOCUS IELM Competition Fosters Enterprising Toy Design Android App Contest Sparks Computer Science Interest The Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management (IELM) and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CIVL) successfully co-organized the 17th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies (HKSTS) together with HKSTS, in December 2012. The conference was chaired by Prof Hong K Lo, CIVL, and co-chaired by Prof Ho Yin Mak, IELM. The three-day conference, regarded as one of the region’s most significant gatherings in the field, focused on the theme of “Transportation and Logistics Management”. Topics ranged from logistics and supply chain management to transportation planning and travel behavior. The event attracted more than 250 paper submissions from 35 countries, of which 140 were selected for presentation. Mr Shing Mu Yau, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, HKSAR Government, gave the keynote speech, which discussed the latest developments in the logistics and transportation sectors in Hong Kong. In addition, seven internationally renowned scholars delivered plenary speeches. Transportation Conference Draws Global Response The links between engineering and creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship were fruitfully highlighted in the first My Toy Design Competition, hosted by the Department of Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management (IELM). The contest, originated by IELM Associate Head Prof Ravindra Goonetilleke, attracted an overwhelming response, with 140 teams from local secondary schools and tertiary institutions participating. The initiative was also enthusiastically supported by industry. In the first round of the competition, each team’s toy design proposal was assessed by a judging panel, comprising international toy professionals and designers, and 23 teams eventually selected to take part in the final. To assist finalists and encourage the public to learn more about the toy business, a four-day workshop was held at HKUST in March, with top industrialists and professionals involved in innovative design and toy manufacturing sharing their experience. At the final evaluation in May, each team was given 15 minutes to present their concept and explain the design of their toy. Entries were assessed on play value, creativity, marketability and aesthetics, with the eventual Gold, Silver and Bronze award-winners all from the Hong Kong Design Institute. Two Special Awards were also given to two teams of students from Sha Tin Government Secondary School, who showed thoughtfulness and empathy in designing toys for visually impaired children. Over 100 distinguished guests and students attended the award presentation ceremony at HKUST in June. An exhibition showcasing the winning and finalist entries was held after the ceremony. More than 200 students and teachers from 40 secondary schools had the valuable opportunity to boost their computer science and presentation skills by taking part in the innovative Android Application Design Contest, co-organized by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers. The annual contest seeks to raise students’ interest in computer science and teamwork through designing Android apps. A series of workshops at HKUST is included to teach students about the relevant hardware, software, and programming language. In the competition final in February, around 100 participants from 20 schools gave a brief account of their product to judges and the five best teams were selected to demonstrate their apps and give detailed presentations. Entries included apps related to mosquito repellent, artificial intelligence, and Chinese medicine. The champion award went to the “Little Painter” app by a team from Christian Alliance S C Chan Memorial College. This app also received the Best User Interface Award and the Best Presentation Award. Little Painter is designed to help children to paint pictures. Eleven awards were presented in total.
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