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Approaching the 21st century, modern life is modified by rapid technological advancement. New inventions bring about automation in office, industry and at home, and the exhibition "Systems Engineered City" demonstrated some of its fruits. Telecommunication is developing quickly in Hong Kong. Remote workstation access enables people to send and receive information at any time, anywhere. |
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Mr. Joseph Poon, acting senior consultant of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, said, "One can connect his personal computer to his company's computers.
"This releases the potential labour force. For example, housewives can work without going to offices, thus benefiting societies with labor shortages.
A visitor of the exhibition, Mr. Lau Hoi Keung, said, "The remote workstation access is particularly good for conferences. You can get the information immediately even if you forget to bring a document. It is very efficient and accurate."
The fax machine also improves accessibility of information. They have become a must in offices. The "fax on a desktop", the latest development, is a step forward for the transmission of information.
With a computer, a modem, a scanner, a server and international phone lines, documents can be sent worldwide.
More, recievers can view them on screen before printing. Hence, much paper is saved.
"It is effective and time-saving. It also lowers the costs if you fax during midnight," Mr.Lau added.
Meanwhile, another invention, this one called "View Point", facilitates different departments' getting and updating information at the same time.
"View Point betters the communication within the administrative and managing circle," said Mr. Wong.
"It helps them to adjust their work and thus helps the personnel to make the best decision.
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"It results in more effective use of resources and lowered cost," he said. The exhibition also demonstrated inventions that help keeping confidentiality of information for instance, the identification systems which check a person's unique characteristics like the fingerprints. Mr. Colin Hunt, product manager of International Computers Limited (Hong Kong), explained why they are more secure than non-biometric systems. |
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"The non-biometric systems only check passwords or key patterns which can be stolen or duplicated, whereas biometric systems check intruders' fingerprints." The above technologies help linking and storing information. Measures of how to present information are also considered especially in the commercial world, a good presentation secures business sales. |
In the past, projectors and slides were common devices in a presentation. Now, with a computer, some software, a projector and a liquid crystal display, the presentation will be more vivid.
The vice president of the Systems Engineered City Exhibition, Mr. Horance Wong Siu Wing, said, "The vision can be colourful with sound background. You can also create fade-in and fade-out effects.
"An animated presentation would be more persuasive," said he.
People with poor typing skills can also be helped with voice-activated multimedia.
When one speaks through a microphone, the computer types the words accordingly.
According to Maxland Computer Systems Limited Account Executive Chris Chan, when one speaks through the microphone, the computer connected will type the words accordingly. It can type up to 40 words per minute. And the more a person uses it, the more accurate and faster it would become.
A visitor, Mr. Wong Ching Wan, commented, "The typing speed is not too slow, but, of course, people type faster.
"Besides, it is troublesome to take two hours to familarize the computer with your tone. However, it is very useful for the handicapped."
With the improvement in writing, there are also products upgrading imagery. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing programs have replaced drafting tables.
In the past, one designed a product with a pen and a paper. Now, according to Mr. Poon of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, designs can be done in a computer.
Before a product is sent to the production line, it can be simulated in the computer first. This helps to reduce possible design errors.
"With computer-aided manufacturing, less labour is needed. Also, standardization levels are high, thus securing quality," said Mr. Poon.
Computer-aided design can also be employed in the film industry. For instance, films like Jurassic Park and Terminator II made use of computer graphic techniques to create special effects.
The software also helps the publishing industry. Photos can be digitized, so one can combine two photos or make changes to them in the computer, said Mr. Poon.
A child visitor, Cheng Ming Hin, 7, likes this technology very much. He said, "It is very interesting. It can change my face. I like to play with it."
Besides invention for business and industries, inventions for leisure were also exhibited.
One example was "Video on Demand". It enables people to have film entertainment without going to cinemas or video rental stores.
According to a spokesperson for Hong Kong Telecom Limited, people can choose a program on the television screen using a remote control. The devices needed are a television, a modem, a decoder and a telephone line. Visual signals are transmitted through the telephone cables.
"It is a 24-hour-service. As it is an interactive system, people can stop or revise a program," said the spokesperson.
However, the technology is still on trial. No country is providing this kind of service so far.
Simliar ideas such as home shopping, home banking and interactive games can be done by personal communication with a visual interface using the Viewcam Teleport, but this is not yet in use in Hong Kong. To use it, both the sender and the receiver need to have a viewcam, a teleport and the telephone line.
