Hong Kong Stories - Inventors in Hong Kong
Unlocking the Secrets of Mushrooms
09/01/2024
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CONTENT
集數
EPISODES
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Reborn
Many believe that having children completes a family, and infertility remains a lifelong regret for countless couples. Driven by a passion for reproductive medicine, Lee Tin-lap began researching how to enhance the quality of eggs a decade ago, aiming to increase the success rate of in vitro fertilization and fulfil the dreams of many aspiring parents.
In 2018, Lee Tin-lap, then an associate professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the Chinese University's medical centre, discovered that mitochondria in women's menstrual blood could transfer energy to their eggs. This process can "mature" immature eggs within 12 hours, thereby enhancing the chances of conception. This ground-breaking egg preservation research was the first in the world to use menstrual blood's mitochondria to cultivate eggs without the need for egg donors or other invasive methods, avoiding ethical disputes and breaking a two-decade scientific impasse.
Earlier this year, Lee Tin-lap bid farewell to his ten-year teaching career, armed with his research accomplishments. He hoped to introduce his egg preservation technique to society but faced numerous challenges. This documentary episode delves into Lee Tin-lap’s world of scientific research, exploring his achievements and visions, while also addressing the rocky path of developing biotechnology in Hong Kong.02/01/2024Watch -
Tap to Plant
Gordon Tam, originally an architect and designer, crossed paths with Billy Lam, a coffee barista, due to their shared love for coffee. The two quickly bonded and decided to become urban farmers. Utilising technology, they established an indoor cultivation farm capable of growing nearly fifty diverse vegetable species in a soil-less, sunlight-free factory. Recently, they have also been exploring the implementation of hydroponic technology to cultivate traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.
In a world grappling with severe weather conditions and mounting concerns about food security, could technology pave the way for a new direction in the agricultural industry?26/12/2023Watch -
Metaverse Beings
The crossover of music and technology creates an infinite world of rapid changes. One person can create an entire world on their own.
With rapid technological advancements, music is constantly evolving. Kenneth Chau, the founder of a music platform, has dedicated the past 15 years to developing music and technology. In an effort to expand human imagination, he strives to merge the two by creating locally designed virtual idols.
There is a young girl group consisting of two members, each with their own virtual idol. As the girls dance to the music, their physical movements are captured through tight-fitting clothing and displayed on the internet in their virtual forms. No physical presence is required. With just virtual idols, the internet, and a venue in the Metaverse, singers can hold concerts from anywhere. This is not merely an online livestream! The key lies in image projection technology that broadcasts real-time 3D images of the singers. When physical movements are transformed into digital symbols, the performers become fluid, like water. They can travel through space one moment and be in a desert the next. The ethereal and ever-changing background constantly reshapes. Although physically separated, participants, each with their own avatars, can gather in the Metaverse venue to sing along with the performers or with everyone else in the venue. The Metaverse breaks down all physical barriers.
Virtual idols are more than just "moving figures". Computer technology can mimic mouth movements and facial expressions as singers perform. However, the replicas do not always evoke the same emotions. Real life is filled with diverse sensations and desires. Can technology and computer programming truly recreate them all? Kenneth Chau is also seeking an answer.
The concept of the Metaverse gradually transforms existing modes of human life and breaks down boundaries. Perhaps one day, every aspects of life, not only entertainment but also work, learning, shopping, and even grocery shopping can be done in the Metaverse, much like how the internet has become integrated into our lives today.
The era of the Metaverse has just begun. Kenneth Chau is like a pioneer in the Metaverse, venturing into an unknown world where the line between virtuality and reality is blurred. The impacts of "the next stage of the internet" bring about confusion, but Kenneth Chau yearns for the infinite "Utopia" that the Metaverse represents. The brave explorer is moving towards an obscure destination. All he knows is that in the Metaverse, bodies are mere shadows, and everyone is equal. Perhaps people can have their avatars, break down the barriers around them, and sprint towards a boundless Utopia where freedom, inclusion, and mutual respect are fully embraced.19/12/2023Watch -
More Than a Warm Bento
Wage earners in Hong Kong have little time for lunch, often spending a significant portion of it queuing for dine-in or takeaways. A local start-up has developed a bento vending machine with a patented hot-chain Internet-of-Things (IoT) system that keeps the food temperature above 60 degrees Celsius, aiming to provide warm bentos to workers.
Jason Chen, born in the 1980s, studied in snowy Hokkaido as an exchange student during his college years. There, he encountered his mentor, Professor Wada, whose recommendation helped him enter the master's program in electronic engineering at the University of Tokyo. Jason named his company after his mentor.
While studying in Japan, Jason had to be frugal and often bought discounted cold bentos from supermarkets before they closed. His modest dream for his company was to bring warmth to those who felt lonely. In 2008, Jason returned to Hong Kong and worked as a chip designer and electronic engineer at a semiconductor company, but he quit in 2019 to pursue his dream of starting a company before turning 40. The bento vending machine became his focus.
The machine, developed by his team, utilises hot-chain FoodTech technology by employing heating components and a thermal cycling system to maintain the temperature inside the airtight storage space at 65 degrees Celsius, ensuring the bentos stay above 60 degrees Celsius. Customers can immediately enjoy their meals without reheating.
Keeping the bentos warm and selling them through a vending machine is a complex process. Apart from maintaining the temperature inside the machine, the delivery mechanism must be carefully designed to avoid the bentos being knocked over or spilling.
This year, the vending machines have been introduced to construction sites, presenting new challenges. Serving sizes had to be increased, and Hong Kong-style dishes like steamed pork patties were added. The team also had to overcome obstacles such as the remote locations of construction sites and installing machines in narrow passageways.
Research and development go beyond experimentation and computations. Jason's vending machine aims to provide a sense of warmth through its bento, and his innovation story also adds a warm aspect to the field of scientific research.12/12/2023Watch -
My Mechanical Hero Dream
Mark Mak, since his childhood, has had a passion for building robotic models and dreaming of using robots to defend the Earth. He pursued his dream by studying electronic engineering in university. After experiencing the SARS epidemic in 2003, he conceived the idea of using robots to replace medical personnel in risky tasks.
Driven by his emotional attachment to robots, Mark developed a robotic arm and motion-sensing humanoid robots. He won a major award at an innovation and technology competition in the Greater Bay Area and established his company in the region.
By the end of 2018, Mark had formed a strategic partnership with leading mainland telecommunications companies and developed China's first 5G motion control humanoid robot. This robot could mimic human body movements by receiving instructions through a control system. The 5G motion control robot not only earned Mark multiple awards but also accompanied national leaders on trips along countries of the Belt and Road Initiative, including Africa.
Mark envisions a future where traditional high-risk industries like bomb disposal, high-voltage cable maintenance, and spray painting can be delegated to robots. Operators can remotely control robots indoors to complete tasks. However, when the global COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Mark immediately utilised his core technology to develop various anti-epidemic robots, including outdoor disinfection robots, UV disinfection robots, remote diagnosis robots, and ICU equipment control robots.
As a Hong Kong native and driven by his strong connection to the city, Mark decided to move the research and development headquarters back to Hong Kong, while retaining two offices in Qianhai and Jiangmen. "I hope to prove that Hong Kong people have the capability to develop robots," he said. His next plan is to research robots for elderly care, aiming to innovate and assist people, continuing the pursuit of Hong Kong's robotic dream.05/12/2023Watch
