Team name: Bit-time

Students, Programmes:
Joseph James Gutierrez, Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Computer Science
Pooja Zenit Shah, Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Computer Science
Maria Dharshini Anthony Jesu Ashok Savitha, Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Computer Science
Ashwin-Sundarn, Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Internet Technology
Fu Yuhao, Bachelor of Computing with Honours in Computer Science

Competition: Hong Kong Techathon+ 2024

Award: Merit, Smart Cities (Local Student Group)

Details:
46 HKMU students formed various teams to participate in the Hong Kong Techathon+ 2024, a large-scale innovative and technology event co-organised by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and ten local universities. In between, the team Bit-time formed by five HKMU students and three students from other local universities was shortlisted among 250 participating teams, and eventually received a Merit Award in the category of the Local Student Group under the area of Smart Cities.

The team identified the mobility challenges faced by the elderly and disabled groups living in older buildings without lifts in Hong Kong. They then designed a wheelchair add-on device, “StairMaster”, which combines the power of soft robotics, energy harvesting and a health monitoring system to offer a cost-effective and efficient solution for navigating the stairs.

Hong Kong Techathon+ is an exciting challenge where participants can work together as teams in bringing about innovative and executable tech solutions. This year, around 1,500 local and international students formed 250 teams to propose tech solutions in four technology areas, namely “Trusted AI & Data Science”, “Sustainability & ESG”, “Digital Economy” and “Smart Cities”, competing for the cash prizes and startup funds offered by HKSTP and partnering universities. Shortlisted teams were invited to join a three-day bootcamp for training, mentoring and polishing their presentation. On the third day of the camp, the judges selected the winners for each category based on their pitching.