For Lingnan University, one of the most gratifying measures of success is when the results of academic research provide solutions to real-world problems.
That explains the attention being paid to “Humanitarian Innovation” projects, which make use of the latest advances in design and technology to improve people’s lives in practical ways and open up all kinds of new possibilities.
Recently, a number of these projects, backed by the Lingnan Entrepreneurship Initiative (LEI), have gone on to win a range of prestigious international awards. Overall, what has impressed the judges on these occasions is how the various inventions apply hard-won knowledge, have the potential to be scaled up, and may lead to the development of new business models.
But equally important in other respects is that each of the breakthroughs also contributes to the advancement of one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby adding to Lingnan’s reputation as a “caring” university and pointing the way for future research initiatives.
As an example, one LEI-supported project aimed to improve indoor air quality for families living in sub-divided apartments, and did so by applying a combination of book learning, design thinking, and some relatively simple technology.
The initial idea sprang from a visit made by a group of students taking a service-learning course on the Psychology of Human Performance and Technology to meet residents of the overcrowded district of Sham Shui Po.
Wanting to understand the everyday challenges and find ways to help, the students decided on a low-cost air purifier which would be compact and cheap to run. They assembled and tested prototypes, made necessary modifications, and now have a product which can markedly improve the living environment of many people at the lower end of the social spectrum.
In collaboration with the local authorities, a team of volunteers distributed 1,000 free air purifiers to needy families in the run-up to Christmas. And, together with universities in the Philippines, plans are now taking shape to supply these low-cost, energy-efficient, portable units to communities in developing countries in Asia.
Another similarly successful LEI project is the CREW wheelchair control system. By incorporating a force-sensing feature, it is able to improve the safety of both wheelchair users and carers by intelligently predicting the carer’s intentions, which leads to better control and positioning of the wheelchair.
The system, which is plugged into the wheelchair’s handles, makes it easier to change direction or manoeuvre in a tight space, while also providing additional forward or braking power when going up or down a slope. And, when moving, the kinetic energy being generated can be used to recharge the batteries.
Other highly commended projects include a disinfection service using intelligent sensors and Ultraviolet-C germicidal light plus a transparent surgical mask which allows the hearing-impaired to lip-read and detect facial expressions.
“Our mission is to come up with highly effective but low-cost products by bringing together innovative concepts and mature technology, thereby improving the lives of the needy,” said Professor Albert Ko Wing-yin, Director of the LEI.