V Sparkle

Collaboration with Social Welfare and Academic Sectors to drive Smart Mobility — January 2025

Student-Developed Fleet Management System: Combining Eco-Friendliness with Comfort

Developed by teachers and students of VTC Smart City Innovation Centre and STEAM Education Centre, the Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology (HKIIT), and Engineering Discipline, the testing of the intelligent vehicle monitoring system DriveSense has been officially launched in commercial vehicles. Arranged by Community Engagement Unit (CEU), Diamond Cab, Hong Kong's first social enterprise offering wheelchair taxi, will equip its vehicles with DriveSense technology in phases. The goal is to digitise the empathetic driving skills of Diamond Cab drivers, assisting the team in analysing and maintaining service quality, while continuously enhancing the experience for wheelchair passengers.

DriveSense utilises IoT sensors and GPS technology to collect vehicle data, such as speed and location, and transmits this data in real-time to a backend system for analysis through cloud technology. Once logged into the system, the driving performance of the drivers—such as sudden stops or slowdowns during sharp turns—would be clearly shown. The system also tracks drivers’ conditions to encourage more efficient energy usage.

Earlier, the team of teachers and students who developed the system equipped two different models of Diamond Cabs with DriveSense and tested data reception on-site. Mr Jim HO, Chief Operating Officer of Diamond Cab, emphasised the importance of safety and comfort for wheelchair passengers, believing that DriveSense will assist their fleet management. He mentioned that the fleet has recently expanded from 8 to 12 vehicles, where they will communicate closely with the VTC team based on the test results, with the goal of equipping all taxis in the fleet with DriveSense.

To enhance the performance of DriveSense, various stakeholders have been invited to try it out, including Mr Simon WONG, an alumnus and the chairman of a catering group, who previously served as the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee. Mr WONG recently took a ride in a vehicle equipped with DriveSense, observing the real-time data received by the system. He found the device compact and suitable for installation in older vehicles, making it a great fit for small and medium-sized businesses to manage their fleets. Mr Wong said that driving attitudes are crucial for his group’s fleet, especially when there is delivery of seafood, "It is easy to spill when transporting seafood, causing damage to other vehicles, while another concerns is that the spilling can cause significant loss of the seafood itself."

To watch the video of Mr Wong trying out DriveSense with students, please visit our YouTube channel:

[Click here to watch]

For the latest updates from Diamond Cab, please follow their social media platforms (Facebook , Instagram).

[Photo 1] VTC graduates of Higher Diploma in Software Engineering KWOK Sin-wai (left) and MAK King-yiu (middle) installed DriveSense in Diamond Cab. Dr FU Sin-pui (right), Project Officer of the VTC Smart City Innovation Centre and STEAM Education Centre, led the students for technical support of this project.

[Photo 2] Mr Jim HO (left), Chief Operating Officer of Diamond Cab, believes that DriveSense will enhance the riding experience for wheelchair users.

[Photo 3] Mr Simon WONG (second from left) stated that previously only large transportation companies had the resources to use fleet management systems, while DriveSense can benefit small and medium enterprises.

Utlising Retired Bus Spare Parts for Community Inclusion and Care

CEU, in collaboration with Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) Department of Architecture, Interior and Product Design, The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. (1933), and the St James' Settlement Upcycling Centre (UPCC), has entered the final preparation stage for the "Upcycling Retired Bus Spare Parts Project". Students from three programmes at HKDI—Higher Diploma in Furniture and Lifestyle Product Design, Higher Diploma in Product Design, and Higher Diploma in Jewellery Design and Technology—will utilise their product design and production knowledge to create a series of stylish home products and souvenirs from retired bus spare parts, giving these parts a second life.

CEU representatives and the HKDI teachers recently visited KMB Depot to gather various materials from retired bus parts and cabins for students to design different products, including rear-view mirrors, buttons, seat back cushions, seatbelts, dashboards, tires, and vehicle license display boards.

In the coming months, HKDI students will also have the opportunity to visit UPCC to serve as workshop instructors, teaching trainees at sheltered workshop on how to create and produce different products, unleashing their creativity and potential. We look forward to seeing these home products in the community soon.

[Photo 4] KMB staff introducing various retired bus spare parts to VTC teachers and students.

[Photo 5] Carmen NG, Head of Customer Experience, The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (left) guided VTC teachers and students through a bus cabin tour and discussed the regeneration possibilities of different components.

Youth College Beauty Care Students Make Contestants Shine at the Dream Stage

Earlier this month, students from Diploma of Vocational Education (Beauty Care) of Youth College transformed into behind-the-scenes magicians, providing makeup for contestants at the "Dream Stage" (吹夢舞台) talent competition organised by Lok Chi Association. Lok Chi Association is an organisation offering recreational and social services for people with intellectual disabilities, and they hold a large talent competition every year to allow the members and their parents to showcase their talents.

During the event, the Youth College students tailored makeup based on each contestant's personal characteristics and performance, helping them to be more confident and radiant on stage. Student Tsang said, "This is a rare opportunity for us to present the contestants' best side to the audience, allowing them to feel more confident and enjoy their time performing on stage." The supervising teacher, Senior Instructor HO Tat-mei, added, "Although students of Diploma of Vocational Education (Beauty Care) have plentiful practical opportunities, this event is rare learning opportunity indeed. It not only allows students to apply their VPET skills but also exposes them to different community sectors, which is meaningful for their development."

In addition to makeup services, with support from the Student Development Discipline, Malaika, student of IVE Business Discipline and HSBC Speak for Success Programme (SFS), together with Pong, member of Lok Chi Association, served as the event's emcees. Representatives from the CEU also served as judges for the preliminary and final rounds, witnessing the contestants unleash their infinite potential on stage.

To learn more about Malaika and Pong's journey as emcees, please follow the SFS social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram).

[Photo 6] Students of Diploma of Vocational Education (Beauty Care) apply makeup for members of Lok Chi Association.

[Photo 7] During the competition, Malaika, student of IVE Business Discipline (second from right) teaming up with Pong, member of Lok Chi Association, serves as the event's emcees.

[Photo 8] Teachers and students Diploma of Vocational Education (Beauty Care).

Visit to Soft Food Factories: Reclaiming Food Memories

It’s always crucial for soft meal production to meet hygiene standards, while being cost-effective and easy-to-consume. As the soft meal development by VTC students is in progress, the soft meal R&D team from the IVE Health and Life Sciences Discipline, along with CEU, visited My Care Healthcare Limited, a soft meal enterprise in Kwai Chung. They gained in-depth insights into the processes and details of the industry in soft meal food production, recipe development, marketing strategies and promotions, and factory operation management.

During the visit, students studying the IVE Higher Diploma in Food Technology and Safety actively consulted Ms Peggy CHEUNG, Managing Director of My Care Healthcare Limited, about soft meal production and gelling techniques. Ms Cheung shared her experiences and provided a tasting on various soft meal products launched by the company, including flavoured purees, red wine beef, scallop and shrimp zucchini vermicelli, Hainan chicken mousse bento, and fermented red bean curd braised pork, broadening the students' perspectives.

Ms Cheung has conducted in-depth research on soft meals, where the company has launched over a hundred different types of soft meal products. She introduced the uses of gelling powder and condensing powder, the materials for food mould, factory hygiene requirements, as well as the soft meal production process.

Ms Cheung emphasised the importance of developing different recipes and products based on user needs, stating that it is crucial to develop soft meals from the user's perspective. She further mentioned that as a manufacturer of soft meal foods, with a mission of producing quality soft meals. They believe that for patients who cannot enjoy real food for a long time, soft meals resembling real food can evoke their memories of food, reigniting their will to live and hope. She appreciated the students for fully utilising their food technology expertise to contribute to the community and acknowledged, and being able to conduct soft meal R&D in the well-equipped IVE food laboratory can greatly benefit their work. The representative from Sik Sik Yuen is also exploring the opportunities of mass producing the dim sum soft meals developed by VTC students last year, black bean sauce spare ribs rice and chicken roll, enabling users to easily prepare soft meals at home, minimizing the inconvenience of consuming them.

[Photo 9] VTC soft meal R&D team tasting products at the food factory.

[Photo 10] The food factory's production process.

[Photo 11] VTC soft meal R&D team and CEU representatives.

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