AI tongue scanner, high-speed smart pill headline tech carnival exhibits

The Innovation and Technology Commission will host its annual Innovation Carnival next month, featuring dozens of practical research projects from local institutions.

The event, to be held at the Science Park from October 18 to 26, will display over 50 scientific achievements from local universities, research centres, government departments, and educational organisations.

Among the highlights are several health-tech innovations designed for everyday impact. 

Hong Kong Baptist University has developed an AI application, Tongue HealthChecker. The app uses a smartphone camera to scan a user's tongue, analyzing their body constitution to screen for signs of acute infections or diabetes.

It can provide a three-month report of the user's blood sugar control within seconds, with a reported 85 percent accuracy rate in detecting diabetes.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) has invented a specialized system-on-chip for capsule endoscopies. This new chip features a wireless, high-speed data transmission rate that is 7.2 times faster than previous products, enabling the transmission of high-definition images.

The capsule endoscope itself is equipped with a dual-camera system and a battery life of up to 24 hours, providing sufficient time for a comprehensive examination of the entire digestive tract.

Ivan Lee Kwok-bun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, said the research and development achievements on display are closely related to the daily lives of citizens, particularly in the areas of healthcare and artificial intelligence.

He expressed hope that as these innovations are commercialized, they will bring significant benefits to society.