AccordHK · Field notes
Notes from the work
Field notes on software, product work, and practical AI from AccordHK.
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COVID-19 | Catering Industry: Government's LeaveHomeSafe App Needs Incentives Such as Higher Seating Capacity
The government plans to launch the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app. Users scan QR codes posted at premises and are notified if they visited a venue around the same time as a confirmed case. Simon Wong of the Quality Tourism Services Association says that incentives such as extended business hours or a 10% increase in seating capacity could encourage restaurants to respond. Respiratory specialist Leung Tze-chiu says the app's effectiveness depends on whether the government can provide incentives for public use.
Read article →SME Classroom: The Key to Transformation — In Applications, Speed Is Unbeatable
"In martial arts, nothing but speed is unbeatable." The same holds in business: enterprises whose IT systems can deploy applications quickly and launch new services gain an edge in competition. This article looks at why cloud-native applications matter and how Hong Kong enterprises can adopt them in three stages.
Read article →PolyU Graduates Develop App to Help Manage Clothing and Reduce Waste
PolyU says the design field is diverse and has not been affected by the pandemic. One graduate team designed a clothing-management app to tackle overconsumption from fast fashion, while another graduate designed a bus seat for elderly passengers that also fits more wheelchairs.
Read article →YouTube Kids App Launches Two Key Features: Content Filtering and Viewing Time Limits [Video]
YouTube Kids App has recently launched in Hong Kong, offering videos and learning content for children aged 3 to 12, such as cartoons, educational videos, nursery rhymes and children's programmes. After downloading it from Google Play or the App Store (iOS), parents can easily choose suitable channels and manage viewing time.
Read article →Dr. Tung: HKU Launches Free App for Self-Testing Diabetes Risk, Scored by Weight, Age and Blood Pressure
Heart disease and stroke are major health threats in Hong Kong, and many cases stem from diabetes. HKU's Faculty of Medicine has developed a free mobile app that calculates a diabetes risk score from simple details such as age, height and weight. The score has a maximum of 50, and 28 or above is high risk. The team hopes it will help identify undiagnosed diabetes patients in the community.
Read article →Apple Event: Apple Watch and Singapore Launch Health App Programme Amid the Pandemic
CNBC reported that Apple is partnering with the Singapore government on LumiHealth, an iPhone app that encourages residents to stay healthy with the Apple Watch and will remind them to get a Covid-19 vaccine once one becomes available. Singapore is the first country to partner with Apple Watch in this way.
Read article →SME Classroom: Moving to Online Shopping – Set Goals and Choose the Right Tools
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more consumers have switched to online shopping. To stand out in competitive e-commerce, SMEs need a well-developed sales plan, and there are many lower-barrier social platforms and small tools to help them develop online store sales.
Read article →[Pandemic Development] Survey: Business Apps Remain Core in Hong Kong; Industry Expected to Break Even in as Little as One Year
Amid the pandemic, apps are more widely used. The Hong Kong Smartphone App Industry Survey 2020 shows business apps account for 70% of surveyed companies, up 8% from 2019, followed by e-commerce at 25%. Difficulty finding new customers (62%) is the top operating difficulty, while the talent shortage eased to 45% from 66%.
Read article →Users Favour Mobile Apps: Retailers Should Build Apps to Attract Customers
As the pandemic broke out, many retailers moved online through web stores. However, eMarketer research indicates that people spend nearly 90% of their smartphone time in apps rather than traditional browsers.
Read article →A Virus Notification App Could Be the First Step in Tech-Enabled Epidemic Prevention
A newspaper reported that the government has issued tender documents seeking contractors to develop an app and support services to identify COVID-19 confirmed cases and their close community contacts, with a launch planned within this month. To encourage use, the government and developers should assure the public that information will be used only to notify contacts of suspected patients and that a minimum amount of information is collected.
Read article →Mobile App "Lu Hong Kong" Pioneers a New Model of Local Online Wealth Management
Lufax HK has officially launched the mobile app "Lu Hong Kong", providing Hong Kong users with 24/7 intelligent, comprehensive online wealth management, with selected HKD fund products and the "LU Wallet" idle-cash service.
Read article →Rakugaki AR App Takes Japan by Storm! Turn Flat Drawings into 3D Animals Instantly, with Download Link and a Simple 4-Step Guide
Rakugaki AR is a new app from Japanese creative studio Whatever that turns flat drawings into 3D animals which you can even raise and feed like electronic pets. Shortly after its launch it went viral on Twitter.
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