The Department of Electronic Engineering and the Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology are putting their best faces-and finest research projects-forward at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2001.

The annual fair, which draws thousands of visitors eager to discover the latest innovations in electronic goods, is being held from 15 to 18 October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. CityU researchers are participating in the fair's "Frontiers of Brainpower" section, which showcases research projects, ideas, and prototypes developed by local educational institutions.

The projects on display at the CityU booth include:

• Smart Card Design Centre, which is funded by the Innovation and Technology Fund. The centre provides technical support to Hong Kong industry through the design of smart card modules, crypto-engines, readers and Chip Operating Systems.
  

• Chaos-Based Image Encryption Software, which is founded on a specially constructed chaotic mapping system that can process real-time secure image communication through the Internet. It is fast, reliable, user-friendly, and highly secure.

The fair, organized by the Trade Development Council, boasts 1,632 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions. Such exhibits are important to university researchers because buyers who visit the fair are able to talk directly to the scientists involved in designing cutting-edge technology. Interested buyers, in collaboration with researchers, can then fine-tune prototypes and help turn them into viable commercial products.

Academics at the exhibition were heartened by comments made by the Chairman of the Trade Development Council's Electronics/Electrical Appliances Advisory Committee,
Mr Allan Wong, at the opening ceremonies. Despite the global economic slowdown, he said, the outlook for the local electronics industry still looks promising.

"The imminent liberalization of the mainland market as a result of China's accession to the WTO will provide enormous business opportunities to Hong Kong companies," Mr Wong explained.