Newsletter No. 60

CUHK NEWSLETTER CSC shows Power of Information Technology A total of 2,309 CU staff, students, and visitors were attracted to the Information Technology Fair '94 where they had a chance to look at the University's advanced computer network and the latest computer applications in teaching, research and administration. Held at Sir Run Run Shaw Hall from 4th to 5th October, the function promoted the use of information technology among the campus community and members of the public through experience sharing and exchanges. The two-day show was organized by the Computer Services Centre and included display boards, video broadcast, demonstrations, mini-seminars and group discussions. On display were numerous unique applications including the geographical information system of the Department of Geography, brain visualization using AVS of the Department of Anatomy, the pathfinder English language learning tool of the English Language Teaching Unit, the architectural information system of the Department of Architecture, and the library catalogue on-line system of the University Library. Techniques in CD-ROM production, computer animation, electronic publishing, medical image visualization, networked fax service, video conference, virtual reality and voice mail were also demonstrated. On 8th October, the University's Orientation Day, there was a special session for visiting sixth-formers in the Science Centre. New Centre for Computer Research The Department of Computer Science has taken a major step forward in the development of high-end computing research with the inauguration of the HK$6 million Sun Technology Centre on 4th October. The centre was set up as a joint venture between the University and Sun's research centre in the United States to allow technical exchanges between the two. Areas of computer science that will benefit from the collaboration include research on a supernetwork using fast ethernet and ATM technology from Sun, multi-processing and multi-threading technology, and object-oriented computing. Currently equipped with a 20-CPU SPARCcenter 2000, SPARCserver 670 and multiple high-end SPARC workstations, the centre will pioneer research in multiprocessing technology. Incidentally, the University is the first institution of higher learning in Asia to install the 20-CPU SPARCcenter 2000 a mainframe-calibre system for data centre applications from Sun Microsystems. Mr. Timothy Dwyer, vice-president of Sun Microsystems, and Prof. Omar Wing, dean of engineering, officiated at the opening ceremony. The centre will provide early access of its technology for the University's design and development projects. New Growth Standards for Hong Kong Children A territory wide growth survey, covering 25,000 Chinese children from birth to 18 years, reveals that children of today are heavier, taller, fatter, have larger heads, and attain puberty earlier. The Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with the Health Department and the Hospital Authority carried out the survey in 1993. Subjects included pupils studying in 49 schools and infants attending eight maternal and child health clinics, all randomly chosen to represent a cross-section of Hong Kong. Some of the important findings are (1) Compared with figures obtained 30 years ago, mean weight at 18 years has increased 16 per cent in boys and 11 per cent in girls, whereas mean height has increased 2 per cent in boys and 1 per cent in girls. (2) Compared with their parents at the same age, children NO.60 NOVEMBER 1994 7