• HOPES, A device for pain-free, at-home eye pressure testing, opeing up access to glaucoma testing, by students of the National University of Singapore.
• Plastic Scanner, A low-cost, handheld device to identify plastic for recycling, by Jerry de Vos from TU Delft.
• REACT, A device to stem bleeding to help save the lives of stabbing victims, by Joseph Bentley from Loughborough university.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – The James Dyson Award has now given nearly £1m in prize money to over 250 promising inventions from young engineers and scientists in 28 countries around the world. In 2021, the Award received a record number of entries worldwide and Sir James Dyson chose three global winners for the first time, each receiving £30,000 in prize money to support the next stages of their inventions.

Commenting on this year’s competition, Sir James Dyson said, “I enjoy seeing the enthusiasm with which young people tackle the world’s problems using good design, engineering and science. So promising were this year’s entries that we’ve awarded a third prize, focused on medical invention. Commercialising an idea is very hard – I hope that the awareness that the Award drives, as well as the financial support it provides, will give these ideas a springboard to success.”

International winner – HOPES, designed by Kelu Yu, Si Li and David Lee

The problem

This year’s International winner of the James Dyson Award was inspired by one of the inventors’, Kelu, father’s diagnosis of glaucoma. After witnessing his discomfort and multiple hospital visits, she realised there is a global need for a less invasive and more accessible method for Intraocular Pressure (IOP) monitoring.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide[1], and it is also the leading cause of registered, permanent blindness in Hong Kong (23%)[2]. Because it is largely symptom-free, it’s also known as the “silent thief of sight”[3]. There is no cure but, if diagnosed and treated early, blindness can be prevented.

Today, regular IOP monitoring is a critical tool in helping clinicians determine long-term treatment plans and goals. This is achieved through the Goldmann Applanation Tonometry – regarded as the gold standard for the measurement of IOP. There is a demand for safe, accurate, low-cost, at-home IOP measurement devices to better improve the patient experience.

The solution

HOPES, (which stands for Home eye Pressure E-skin Sensor) is a wearable biomedical device for pain-free, low cost, at-home IOP testing. Powered by patent pending sensor technology and artificial intelligence, HOPES is a convenient device for users to frequently self-monitor IOP.

After creating a profile in the App, the user wears the HOPES glove with the sensor placed at the fingertip, pressing this against the centre of the eyelid. The fingertip employs a unique sensor architecture that captures dynamic pressure information of the user’s eye with sub-millisecond precision. The captured signals are processed by machine learning algorithms to continuously and accurately compute users’ IOP.

Data is transmitted via Bluetooth to paired devices or uploaded to the Cloud to be accessed remotely by clinicians. The App prompts users with easy-to-read measurement history and direct links to healthcare systems, allowing them to seek medical help to minimise future symptoms.

Next steps

The team plan to collaborate with clinicians at the National University Hospital to collect and analyse patients’ eye pressure data to train the device’s machine learning mode. At the same time, they are working on optimising HOPES’ performance, and improving its design.

Sustainability winner – Plastic Scanner, invented by Jerry de Vos

The problem

Plastic is a lightweight, safe and readily available material which can be used to make long-lasting, durable products. It has a bad reputation because it is often not thought to be recyclable and so ends up in landfill, or worse on the beach or in our oceans. However, with the right technologies plastics can be widely recycled successfully at end of life and transformed into new products, which themselves are long-lasting and durable.

The challenge is identifying the plastic so that it can be recycled in the correct way, rather than sent to landfill. The technology exists but is expensive and rare. With greater availability of plastic identification much more plastic can be recycled and therefore used more effectively.

The solution

The Plastic Scanner, invented by Industrial and Product Design graduate Jerry De Vos from the Netherlands, is this year’s Sustainability winner. Plastic Scanner is a handheld device that when held against plastic will tell the user what materials it’s made from. It uses near-infrared spectroscopy, a technology that can categorise more than 75% of plastics.

Jerry is a member of Precious Plastic, an organisation that aims to reduce plastic waste. Through his work for the organisation he has witnessed the negative impact of plastic pollution first-hand and the bottlenecks caused when plastic is not identified and sorted in the recycling process. Around the world, much of this process is done by hand which takes time and is prone to error. Jerry has seen successful technology used in large factories in the Netherlands where infrared reflections assist with the sorting. This is a vital step for ensuring it is recycled properly. Jerry’s mission has been to make this technology available for everyone around the world so they can recycle better.

The Plastic Scanner uses near-infrared spectroscopy to detect types of plastic – a new and low-cost approach to traditional infrared spectroscopy. The Scanner is also uses open source GPL-v3 license, so anyone can assemble the breakout board and embed the electronics into a handheld device. Open source welcomes feedback and improvements from experts, so the project will continuously improve as more people recycle plastic around the world.

Jerry learnt that much plastic entering our oceans comes from low and middle-income countries. It is his mission to support recycling initiatives in these nations with the way he designed the low-cost and ease of use of the Plastic Scanner. During development, Jerry interviewed recyclers from India, Indonesia, Kenya and Curacao to ensure his model was suitable for end users.

Next steps

Jerry has gathered a team of friends specialising in embedded systems and machine learning to support his creation of new prototypes and pilot the Scanner in both industry and low resource contexts. Long-term his goal is to make the project sustain itself, with DIY versions of the Scanner, whilst enriching Open-source documentation to make it easier for others to get involved and contribute to his mission.

Medical winner – REACT, invented by Joseph Bentley

The problem

Knife crime is an issue in many countries around the world and last year, with rates of knife crime on the rise in almost all continents, particularly in countries with strict gun laws. In England and Wales alone, there were around 46,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, which is the highest number of offences since the year ending March 2011[4].

The average wait time for an ambulance in the UK is currently just over eight minutes, while the target response time is 12 minutes for emergency ambulance calls in Hong Kong[5], yet it can only take five minutes for someone to bleed to death[6][7].

The solution

The REACT device (which stands for Rapid Emergency Actuating Tamponade) aims to reduce catastrophic blood loss from a knife wound. The current advice for treating stab wounds is to never remove the knife object from the wound if it is still in place[8]. This is because the object is applying internal pressure to the wound site whilst also filling the cavity and preventing internal bleeding. Joseph’s concept is based on the same principle, the implantable medical-grade silicone balloon tamponade would be inserted into the wound tract by a first responder. The actuator device is connected to the tamponade valve, and the user selects the wound location on the device interface. Squeezing the trigger on the actuator starts the automated inflation sequence, and the tamponade is inflated to a defined pressure based on the wound location to try and stem the bleeding. 

During the early research and development phases, Joseph discovered that current wound management techniques like wound packing are sometimes used by paramedics to prevent bleeding from stab wounds[9]. This process involves tightly packing a wound with gauze, which will help to apply pressure internally to the site. According to Joseph, the process can be slow, technical, and extremely painful to the victim, but has in many cases proven to be successful in quickly stopping bleeding from knife wounds. 

Despite this, the technique may not be suitable for wounds in cavities like the abdomen, which is the most common area for knife wounds to appear following a knife attack[10]. During his prototyping, Joseph found that the simple application and automated inflation procedure of the REACT system could be a more effective method for first responders compared to traditional methods. He claims his prototype Tamponade could potentially be in place and stopping haemorrhage in under a minute, which Joseph estimates could save hundreds of lives a year.

Next steps

Winning a global James Dyson Award prize will inject a further £30,000 into Joseph’s project. He aims to commercialise his invention in the coming years, using the Award money for further research and official medical testing into how the REACT invention can become a global solution to knife wounds and hopefully save lives.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The James Dyson Award forms part of a wider commitment by Sir James Dyson, to demonstrate the power of engineers to change the world. The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, the James Dyson Foundation and James Dyson Award encourage aspiring engineers to apply their knowledge and discover new ways to improve lives through technology. Since the competition first opened in 2005, James and the James Dyson Foundation have donated over £135m to boundary-breaking concepts in education and other charitable causes. The Award has supported nearly 300 inventions with prize money.

PREVIOUS GLOBAL WINNERS

·          2020 International winner – The Blue Box

Invented by 23-year-old Judit Giró Benet, The Blue Box is a new way to detect breast cancer, at-home, using a urine sample.

·          2020 Sustainbility winner – AuREUS

Invented by 27-year-old Carvey Ehren Maigue, AuREUS is a new material, made from waste crop, which converts UV light into renewable energy. The Sustainability prize was newly created in 2020.

·          2019 International winner – Marina Tex

MarinaTex is a home compostable material designed as an alternative to single-use plastic films. The material is comprised of waste material from the fishing industry and sustainable algae.

·          2018 International winner – O-Wind Turbine

O-Wind Turbine is an omnidirectional wind turbine that can capture wind travelling in any direction, unlike conventional turbines. This allows it to be used in urban environments where wind flow is multi-directional.

·          2017 International winner – The sKan

The sKan is a low cost and non-invasive melanoma detection device invented by a team of medical and bioengineering undergraduates from McMaster University, Canada. The team are currently using the prize money to refine their design to ensure it passes the US Food and Drug Administration standards.

·          2016 International winner – EcoHelmet

EcoHelmet is a foldable, paper bike helmet for bike shares. It uses a honeycomb configuration to protect the head from impact and folds completely flat when not in use. It is currently in product development stages.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The brief. Design something that solves a problem. This problem may be a frustration that we all face in daily life, or a global issue. The important thing is that the solution is effective and demonstrates considered design thinking. Unlike other competitions, participants are given full autonomy over their intellectual property.

The process. Entries are judged first at the national level by a panel of external judges, before progressing to the international stage. A panel of Dyson engineers then select an international shortlist of 20 entries. The top 20 projects are then reviewed by Sir James Dyson who selects his global winners.

The 2021 prizes

• The International winner receives a prize of £30,000, plus £5,000 for the winner’s university.
• The Sustainability winner and the Medical winner receive a prize of £30,000.
• Each National winner receives £2,000.

How to enter. Candidates enter through an online application form via the James Dyson Award website. Entries open again on 16 March 2022. Entrants should concisely explain what their invention is, how it works, and their development process. The best entries solve a real problem, are clearly explained, show iterative development, provide evidence of physical prototyping and have supporting imagery and a video.

#JamesDysonAward

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – Renowned and home-grown local brand, Affinité – concept by Jack Cars, announces the arrival of the all-new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV. Breaking new ground, the debut of the purpose-built all-electric powertrain combining a sporty outlook and zero-emission driving promises an exciting new option for car owners in Singapore who are looking to switch from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles.

Commenting on the launch, Jessica Ang, Founder of Affinité – concept by Jack Cars said, “The arrival of the new Ford Mustang Mach-E is a momentous milestone for us, as we expand our collection of highly desirable vehicles. Our customers have always been at the heart of what we do, so this gives us the perfect opportunity to continue demonstrating our commitment to provide the best-in-class offerings.”

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV – 100% Electric, 100% SUV Coupé

Ford’s latest automotive venture, the Ford Mustang Mach-E has become a highly desirable vehicle for both car enthusiasts and eco-conscious drivers. Powered by a responsive, energy-efficient, battery-electric drivetrain, the first-ever SUV member of the Mustang family combines a sporty outlook and zero-emission driving, capable of accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds. Its balanced and responsive all-electric platform is equipped with a 376-cell, 88 kWh (useable) extended-range variant, offering up to 610 km WLTP pure-electric driving range between charges for worry-free ownership and peace-of-mind.

Every Ford Mustang Mach‑E offers selectable drive modes (Whisper, Active and Untamed) that match driving dynamics and sensory experiences to the driver’s mood, with a single-motor rear-wheel drive configuration. The Ford Mustang Mach-E delivers the quintessential Mustang feel, with improved acceleration, handling and unique settings are also available to tailor the on- and off-road drives.

Built from the iconic passion of both Ford and Mustang’s heritage, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is instantly recognisable with signature Mustang elements such as its long, powerful hood, rear-haunch design, aggressive headlights and trademark tri-bar taillamps. On the inside, the five-seater SUV is luxuriously spacious, with a fusion of sleek, modern design, sophisticated comfort and smart functionality. With its full panorama glass roof, the cabin instantly feels airier with ample natural light flowing in.

Taking full advantage of connectivity, owners will be able to configure their new vehicle with a range of personalisation options such as the E-Latch keyless entry system and more. To deliver a truly intuitive, stress-reducing driving experience, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is equipped with the latest driver-assisted technologies, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centering, Active Park Assist 2.0, Pre-Collision Assist with Auto Emergency Braking, Lane-Keeping System with Blind Spot Assist and other suite of technologies.

Offering even more practicality for the everyday driver, the Ford Mustang Mach-E comes with up to 402 litres of load space behind the rear seats and an additional front trunk storage unit made possible by the absence of a combustion engine under the bonnet. This additional 81 litres of storage space is also drainable, making it a convenient space to store wet or muddy sports clothing, hiking boots or beach gear after an adventure.

The all-new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first model to be introduced in Singapore, exclusively at Affinité – concept by Jack Cars. The 2021 Ford Mach-E RWD Extended Range starts at S$310,888, including COE. Designed to give owners peace-of-mind while on the road, Affinité offers 5-Year/100,000km warranty coverage.

Affinité – concept by Jack Cars showroom is located at 33 Ubi Avenue 3 #01-07, Vertex Building, Singapore 408868. For more information, visit https://affinite.jackcars.com.sg.

#Affinité

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ:OKTA), a leading independent provider of identity for the enterprise, today announced the availability of the Okta Identity Cloud and its products in AWS Marketplace in the Asia Pacific region.

AWS Marketplace is a curated digital catalogue that makes it easy for organisations to discover, procure, entitle, provision, and govern third-party software. Businesses across APAC are now able to quickly and seamlessly purchase both Okta’s Customer Identity and Workforce Identity products in AWS Marketplace, while benefiting from integrations that take advantage of both Okta and AWS, including AWS Control Tower, a service that provides the easiest way to set up and govern a secure, multi-account AWS environment.

AWS Control Tower makes Okta more powerful and effective for enterprises. Through this new integration with AWS Control Tower, organisations can further optimise identity management with simplified single sign-on experiences, user provisioning and password management to streamline multi-cloud access management.

Cloud migration is a top imperative for the world’s largest organisations. Businesses migrating to the cloud need to provide rapid connectivity and security for employees and customers as dynamic working practices become the norm. Identity for the enterprise plays a critical role in helping organisations securely and efficiently run their businesses in the cloud, enabling seamless access for employees while maintaining visibility and control over sensitive data and information. With AWS, Okta can help streamline enterprises’ identity strategy and software development approach, supporting businesses as they accelerate digital transformation.

“Okta and AWS are playing a pivotal role in providing infrastructure and secure access capabilities for organisations everywhere in their move to the cloud,” said Graham Sowden, General Manager, Asia Pacific, Okta. “By working together, we are ensuring that businesses have simplified access to our market-leading technologies that help them solve complex challenges, with an added layer of security and compliance.”

Stephen Orban, General Manager, Marketplace and Control Services, AWS said, “As more businesses move their application portfolio to the cloud, modernised identity and access management has become increasingly important. “We welcome Okta Identity Cloud to AWS Marketplace in APAC to help meet the identity needs of customers using multiple third-party software vendors. More than 310,000 builders and buyers around the world use AWS Marketplace to find, buy, deploy, and govern their preferred third-party software. We look forward to seeing Okta leverage AWS Marketplace to innovate faster and more securely.”

Commenting on the availability of the Okta Identity Cloud and its products in the AWS Marketplace, Velchamy Sankarlingam, President of Product and Engineering, Zoom Video Communications, Inc. said, “Zoom has always strived to bring teams together in a frictionless and secure video environment, and it’s our ability to innovate that has enabled us to grow. Working with AWS and Okta helped us to deliver on our strategic technology initiatives to meet this goal. We look forward to tighter integrations and a more robust cooperation that ultimately makes it faster, easier, and more productive for us to digitally transform.”

Okta is an AWS Advanced Technology Partner that has achieved the AWS Security Competency, AWS Government Competency, and AWS Digital Workplace Competency designations.

To learn more about Okta in AWS Marketplace, visit: https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/B08NM2CCL2

About Okta

Okta is the leading independent identity provider. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With more than 7,000 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta provides simple and secure access to people and organizations everywhere, giving them the confidence to reach their full potential. More than 13,050 organizations, including JetBlue, Nordstrom, Siemens, Slack, Takeda, Teach for America, and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers.

#Okta

Just Check in and Enjoy a Curated Exotic Holiday, Ideal for No Planners!

Stay at Deluxe Room with Breakfast for Two Starting at $900 with Hotel Credit Equivalent to Room Rate

Revel in a Moroccan-themed Afternoon and a 180° Sea View

Enjoy Seaside Restaurants and Trending Activities

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – Most Hongkongers have already been on all sorts of staycations. Food-themed, sea-view suites, infinity pools – these have become increasingly commonplace. But have you tried travelling back and forth between the city and the suburb, taking the journey beyond just staying but actually vacationing, as if you were on a real holiday? What’s more, no prior planning is needed because the hotel has already done the hard work, providing you with a carefully designed itinerary! the pulse, the beachside complex at Repulse Bay, in collaboration with The Emperor Hotel, brings you a brand-new staycation experience! From 1-Nov,2021 to 30-Jan, 2022, upon purchase of the Get the Fun Up Staycation package, guests can enjoy accommodation and facilities under the hotel’s arrangement and take a free shuttle bus to the pulse to delight in The Moroccan Moment, wakesurfing, an acro yoga session, an escape game and more activities. Guests can even use dining vouchers at the exotic beachside restaurants at the pulse, fully immersing in the holiday mood! The Get the Fun Up Staycation package starts at only $900 inclusive of service charge. After deducting breakfast, dining vouchers at the pulse, the shuttle bus and activities including The Moroccan Moment, the room charge is completely cancelled, meaning your night’s stay at the hotel is free of charge! The price is the same for weekdays and weekends, a great bargain!

Staycation with a Planned Itinerary

Two Different Experiences Back and Forth in the City and the Suburb

The Get the Fun Up Staycation stands apart from other luxury hotel stays, hoping to deliver an authentic holiday experience. The most unique element lies in the itinerary curated by the hotel, saving guests the effort of making plans themselves. Guests can simply check in and wait for the scheduled bus to kickstart an eventful day!

To amp the holiday mood up, the hotel has arranged a shuttle bus bound for the stunning Repulse Bay beach. Not only can guests relax on the beach under the sun, they can also spend the afternoon at The Moroccan Moment at the pulse. For more adventure and action, go wakesurfing or challenge yourself in an escape game; for meditation and peace, unwind with a acro yoga session.

After nightfall, feast at one of the exotic seaside restaurants at the pulse. The serene vibe is going to transport you outside Hong Kong, as if you were on a real holiday! Escape from the hustle by day and return to the city’s dazzle by night – experience two distinct sensations in one holiday and end the day on a perfect note.

Own a Panoramic View of the Beach at The Moroccan Moment

The Get the Fun Up Staycation package includes multiple activities and the most appealing one is undoubtedly The Moroccan Moment. It gives you and your loved ones a private space to take in the 180° view of the Repulse Bay Beach, ideal for couples to spend quality time in a romantic ambiance, for friends to snap photos without the awkwardness in public, and for families and furry friends to create heart-warming moments.

The Moroccan Moment spans 4000 square feet and radiates exoticism. The archway entrance with climbing vines steals the show, its colours and style a perfect representation of Moroccan architecture. As soon as you arrive, it’s as if you entered a courtyard in Morocco with minimalist chandeliers, weave decors and resting corners with tribal colours that exude vibrant Moroccan vibes. The venue boasts a 180° panorama seaview, with the scenery transforming throughout the day: the colours of the sea and the sky merging in daylight; and the sun setting into the glittering golden sea in the evening.

Trending Activities Available: Something for Everyone

A holiday isn’t complete without fun activities! As usual, the pulse has made a number of popular activities available. Regardless of whether your trip is a romantic getaway or a family excursion, you’re guaranteed to have a good time!

10 Exotic Restaurants Delivering a Dining Experience from Abroad

Every restaurant at the pulse has a unique character and guarantees to make you feel as if you were abroad! For a Southeast Asian flare, Sip Song takes you to the streets of Bangkok, great for likes on social media; whereas Limewood gives off tropical beach vibes, a fitting atmosphere to enjoy their barbecue and seafood delicacies.

If you’re looking for a European holiday, the loft-style Italian FRATELLI serves handmade pasta, while amalfitana gives you a taste of the handcrafted pizzas along the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy. Another option is Classified, a cosy British eatery with sofa swings and stunning beach views.

Missing Japan? Shoku Binchotan Grill is perfect for Japanese barbecue. For something closer to home, Meen & Rice gives the classic Hong Kong noodle and rice dishes a new twist.

Smaller bites are available at HOOMAN, where you can order unconventional hotdogs for yourself and also something for your furry friends. Alternatively, take a specialty coffee away from the Japanese cafe %ARABICA or THE COFFEE ACADEMICS and enjoy it while strolling along the beach.

About The Emperor Hotel

~Make yourself at home~

Consisting of 299 rooms with ultimately sleek design, excellent services and cutting-edge facilities, The Emperor Hotel assures you that your stay would be an unforgettable one. Designed by the renowned Turkey-based design studio Autoban together with the prestigious French Botanist Patrick Blanc, The Emperor Hotel embraces the integrity of the sublime nature and contemporary aesthetics with the flourishing vertical garden and the seamlessly modern interior design.

#TheEmperorHotel