Thursday, 28 March 2024


Hong Kong launches COVID-19 alert system

01 September 2020 | News

HKBU plans to launch a trial run of the system on campus in the new semester

Image credit- prnewswire

Image credit- prnewswire

Researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have developed a COVID-19 alert system which will send a message to users through a mobile app if they and an infected person have visited the same place within a time period that gives rise to risks of exposure.

The system will not collect users' personal information and location data, thereby protecting individuals' privacy while alerting them on disease transmission risks associated with confirmed infection cases.

HKBU plans to launch a trial run of the system on campus in the new semester with the aim of enhancing COVID-19 surveillance inside campus venues and during teaching and learning activities. Staff and students can join the trial voluntarily.

Developed by a research team led by Professor Xu Jianliang, Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU, the system has two anonymous modes of operation: venue-to-person tracing and person-to-person tracing. The system is easy to operate and users can simply use it by downloading the mobile application.

By taking a decentralised design approach, the system, which has been developed in four months, will not collect any personal information and location data. It is a safe and reliable system that uses the latest cryptographic technology to protect users' privacy. It also includes a mechanism that prevents users from falsely claiming that they are one of the contacts of a confirmed case.

 

Image caption- Professor Guo Yike (right), Vice-President (Research and Development) of HKBU, and Professor Xu Jianliang (left), Associate Head and Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU

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