Tech for Change — 創科界利用雲端與流動運算技術共同開發「疫安通」平台同心抗疫
隨著香港第五波疫情逐步緩和，市面及經濟也漸漸恢復活力，或許亦是時候回顧和總結一下過去幾個月的抗疫經驗。
當中我最大的感受是科技解決方案的普及，疫情中大眾開始認同包括雲計算及人工智能等技術，可以提升社會資源的效益。現代大型信息科技系統要在短時間內開發並運作正常不容易，但雲計算的基建就能像舖設標準供電或供水一樣，快速伸延，服務大眾。而本地科技業界在社會有需要時，亦當仁不讓作出貢獻。
例如，創科界的一群好友成立了成立線上平台「疫安通」，在第五波疫情來襲時提供一站式抗疫資訊平台。記得當時全城搶購快速測試套裝，「疫安通」就提供售賣點的資訊。
這個平台由香港科創義工聯盟發起、並由中銀香港、四方精創、阿里雲的全力支持下共同建立，把本來分散在多個不同網頁的疫情資訊整合，方便市民查閱。據我所知，創科界今次是利用了阿里雲提供的多種現代化雲計算開發及運作平台，才能在短時間內通力合作，讓平台投入運作。
一個看似簡單的信息整合平台，其實需要兼顧網絡安全、當中利用到的技術包括 WAF 防火牆、SLB 負載均衡、OSS 分布式對像儲存、ECS 虛擬服務器、 雲原生數據庫PolarDB 等，還要有在全球被不少企業廣泛採用的技術架構，才能保證系統能有效及穩定地提供服務。
我們常常強調要「Tech for Change」透過科技為生活帶來改變，也期望這次疫情的挑戰下，能促使雲計算進一步的普及應用，業界亦能更加密切地合作，這不僅會讓市民大眾感受到新興科技帶來的多種正向改變，亦將助香港加快步伐，邁向數字經濟的未來。
As the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong gradually subsides and the market and economy gradually regain their vitality, it is time to review and summarize the experience of the past few months in the fight against the epidemic.
My deepest feeling is the popularity of technology solutions, as the public began to recognize that technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence can enhance the effectiveness of social resources during the epidemic. Modern large-scale IT systems are not easy to develop and operate properly in a short period of time, but cloud computing infrastructure can be extended to serve the public as quickly as laying a standard electricity or water supply. The local technology industry is also willing to contribute when the society needs it.
For example, a group of friends from the innovation industry set up an online platform called StandByU to provide a one-stop information platform to fight the epidemic in the fifth wave. I do remember when the whole city was scrambling to buy the rapid test kits, the platform also helped the citizens to get information on the points of sale.
This platform was initiated by the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Volunteer Alliance, with the full support of the Bank of China Hong Kong, Forms HK and Alibaba Cloud, to consolidate the information on the epidemic that was originally scattered in many different websites for easy access by the public. As far as I know, the innovation sector has made use of the various modern cloud computing development and operation platforms provided by Alibaba Cloud to make the platform operational within a short period of time.
A seemingly simple information integration platform actually requires network security, including WAF firewall, SLB load balancing, OSS distributed image storage, ECS virtual server, PolarDB cloud native database, and other technologies that are widely adopted by many enterprises around the world to ensure the system can provide services effectively and stably.
We always emphasize on “Tech for Change” to bring changes to life through technology. We hope that the challenges of this epidemic will lead to further popularization of cloud computing and closer cooperation among the industry, which will not only let the public feel the many positive changes brought by emerging technologies, but also help Hong Kong to accelerate its pace towards the future of digital economy.
