As a provider of distance education, the OUHK has always tried to use technology in teaching and support services so as to enhance access and bring more flexibility and convenience to students and staff.

First E-Text Centre in Hong Kong

Following the launch of the Electronic Library last November, the OUHK will now set up the first Electronic Text Centre (E-Text Centre) in Hong Kong in 2000. Once completed, it will collect thousands of Chinese electronic texts, eventually becoming one of the largest Chinese E-text centres in the world. The project, which is part of the second phase development of the Electronic Library, will take 18 months and cost $19 million.

Heading the project is Prof. Leung Chun-ming, Director of Technology Development at the OUHK. According to Prof. Leung, electronic texts currently available on the Internet are mostly in English, with a serious lack of Chinese electronic texts.

'It is a challenge to set up an E-text Centre of such a scale,' said Prof. Leung. 'We have had to overcome quite a few technical problems. For example, in the course of sourcing Chinese texts, we found that very few of them have an electronic version. Our task is to find the most economical way of digitization to keep the cost down.'

During a visit to the US in January this year, Prof. Leung examined the major trends and applications of information technologies in digital library services. He found that many new and powerful media tools and technologies could be employed in developing the E-text Centre. 'We are confident that our project can be accomplished in the most cost-effective way with the best outcome.'

A major objective of the second phase development is to further improve Electronic Library services by upgrading the network and enhancing the user interface. Studies will also be carried out to explore the deployment of new network services and the feasibility of providing web-browsing support for disabled students.

Multimedia laboratory

Staff and staff Intranets

The new OUHK Staff Intranet using web technology was launched in mid-March. Colleagues can now retrieve their email anywhere in the world, without bothering with email configuration. All they have to do is click 'WebMail'in the Staff Intranet on the University's home page.

The enhanced Bulletin Board provides an improved forum for university communication. The latest news -- from software upgrades to new lunch menus in the OU Club -- is now placed in an eye-catching position. It also provides a user-friendly search tool for staff to retrieve old bulletin messages.

Staff can access local news and OUHK policies and guidelines, download work-related forms and check their annual leave balance as well as which staff are on leave. Course Coordinators can obtain the latest tutorial times and venue information.

The proposed Student Intranet is expected to facilitate the exchange of information between students and the University. Due to be launched in the October 1999 semester, students will be able to get first-hand tutorial rearrangement information and receive library notices through email.

OUHK on CD-ROM

In a move to enhance efficiency and become more cost-efficient, the University will soon be producing an OUHK CD-ROM, a convenient and useful resource for students. Students can use it to install dial-up programs to access the Electronic Library and online courses, and to install Netscape browser and other useful software. They can also search and access information on all courses offered at the OUHK, as well as the student and library handbooks and other general information about the university. Some links to useful websites relevant to various programmes will also be included.

Students should opt for this CD-ROM if they have access to a computer with a CD-ROM drive. Those who do not can opt for the print version of the student and library handbooks, according to Linda Chow, Publishing Manager at the OUHK.

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