How Minecraft inspired one Hong Kong student to pursue his passion for tech and develop an AI tool for public hospitals
- Johnny Ho Chun-hung will attend the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology through the direct admission scheme – one of only 239 students this year
- Love of gaming led to programming, and the 18-year-old has already launched his own tech start-up
Form Six student Johnny Ho Chun-hung was among the 239 students to be admitted to university through the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme this year. Photo: Kelly FungIn 2021, Johnny Ho Chun-hung was suffering from a high fever as he stared at a pile of forms while waiting in the emergency ward at North Lantau Hospital.
There, the secondary school student noticed the tedious, lengthy process involved in the hospital’s operations, from registering patients to assessing the urgency of their needs. This spurred him to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model to automate these procedures and shorten wait times at public hospitals.
“Our AI model can conduct an early assessment for patients, classify patients into groups based on their conditions and prioritise treatment for those in need,” said the 18-year-old from PLK Mrs Ma Kam Ming-Cheung Fook Sien College.
The project won Gold at Master Code 2021, an AI contest for students organised by Microsoft and EdCity.
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But this is neither the start nor end of Ho’s journey. Not only has he won quite a few other tech competitions, but last year, he also founded a start-up, Visionerse, where he works on freelance projects in programming, video-editing and motion graphic design.
Still, the pupil’s most remarkable feat so far is being admitted to his dream school, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
Ho was among 239 students in this year’s School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme, which allows DSE candidates with exceptional accomplishments to be directly admitted to local universities without considering their exam results.
“My academic performance wasn’t that good so some classmates used to look down on me. Through this programme, I proved I can get into university,” said Ho, who will be studying for a bachelor of business administration in information systems.
From gaming to coding
The student taught himself all these skills through Google, YouTube and ChatGPT.
It all began with his love for gaming – specifically Minecraft. In Primary Six, Ho posted a video on YouTube, which showed him experimenting with a complex visual effect on the popular game. The video has since garnered more than 685,000 views.
“Minecraft allowed me to learn how to set up a server to play with friends, and [use] Java, which is a programming language that allows users to create mini-games,” he explained. “Gaming inspired me to explore the field of technology further, and as a result, I developed my programming skills.”
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Thanks to his YouTube channel’s success, Ho found opportunities to continue building up his abilities.
In 2020, he worked on Asia’s first virtual concert for the Hong Kong band, C AllStar, using Minecraft.
“I wrote a program using Java to create a big screen placed in the virtual Coliseum and effects of fireworks synchronised with the music ... I also did the 3D modelling for the four members of the band,” he said.
Always growing
While Ho poured time into his passion, his academics suffered during his junior form years.
“I ended up in the lowest performing class in Form Three, and many of my classmates didn’t prioritise academics,” he shared. “I found myself closer to people online than in real life.”
But that ended up being a turning point for Ho: “I worked hard on my academics and earned a place in the best class in Form Four. There, I connected with a group of friends who shared similar interests and were also excelling academically. Together, we began participating in contests.” As he enters university, Ho hopes to bring like-minded people into his start-up. The teen has yet to start his first year, but he already has big plans.
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“I want to improve HKUST’s existing campus navigation app,” he said. “Within the next four years, I aim to create a cross-platform app that combines social networking with augmented reality and music.”
The budding entrepreneur advised other young people to explore their interests, enter competitions and seek advice from industry leaders.
“Don’t be shy to connect with people who are competent, even if some [peers] may become envious of your accomplishments. Overcoming such negativity is the hardest part, but it is essential,” Ho said, adding that these experts had invaluable insight.
“Be thick-skinned and just reach out.”