Reference List of IT Equipment (Primary Schools)

Participating schools should go through the Important Notes before making reference to the reference equipment list and follow Application Guidance of the “Knowing More About IT” (Know-IT) Programme in primary schools initiative in making applications.

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Reference List of IT Equipment
Technology Hardware / Software / Cloud Services Level Pre-requisite, if any
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Hardware - Speech-enabled Smart Voice Assistant Device
  • Smart Assistant devices can be an inspiring tool for students to learn the inner working of smart assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant.
  • Learn the basics of Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning.
  • Understand the operation of text-to-speech and speech-to-text.
  • Support to be controlled through speech commands.
  • Support coding with external API to control IoT devices such as light switches and home appliances.
  • Support programming using Natural Language Processing technology to enable the assistant to understand colloquial expressions in Cantonese and English.
  • Software for students to learn how to design conversational model using intents, entities and scenes.
ElementaryNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Cloud Services - AI Learning Platform
  • AI learning platform allows students to learn basic programming logic, AI elementary theory and AI practical experiments.
  • Support programming languages such as Blocky and Python
ElementaryNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Hardware - Vision Recognition Kits
  • Equip with camera, which can recognise objects, faces and emotions using machine learning
MediumNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Hardware - AI Development Kit
  • The AI development kit set includes components, e.g. mini-pic, sensors, LED, webcam, display and etc.
  • Allow student to build different innovative AI devices by blocks coding.
MediumNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Hardware - Voice Recognition Kits
  • Hardware kits that equip with microcontroller board/embedded processor, e.g. Raspberry Pi.
  • With microphone, audio speaker, and other programming controllable peripherals, e.g. button, LEDs, GPIO pins, etc.
  • Can run pre-trained machine learning models locally for cognitive functions, such as translation of speech into texts and taking voice commands.
  • Support common programing languages, e.g. Python.
  • Can be configured via web browsers, mobile app, SSH, etc.
MediumNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Software / Cloud Services - Vision Tools
  • Cloud service to support computer vision API for detecting, categorising and labelling objects (e.g. animals, building, cars, etc.) or analysing videos.
  • Support REST APIs or SDKs for development of applications that analyse image data by trained machine learning models.
AdvancedNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Software / Cloud Services - Speech and Text Tools
  • Cloud service to support speech API.
  • Support REST APIs or SDKs for development of applications that performs conversation of speech-to-text, text-to-speech, speech-translation and textual analysis functions.
  • Support multi-languages (e.g. English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, German, Spanish, etc.) and text tools (e.g. English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, French, German, Spanish, etc.).
AdvancedNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware - Elementary VR Headsets (Slide-on Head-mounted Display)
  • An elementary VR headset consists of a holder that a smartphone is inserted into it for displaying VR scenes.
  • It is assembled by using simple and low cost components such as cardboards, plastic, etc.
  • Some of the headsets contain simple components for input and require additional controllers for advanced interaction.
  • It is suitable for designing and implementing simple VR applications.
  • Smartphone is required.
ElementaryNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Software - Cross-platform Development Engine for Creating Interactive 360 VR Contents
  • DIY interactive 360 VR contents/ games by drag-n-drop buttons
  • Compatible with immersive VR & MR system and associated tracking tools
ElementaryHigh efficiency PC/ Laptop with graphic card is required
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Software - Cross-platform Development Engine for Creating Interactive VR & MR Simulation Scenes/ Games
  • Design and create MR scenes/ games with 3D asset library by drag-n-drop buttons
  • Compatible with immersive VR & MR system and associated tracking tools
MediumHigh efficiency PC/ Laptop with graphic card is required
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware - 360 Degree Cameras
  • Cameras having a field of view that covers approximately the entire sphere or at least a full circle in the horizontal plane.
  • The photos and videos captured can be used to create 3D VR scenes / games / animations.
MediumNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware - Premium VR/AR headset
  • VR/AR headsets consist of accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and motion sensor to detect the user's motion in addition to VR/AR function.
  • It is designed as a standalone system which can be programmed to different VR/AR application.
MediumNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Software - Cross- platform Development Engine for Creating AR Apps
  • Support creating AR apps including applications and games that overlays computer-generated content on top of the real world.
  • The app can be deployed across platforms (e.g. iOS, Android, etc.) and devices (e.g. smartphones, tablet computers, etc.).
  • Mobile devices are required.
MediumNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Software - Cross- platform Development Engine for Creating VR Scenes / Games / Animations
  • Support creating 3D VR scenes / games / animations which can be operated in different kinds of devices such as elementary VR headsets, advanced VR/MR head-mounted display, etc.
  • Support coding editor and 3D modelling editor
  • Mobile devices are required.
MediumRequire knowledge of computer graphics design and 3D modelling.
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware - Advanced VR / MR Head-mounted Display Devices with Controllers
  • Head-mounted devices (HMD) with controllers that can display high resolution quality of computer-generated panoramic images and data with low latency.
  • Some support providing MR experiences which present an overlay of digital content that interacts with objects in the real world to users.
  • Some support providing built-in hands tracking, interactions and gesture sensor module.
  • Support wired or wireless connection to a PC or fully standalone with built-in computing power.
AdvancedNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware / Software - Immersive VR & MR system
  • Equip with visual, audio, motion tracking components and core VR enabler, which create a multi-dimensional immersive VR environment with a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world
  • Supports motion tracking and multiple trackers to facilitate user to interact with the environment through natural body gestures, physical movements or real-life tools and AI voice recognition
AdvancedNone
Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)Hardware / Software - Projectors, Motion Capture Devices and Associated Software for Virtual Reality CAVE System
  • Devices which create an immersive virtual reality environment, with a perception of being physically present in a non-physical world, where projectors are directed to between three and six of the walls of a room-sized cube.
  • Motion capture devices are used to record user's physical movements to interact with the environment.
AdvancedNone
Big DataSoftware / Cloud Services - Data Visualisation Tools
  • Tools in the form of software or online platform that support data visualization.
  • Support interactive visualisation of statistical profile metrics, interactive dashboards, tables, charts and graphics, etc.
  • The tools may run in different ways such as client software running on desktop OS (e.g. Windows, MacOS, etc.), mobile apps, or online service on websites.
AdvancedNone
Coding / AlgorithmSoftware - Educational Coding Software
  • Offer online learning platforms/tools for students to learn coding with a physical-simulation engine.
MediumNone
Cloud ComputingCloud Services - Version Control Repository
  • Provide the central place where developers store, share, test and collaborate on web projects.
  • Used for track changes and manage different versions of projects as they change over time.
  • Manage projects by individual or with a team, quickly identify changes made, especially if issues arise within the code.
  • May support additional features, such as issue tracking, import and export, documentation and wikis. The charge is usually based on data volume per project or per user, or private repositories, backups needed.
  • Most of cloud service providers offer free plan with limited storage and features.
MediumNone
Cloud ComputingCloud Services - Cloud Storage Services
  • Support elastic cloud data storage for users to store files or data (such as web based media like video, images, audio) on a platform that can be accessible from the Internet.
  • Dependent on individual providers, supported access methods, such as Internet "folder" or "drive" via HTTP or file system, synchronisation /backup with devices via corresponding applications or mobile App, block storage access via iSCSI, RESTful API or proprietary interfaces.
  • May support additional features, such as online editing, file versioning, encryption. The charge is usually based on data volume per month or per year.
  • Some cloud storage providers offer free plan.
AdvancedNone
Drone CodingHardware - Programmable Drone
  • Equip with camera and sensors
  • Support coding (e.g. Scratch, Blocky, etc) for custom flight pattern
  • Programmable with tablet / laptop / PC
MediumNone
Drone CodingHardware - Programmable mini-drones
  • Recommended net weight below 100 grams
  • Drones can be a good and inspiring tools for students to learn computational thinking, coding, and analytical thinking
  • The drone kits consist of various drone components such as propeller, motor, frame etc, that can be assembled by students for learning the fundamental knowledge about drones, including the structures, flying mechanism and how they work with drone coding.
  • Suitable kits should support coding (e.g. Scratch, Blocky, etc) for custom flight pattern.
MediumNone
Drone CodingHardware - Programmable drone accessories (mission pad, flight map, props for obstacle)
  • Accessories used together with programmable drones to perform different kinds of activities and competitions:
    • Mission pad provides different icons on the map representing the location ID for the drone to perform different missions
    • Flight map is a large size mission pad which contains more complex icons for drone to perform single-drone or multi-drones flight mission
    • Props for obstacle are the object component for different drone missions such as obstacle avoidance and obstacle detection
MediumNone
Drone CodingSoftware - Drone Coding Software
  • Software for students to design custom flight patterns and/or to develop applications.
  • Support coding (e.g. Javascript, Python, etc.) for drone flight controllers to control drones.
  • Depending on individual software, the software can be run in different forms such as mobile apps, desktop applications, etc.
MediumNone
Digital Game Design and DevelopmentHardware - Graphic Cards / External GPUs
  • Support high quality graphics, 3D animation and video display for digital game development.
  • Support graphics processor and VRAM to deliver high quality graphic experiences and compatible I/O connections internally (such as PCI Express) and externally (such as Thunderbolt 3, USB Type C, etc.).
  • Support APIs (e.g. Open Graphics Library (OpenGL), DirectX, Vulkan, etc.) in PC / laptops for rendering graphics.
MediumNone
Digital Game Design and DevelopmentSoftware - Game Engines for Development
  • Support development tools including integrated development environment with support of coding languages (e.g. C#, Javascript, Python, C++, etc.), graphic editor, animation tools, APIs, etc.
  • Support features to create digital games, including three-dimensional, two-dimensional, virtual reality, and augmented reality games, as well as simulations, animations and other game experiences.
  • Support different platforms (e.g. PC (Windows, MacOS), headset, game consoles, mobile devices (e.g. iOS, Android), etc.).
AdvancedNone
IoT CodingHardware - Educational Microcontrollers
  • Support coding (e.g. Scratch, Python, etc.) on different operating systems (e.g. Windows, MacOS, etc.).
  • Normally consist of sensors, buttons, display, connectivity (e.g. Bluetooth, USB), etc.
  • Could be used as remote sensing nodes, smart home devices or other parts of an IoT network.
ElementaryNone
IoT CodingHardware - Smart Home Kits
  • Equip with various sensors that support coding of various smart home applications with microcontroller.
ElementaryNone
IoT CodingHardware - IoT Educational Programmable Robot
  • Allow students to assemble different objects (e.g. traffic lights, and different elements in a smart city model) by using building blocks.
  • Support a range of input sensors such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, light sensors, proximity sensors, RFID readers, etc.
  • Support various output devices such as LEDs, small OLED screens, speakers, motors, servos, etc. that can be combined with the microcontrollers to make IoT devices.
MediumMay require coding experience
IoT CodingHardware - IoT Kit Set
  • Allow student to build different innovative intelligent devices by blocks coding.
  • Include components, e.g. micro-controller, LED, battery, display, vibration motor, mini fan, and sensors of colour, distance, gesture, light etc.
MediumNone
IoT CodingSoftware / Cloud Service - Management and Analytic Tools for IoT Devices
  • Support different IoT functions such as monitoring physical IoT devices, making connections between multiple IoT devices, data streaming.
  • Support real-time analytics functions to collect, filter, transform.
  • Support the use of APIs and coding languages (e.g. SQL, Javascript, C#, etc.), etc. to drill into unstructured data from IoT devices.
MediumNone
IoT CodingSoftware / Cloud Services - Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for Microcontrollers Coding
  • Support transfer of coded programs (e.g. C++, Python, etc.) to compatible microcontrollers.
  • Students can write code by such tools for the microcontrollers to perform functions such as controlling, sensing and communication among devices.
AdvancedNone
Mobile App DevelopmentHardware - Mobile Devices
  • Devices including smartphones, tablet computers, etc. that are used to develop, test and run mobile apps.
MediumNone
Mobile App DevelopmentSoftware / Cloud Services - Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for App Development
  • Support tools including frameworks, app simulators, etc. to write, test and build apps for different operating systems (e.g. iOS, Android).
  • Support text editors for text-based coding (e.g. Xcode, Android Studio, etc.).
  • Support graphical user interface with drag-and-drop features for block-based coding (e.g. App Inventor, Thunkable, etc.).
AdvancedNone
Artificial Intelligence (AI)Hardware - Educational Programmable Robot
  • An educational programmable robot such as car, drone, humanoid robot, quadruped robot, etc.
  • Support AI chip and sensors such as vision sensor, microphone, speaker, etc to give AI functions such as vision recognition, voice recognition, AIoT, etc.
  • Aim to educate students to build new projects to solve daily life problems by applying the knowledge they learnt, such as applying AIoT knowledge to build a smart home and applying face recognition knowledge to build an automatic door opening device, etc.
  • Support deploying trained machine learning models from the cloud to the robot.
  • Support block-based and text-based coding.
MediumMay require text-based programming experience.
Robotics CodingHardware - Educational Programmable Robot
  • Support robot components such as building blocks, wheels, motors, sensors, mechanical arms, processing unit on board, etc.
  • Support coding on the assembled robot to design some tasks (e.g. following lines to grab, hold and move objects by robotic arms, etc.).
  • Support block-based coding (e.g. Micro:bit MakeCode and Studuino) or text-based coding (e.g. Python editor in MUeditor).
ElementaryNone
Robotics CodingHardware - Preassembled Programmable Robots with Different Functions
  • Different types of preassembled programmable robots which can be coded to perform various functions such as simple movement, image analysis, voice dialogue, etc.
  • Examples of this type of robots include dancing robots, underwater robots, conversational robots and acrobatic wheeled robot.
  • Supported platforms for development may include mobile apps, specific desktop applications, etc., depending on the robots design.
MediumNone
Robotics CodingHardware - Programmable Building Block Robots
  • Allow students to assemble the robot into different objects
  • Support robot or electronic components such as wheels, motors, sensors, display and LED
  • Support block-based coding (e.g. Scratch, Blocky, etc.)
ElementaryNone
Robotics CodingHardware - Robotic arms
  • Allow students to program the robotic arm to perform any desired task such as drawing, gripping, rotating, etc.
  • Equipped with camera for object recognition
  • Examples of the application including smart supermarket, object classification, etc.
  • Support block-based coding (e.g. scratch)
  • Support coding with API using Python, Java and C++
MediumNone
Robotics CodingHardware - Robotic car
  • Equip with camera, which can recognise objects and obstacles
  • Allow student to program reassembled robotic car which can be programmed to perform various functions such as tag tracking, obstacle avoidance and object recognition.
  • Support block-based coding
MediumNone
Robotics CodingHardware - Quadrupedal robot
  • Allow students to program the quadrupedal robot to perform various functions such as different walking gaits and movement in all directions
  • Allow students to add various development platforms or sensors to enrich the perception functions for various performances such as ultrasonic sensor, image recognition module, infrared sensor, etc.
  • Support various sensors and modules to give AI function such as vision recognition
  • Equipped with servo motor on each leg and with 3 joints allowing the robot to have 12 degrees of movement
  • Equipped with 32-bit microcontroller and support graphical programming, Python programming
AdvancedRequire block-based coding experience
Web DevelopmentCloud Service - Web Hosting Service
  • Provide online web hosting services.
  • Support functions of web server including data storage, Internet connectivity, domain name hosting, etc.
  • Allow students to make their websites accessible via the World Wide Web.
MediumNone
Web DevelopmentSoftware - Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) for Web Development
  • Support comprehensive facilities for web development including source code editor, build tools, deployment tools, debuggers, etc.
  • Support different coding languages (e.g. .NET, Python, C++, etc.).
AdvancedNone
OthersHardware - 3D Printers
  • Used for 3D modelling maker workshops.
  • Support creating three-dimensional objects by joining or solidifying different kinds of materials under computer control.
  • Such workshops can produce complementary products for building an IT prototype.
  • 3D printing filament is required.
ElementaryNone
OthersHardware - 3D Scanners
  • Used for 3D modelling maker workshops.
  • Support scanning real-world objects or environments to collect data on their shape and possibly its appearance.
  • Support constructing digital 3D models from the collected data, which is otherwise difficult to be built with 3D modelling software.
  • Such workshops can produce complementary products for building an IT prototype.
ElementaryNone
OthersSoftware - 3D CAD Software
  • Used for 3D modelling maker workshops.
  • Support creating and designing 3D models which can be processed by 3D printers to create three-dimensional objects.
  • Such workshops can produce complementary products for building an IT prototype.
MediumNone
OthersHardware - Laser Cutters
  • Used for 3D modelling maker workshops.
  • Support cutting or engraving different materials by following a pattern under software control.
  • Such workshops can produce complementary products for building an IT prototype.
MediumNone

Important Notes:
1. The purpose of the reference equipment list is to provide general information on IT products for organising IT-related activities funded under the Know-IT Programme in primary schools initiative. The reference items, descriptions and specifications are for reference only. They do NOT imply recommendation, endorsement or guarantee of any product by DPO, nor are they specific purchase instructions. Participating schools should select and procure suitable product(s) by making individual assessments or relevant consultation on the applicability of the items, regardless of whether they are on the reference equipment list, according to the needs of their needs and circumstances of the schools.

2. Rapid technology development has given rise to a wide range of relevant products available and hence this reference equipment list is by no means to be treated as exhaustive. It was drawn up through consolidation of advice of the Advisory Committee to the IT Innovation Lab in Schools initiative. DPO will review and update the reference equipment list as and when appropriate as recommended by the Advisory Committee.

3. The funding for Know-IT Programme in primary schools may cover the one-off grant and warranty or maintenance and related cost within the three school years up to 2023/24 school year. Participating schools may need to take into account any cost of works and recurrent expenses incurred beyond the three school years period.

4. Participating schools should adhere to the principles of open and fair competition, transparency, integrity and innovation on procurement and are required to follow proper procurement, accounting and financial control procedures as set out in the EDB Circular No. 4/2013, the School Administration Guide, the Stores and Procurement Regulations and other relevant guidelines, as revised from time to time. Participating schools should also make reference to the “Best Practice Checklist on Procurement” issued by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).