National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University (hereinafter referred to as NYCU) and Optoma Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Optoma) have collaborated to establish the “AI and Virtual Reality Research and Design Center,” which officially opened on April 20, 2023. The research center brings together talents from NYCU’s Department of Computer Science and Optoma’s research team to develop technical solutions for human-machine interaction in the era of artificial intelligence and create more innovative applications.
According to President Chi-Hung Lin of NYCU, the interaction between humans and machines has undergone revolutionary changes in the era of artificial intelligence. In the education industry, particularly in higher education, interactive AI and virtual reality, applications have the potential to make learning more engaging, improve learning efficiency, and foster students’ independent learning abilities. This, in turn, reduces the burden on faculty members, allowing them to focus more on innovative teaching and forward-looking research.
These advancements are particularly relevant in the past two years following the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, campuses worldwide faced challenges in establishing consistent learning environments during lockdowns and adapting to the technical requirements of hybrid interactive education. This has accelerated the demand for digital transformation and virtual-real interaction technologies.
The establishment of the AI and Virtual Reality Research and Design Center between NYCU and Optoma aims to apply academic research to industrial applications and cultivate AI technology talents in Taiwan and connect them with the international community.
Shi-Yuan Chen, the chairperson of Optoma, discussed the project’s prospects, stating, “As a leading brand in large format displays, we have dedicated ourselves to interactive experiences in display technology for many years. The advent of AI has completely transformed human-computer interaction and design creation. Therefore, we have initiated a university-industry cooperation with the Department of Computer Science at NYCU to establish the ‘Optoma AI and Virtual Reality Research and Design Center.’ We aim to harness the research and design expertise in AI and virtual-reality interactive technology from both Optoma and NYCU, fostering greater imagination and research exploration through implementing the ‘Future Classroom’ within the center. By integrating development outcomes with real industrial needs, we aspire to inspire more talents to enter the field of AI and virtual reality interactive applications, thereby advancing Taiwan’s industrial landscape.
NYCU has maintained a close working relationship with Optoma in the past. With the establishment of the “AI and Virtual Reality Research and Design Center,” a two-year research project has been initiated involving Prof. Kuan-Wen Chen and Prof. Liwei Chan from the Department of Computer Science. The research project will focus on “Sensory Detection for Future Classrooms” and “Hybrid Remote Collaboration and Virtual Interaction Technology.” The two professors will delve into AI interactive applications and virtual-reality interactive collaboration technology.
As a distinguished alumnus of NYCU, Chairperson Shi-Yuan Chen is recognized as the founding father of Optoma. Since its establishment in 2002, Optoma has taken the lead in establishing a global presence. It has become the industry leader in digital image processing, offering services in over 150 countries across five continents. The company has actively engaged in various professional applications within the education, business, home, entertainment, and exhibition sectors, resulting in numerous international product design awards. Committed to corporate social responsibility and societal welfare, Optoma has collaborated with universities and colleges for several years to promote and advance immersive education initiatives.
Aside from the “NYCU-Optoma AI and Virtual Reality Research and Design Center,” Optoma has also been involved in constructing the Beyond Computing Museum in NYCU, the first museum in Taiwan dedicated to showcasing computer sciences. Optoma’s contributions encompass the provision of interactive laser projection equipment and the donation of 86-inch interactive multi-touch displays and intelligent teaching solutions to the interactive future classroom. These efforts aim to enhance concentration levels during learning, inspire more efficient interaction between teachers and students, and foster an improved classroom experience. Additionally, interactive touch screens can replace traditional blackboards, creating a dust-free and pollution-free teaching environment.