On April 26, Director Lin Wei-Lun and Professor Zhou Wei-Lun from the Department of Psychology at Fo Guang University led over 20 psychology students enrolled in the "Psychology and Human Factors Design" course on a visit to Kendal Information Technology Company in Toucheng, Yilan County. During the visit, students experienced the virtual technology studio firsthand, reflecting on cross-disciplinary applications of perceptual psychology. Faculty from the College of Creativity and Technology, including the Department of Communication and the Department of Information Applications, also participated in the event. This visit aimed to inspire thinking about integrating psychology, communication, and information applications, paving the way for future research and teaching on virtual perception.
Director Lin Wei-Lun expressed his excitement about witnessing Kendal's cutting-edge technology, describing it as eye-opening. He emphasized the importance of considering how these emerging technologies could be integrated with perceptual psychology or other psychological research areas.
Professor Zhou Wei-Lun highlighted that the visit to the virtual filming site allowed students to see the practical applications of perceptual psychology, complementing what they learned in class. He noted that combining hands-on experience, such as the creation of 3D objects from the previous week, with virtual and real-world interactions provided students with a comprehensive and practical learning opportunity. Zhou also expressed a desire for future collaborations with the Department of Communication to integrate perceptual psychology knowledge into more practical applications.
Director Zhou Zheng-Hao of Kendal Information Technology encouraged students to think about how media resources could be integrated across industries. He pointed out that industries beyond film and television require design, packaging, and sales, which often involve product development and demonstrations using VR technologies. Understanding production processes and social trends enables individuals to anticipate future steps effectively.
Professor Huang Wen-Long from the Department of Communication emphasized the fast-changing nature of the times, highlighting the increasing need for cross-disciplinary talent, especially in communication and product design industries. He expressed optimism that the collaboration with Kendal Information Technology could offer students a global perspective and help the Department of Psychology better understand the trends in product technology, particularly the importance of human factors. Huang hopes for more opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning between departments in the future.
Student Testimonial:
Senior psychology student Zheng Jia-Xin described the visit as a rare opportunity to closely experience advanced technologies and witness the latest developments in the virtual industry. She noted that the visit provided insights into the cross-disciplinary applications of Unreal technology, inspiring students to think about future possibilities.
During the visit, the psychology team explored various virtual studio technologies, including extended reality (XR), object tracking, and real-time camera tracking systems like Ncam. The hands-on experience with virtual technology interaction encouraged students to consider integrating psychology and virtual perception. This visit marks the beginning of expanding innovative research and applications in psychology.
Captions for Images:
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Director Zhou Zheng-Hao (first from the left) from Kendal Information Technology, Director Lin Wei-Lun (fifth from the right), Professor Zhou Wei-Lun (fourth from the right), Professor Huang Wen-Long (first from the right), Professor Zhang Yu-Lin (second from the left), Professor Guo Long (second from the right), Professor Xu Hui-Mei (third from the right), and 21 senior psychology students at the virtual technology studio.
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Director Zhou Zheng-Hao introducing virtual technology to the group.
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Zhou Zheng-Hao and Kendal staff demonstrating the real-time camera tracking system Ncam.
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Psychology students attentively listening to Director Zhou Zheng-Hao's explanation of practical applications in the virtual industry.
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Faculty members from the Departments of Psychology, Communication, and Information Applications participating in the Kendal Information Technology visit.
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Psychology students interacting with virtual technology during the visit.
