GCIT Visits iOCEAN for an Experience in Immersive Exhibition Technology in Marine Education

Prof. Wen-Hung LIAO (center) led a group of students from the Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT) to Chaojing Intelligent Ocean (iOCEAN) for a field trip to learn about exhibition technology.（Photo by GCIT）
Prof. Wen-Hung LIAO (center) led a group of students from the Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT) to Chaojing Intelligent Ocean (iOCEAN) for a field trip to learn about exhibition technology.（Photo by GCIT）
Integrating interactive technology into the exhibits, visitors can interact with the animated marine life on the projection screen to learn about the corresponding fun facts.（Photo by GCIT）
Integrating interactive technology into the exhibits, visitors can interact with the animated marine life on the projection screen to learn about the corresponding fun facts.（Photo by GCIT）
Students from GCIT were particularly intrigued by the “Painting Ocean” zone. The interactive installation greatly enhances the visiting experience and facilitates the delivery of a conservation message.（Photo by GCIT）
Students from GCIT were particularly intrigued by the “Painting Ocean” zone. The interactive installation greatly enhances the visiting experience and facilitates the delivery of a conservation message.（Photo by GCIT）
In the “Painting Ocean” zone, visitors can create their own marine life on coloring paper. After real-time scanning, the unique marine creatures will appear on the projection wall and interact with the visitors.（Photo by GCIT）
In the “Painting Ocean” zone, visitors can create their own marine life on coloring paper. After real-time scanning, the unique marine creatures will appear on the projection wall and interact with the visitors.（Photo by GCIT）
Date : 2022-11-14 Department : Master’s Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology
【Article by the Master's Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology】
Known as “Formosa” (which means “Beautiful Island” in Portuguese), Taiwan has rich and biodiverse coastal areas. With technological advancement, Taiwan has been trying to integrate innovative exhibition technology for the purpose of educating the general public about marine conservation.  Students of the Master's Program in Global Communication and Innovation Technology (GCIT), led by Prof. Wen-Hung LIAO (Computer Science), course instructor of the required course “New Media, Technology and Society,” paid a visit to Chaojing Intelligent Ocean (iOCEAN) on November 10th, 2022, to discover what local natural resources there are under the sea, and to learn about conservation and research initiatives, also to explore the beautiful coastal city of Keelung.
 
iOCEAN is one of the exhibits inside the National Ocean Science and Technology Museum. In addition to displaying more than 300 species of marine life, the museum makes use of several immersive exhibition technologies to enhance the visiting experience.
 
GCIT students were divided into groups to join an exhibition tour. The unique underwater journey began with the depiction of “Whale Fall”, an important and well-known natural phenomenon. When a whale dies, its massive carcass sinks to the seabed, where it provides a vast amount of food and nutrients to the marine ecosystem. Large projected panels at the entrance immerse visitors in the beautiful circle of life. The journey continued with dives into the intertidal zone, the inshore area, followed by the jellyfish belt and the deep sea. A variety of marine life was displayed in several exhibition areas to showcase the beauty of underwater biodiversity. Throughout the tour, the guide shared fun facts about the ecology of the miraculous water world as well as ways to live an ocean-friendly life that helps the ocean and marine life.
 
GCIT students were particularly intrigued by the “Painting Ocean” zone. The section allows visitors to paint their own marine life on coloring paper. After real-time scanning, the unique marine creatures will appear on the projection wall and interact with the visitors. It echoes the core message conveyed in the museum. It is the vast diversity of animals that makes the ocean special and precious. Prof. LIAO also explained the operational details of the scanners, motion sensors, and projectors used in the installation. He reiterated that the application of exhibition technology can greatly enhance one’s experience and facilitate the delivery of a message or information. 

The trip to iOCEAN allowed students to observe and investigate the potential of technological implementation in exhibitions and public education. Apart from learning about exhibition technology from this field trip, the course “New Media, Technology and Society” also aims to introduce novel technologies in mass media, new media, the metaverse, VR/AR interactions, etc. With the interdisciplinary learning spirit of the program, GCIT students have the opportunity to study, examine and experience how these technologies are applied in various fields.