Date: 13 March 2024
Venue: NIE Library (LIBytes)
Equipment: HTC Vive Focus 3, Meta Quest 3, Merge Edu Apps and Merge Cubes, AlphaMini Robots
Experiences: The event showcased five intriguing stations, each providing a unique glimpse into the world of modern technology:
1.Meta Quest VR: With the Quest 3, participants dove headfirst (literally!) into the intriguing world of mixed reality by solving a 3D puzzle in Cubism or capturing fuzzy aliens that appeared (seemingly or not) in the library in First Encounters.
2. HTC Vive VR: From navigating surrealistic dreamscapes in Dreams of Dali to embarking on virtual travels to natural (postcard worthy) landscapes in Brink Traveler, attendees marveled at the immersive power of VR, while using the HTC Vive Focus 3 headset.
3.Merge Cube AR: AR took center stage at this station, where participants witnessed the wonders of science come to life. From observing the life cycle of a frog stage by stage to exploring real-time earthquake data (in the palm of their hands), attendees were captivated by the interactive experiences offered by the Merge Cube and Merge Edu Apps (Merge Explorer, Merge Object Viewer and Merge HoloGlobe).
4.AlphaMini and Me Station: Here, attendees learned how to program the AlphaMini robot to perform a variety of movements. From tai chi to kung fu to yoga, participants discovered the many possibilities of robotics in a fun and engaging way.
5. AlphaMini and ChatGPT Station: At this interactive station, participants engaged in dialogue with AlphaMini, delving into a world of conversation powered by ChatGPT. Attendees posed questions, exchanged ideas, and explored topics of interest, experiencing firsthand the seamless integration of robotics and AI.
Purpose: LIBytes, located on Level 3 of the library, is a dedicated space for tech exploration and interaction, offering access to carefully curated virtual reality (VR), mixed reality, augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications aimed at enriching learning and research experiences. Users can borrow these resources for in-library use, immersing themselves in interactive experiences spanning various subjects. The library was abuzz with excitement as 96 tech enthusiasts and curious minds gathered to experience the much-anticipated LiBytes launch event on 13 March 2024. From VR adventures to AR and AI marvels, attendees were treated to a half-day filled with innovation and exploration, with free snacks to boot. As the event drew to a close, attendees departed with a newfound appreciation for the intersection of technology and education. The LIBytes launch event had not only showcased advancements in VR, AR, and robotics but had also inspired imaginations and sparked curiosity, many with the hope of integrating such immersive technologies into the classrooms.
Date: 25 and 27 March, 1 and 22 April 2024
Venue: NIE Library (LIBytes)
Equipment: Meta Quest 3, Merge Edu Apps and Merge Cubes, AlphaMini Robots
Experiences: For the VR component, we used Cubism (Meta Quest 3) and Sustainability@NIE (developed in-house) to demonstrate a 360 VR tour. For the AR component, we showcased various topic cards eg. a frog's lifecycle and the galaxy system on the Merge Explorer app. Lastly, we showed the students how to program the AlphaMini robot to perform a variety of movements and how to use text-to-speech functionality and intergration with ChatGPT to converse with AlphaMini.
Purpose: Lecturers from Northwest Normal University, Chongqing Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Normal University as well as various university HR administrators visited the NIE Library as part of their study visit organised by NIEI.
Date: 28 March 2024
Venue: NIE Library (LIBytes) and SMART Room
Equipment: Meta Quest 3, Merge Edu Apps and Merge Cubes, AlphaMini Robots
Experiences: For the VR component, we used Sustainability@NIE (developed in-house) to demonstrate a 360 VR tour. For the AR component, we showcased various topic cards related to sustainability e.g. real-time vegetation growth on Merge HoloGlobe, and non-renewable and renewable resources on the Merge Explorer app. Lastly, we showed the students how to program the AlphaMini robot to perform a variety of movements and how to use text-to-speech functionality and intergration with ChatGPT to converse with AlphaMini.
Purpose: 42 pre-university students from Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, UK, visited the NIE Library as part of their study visit organised by the Sustainability Learning Lab (SLL) @ NIE. THe main objective of their visit to LIBytes is to immerse themselves in the sustainability initiatives at NIE, hence the focus of the sharing was on sustainabiltiy topics.
Date: 5 April 2024
Venue: NIE Library (LIBytes) and SMART Room
Equipment: HTC Vive Focus 3, Meta Quest 3, AlphaMini Robots
Experiences: For the VR component, the students explored apps such as Book of Distance (HTC Vive), A Show of Kindness (HTC Vive), Dreams of Dali (HTC Vive), Notes on Blindness (Meta), The Key (Meta), and First Hands (Meta). Then we showed the students some features of the AlphaMini robot, introduced the AI Super Assistant Kit and Curriculum, and how to use Python programming with ChatGPT to converse with AlphaMini.
Purpose: 3 students from NUS High visited the NIE Library as part of their study visit on interactive media, organised by Dr Tan Kin Seng. Their main objective was to explore and experience immersive technology in VR, witness how Generative AI is used (via its integration in AlphaMini), and explore how these technologies can be applied to advancements in interactive media.
Date: 13 Aug and 20 Aug 2024
Venue: Computer Lab
Equipment: AlphaMini Robots
Experiences: We showed Asst Prof Farhan Ali some features of the AlphaMini robot, introduced the AI Super Assistant Kit and Curriculum, and how to use Python programming with ChatGPT to converse with AlphaMini. Thereafter, he introduced the AlphaMini robot to his classes.
Purpose: Asst Prof Farhan Ali was interested in interactivity, and how the robot responds to visual cues like faces or speech, e.g. either by performing pre-programmed or real-time coded actions. He conducted an AlphaMini showcase in his classroom for the course MSL906 which is an AI course, in order to expose students to the hardware components of AI such as a humanoid robot, as he teaches a lot of “software” aspects of AI (Python, machine learning, etc.). He demonstrated how AlphaMini could be programmed to perform gender recognition, and age recognitition, as well as voice-controlled to perform movements such as push-ups and kungfu.
