My service spanned from helping Taiwanese people with their plans of studying abroad and adapting to new life in the USA, and to providing travel information for English-speaking people with disabilities in Taiwan and engaging with the public on the issues related to technology and engineering.
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Interrogating on Automation Technology |
In an interdisciplinary group project in spring 2016, my team developed an online game called "Play the Future." The game is designed to engage with the public on the different ways of developing automation technology and the corresponding consequences. We dismiss the idea of technological determinism, and give decision-making back to players that are persons having agency in the process of envisioning and enacting a certain type of collective future.
I implemented the website, and meanwhile I was also actively involved in the design of the game from the start with my team members Najla Miranda Mouchrek, Andrew Kulak and Manisha Sharma, without whom the game would not have engaging graphics and text and wonderful user experience. Special thanks go to facilitators Matthew Wisnioski who gave us very useful comments, and Scott Fralin, who completed the installation of two arcade consoles which housed the game in Newman Library at Virginia Tech from April 26 to June 6, 2016. |
Travel Info for People with Disabilities |
I compiled and maintained a traveler’s guide to accessibility in Taiwan, including accessibility of Taoyuan International Airport, taxis, railways, metro stations, buses and restaurants in Taiwan. While this article is more specific to wheelchair accessibility for travelling in Taiwan, English-speaking people might find parts of it also informative when plan on a trip.
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Taiwanese Student Association |
I served as president of Taiwanese Student Association (TSA) at Virginia Tech during 2013–2014. I helped Taiwanese students better adapt to new life in the USA, including taking them to banks, AT&T, Student Services Building and Walmart, and helping them get affordable, used furniture and drive a U-Haul truck for moving when they hadn't got a US driver license. I also organized several social events for Taiwanese people to cultivate a sense of belonging and compiled many documents for new students hosted in our Facebook group. The photo on the left was taken when TSA was selling Taiwan's world-renowned bubble tea at the International Street Fair.
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Studying Abroad |
In the past years, I have assisted a couple of Taiwanese friends with revisions of their application documents for graduate programs in the USA at no charge. Since they are not familiar with making effective narratives and arguments in English, I don't want them to undersell themselves when language puts them at a disadvantage before they ever have an opportunity to continue learning English in the USA.
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