More than coding: Experiencing tech off the screen at the 2023 Monash Open Day
For this year's Open Day on 6 August 2023, the Faculty of Information Technology welcomed a record number of 16,000+ guests to explore ‘IT off the Screen’ throughout its state-of-the-art precinct on Clayton Campus.
With 8000 more attendees compared to 2022, the surge underscored a burgeoning awareness among future students about how expansive and vibrant the world of IT is - and its integral connection to every aspect of modern society.
This year's theme ‘IT off the Screen’ aimed to shatter the misconception that IT is confined to coding. Instead, the diverse activations vividly illustrated many innovative possibilities of technology and how it can address complex real-world challenges.
A key display was the Immersive Tech marquee positioned at the heart of the Lemon-Scented Lawns. It housed big screens projecting creative virtual worlds created by our FIT3169 Immersive Environments students. Along the middle, glass cabinets also displayed the history of technology with equipment ranging from ancient abaci to modern calculators.
To delver deeper into where creativity and IT intersect, guests were invited to explore the cutting-edge Mixed Reality studio. There, attendees were engaged in creating digital characters using Mudbox, bringing conceptual characters to life with 3D printing, playing games designed by students and immersing in alternate realities through VR headsets.
Distinguished researchers and passionate PhD candidates from across the Faculty’s three departments also gathered to demonstrate their projects, reflecting the many interdisciplinary and cross-cutting applications of technology.
Representatives from the Inclusive Technologies Lab for example shared their pioneering advancements around enhancing accessibility for individuals with visual impairments through tactile, auditory and sensory modalities. The recently established Monash Assistive Technology student team also gave a glimpse into the world of assistive technologies through laser-cutting demonstrations and activities such as crafting with straws.
Notably, among the many standout experiences, guests enjoyed the rare opportunity to interact with Pepper the robot who would respond to greetings by rolling over and giving a wave.
Bringing it all together, the Faculty’s Course Information Hubs were situated in 25 Exhibition Walk and Building for Technology and Design. Each one bustled with inquisitive guests and enthusiastic students as they chatted about degrees and the Monash experience.
The first 500 guests were also presented with complimentary wireless earbuds to use on the self-guided tour around the Faculty's state-of-the-art facilities, narrated by the Dean, Professor Ann Nicholson.
Overall, despite the overcast and chilly weather, the enthusiasm of the guests remained undiminished as 2023 Open Day provided guests with a holistic and immersive look into why IT is the field of the future.
