In October 2012 the results of the Research and Development for Digital Archives and e-Learning Technologies Project were presented by Principle Investigator Liao Hong-yuan of the Academia Sinica, who has introduced the advanced research and development on relevant technologies over the past few years.

On the same day, professor Xu Ming-jing, associate professor Xu Hong-min, professor Chen Jia-wen and Miss Lin Yu-wen were invited to act as hosts. Professor Xu Min-jing first presented ‘The advanced research and development of multispectral imaging technology’. At present, only France, USA, Finland and other technological powers have started to install and use this technology and digitalized images. Multispectral photography uses the diffraction of light to increase the level of precision of the image and to reduce distorted coloring to a minimum. Besides being able to capture more than 31 color bands, it can also complete the performance of color, capture the reflected colors on the object itself and capture the spectral characteristics of an object. In 2011 the Research and Development for Digital Archives and e-Learning Technologies Project has made efforts to develop and optimize an advanced hyperspectral digital collection system. Besides research and development of hyperspectral technology, the project is also establishing a snug a digital image archive to appreciate the environment, taking into account the research and development on output systems and compression technology and comprehensively exploring the multiple possibilities of using hyperspectral technology in digital applications.

Associate professor Xu Hong-min introduced ‘Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Exploiting Mobile Photos and Videos’. In the past few years, along with the rise of digital cameras and smartphones, social platforms and websites have images uploaded and shared every day. How to use a mobile device to look for the correct image in the clouds? Using image analysis technologies, we can cut down data transmission time and resources to allow that information can learn from other information, exchange details, confirm correctness and immediately select small and effective images to upload and send back to the server via computer operations so that the image search creates more opportunities. For example, when watching television, if you use your cell phone to record an interesting advert, the product could immediately link you to the product’s website; or when you are at an art gallery admiring the paintings, after taking a picture with your cell phone, the phone will be able to immediately display relevant information on the concept of the artistic creation, among other information; or you could use this technology to complete your family photo album, helping members by quickly finding the correct picture that matches people and scenery.

Professor Chen Jia-wen from Jiayi University introduced the cloud multimedia archive system used in the e-book platform. Image editing software is not necessarily installed in a computer, you can create a multimedia archive to compile a video e-book. After transmitting images, text and PDF documents onto the system, you can immediately create multimedia digital contents. The advancement of this technology astonishes everyone, as it hugely reduces the costs of multimedia production, as well as being user friendly, making it really simple to share photos, texts and information with the community.

Finally, Miss Lin Yu-wen presented to everyone the work the Academia Sinica’s Digital Archives Exhibition Centre has done over the past few years, as well as organizing exhibitions aimed at ordinary people and school units to promote the results and resources of the Digital Archive Project. This July the National Treasures Museum has recently encouraged users on their website to explore the mysteries and fun of the collection. They have used this interactive project to draw in a closer relationship between the museum pieces and life. With a click of your mouse, you can admire earthenware vessels with human faces, inscriptions of deer skulls, Niu Fang pots, bronze masks, Chien basin with copper-inlaid Battle Scenes, among many others.

Although the national project is about to come to an end, the results of the Research and Development for Digital Archives and e-Learning Technologies Project seem to be a beginning, allowing us to see all of the potential and all of the opportunities of using digital images and multimedia. The Taiwan e-Learning and Digital Archives Program (TELDAP) links science and technology with the arts and humanities. The Research and Development for Digital Archives and e-Learning Technologies Project is a go-between these via pioneering, crucial and innovative research and development on information technology, exploring the brand new horizons and opportunities of the digital world.