Artificial intelligence (AI) will be helping people learn about semiconductor technology, vital for everything from mobile phones and electric vehicles to satellites, through new interactive kiosks developed by Imersifi, a virtual reality company, and Swansea University experts.
The kiosks allow users to engage with AI through voice commands. Users can speak directly to AI personas, Professor Chip and Professor Nano, to ask questions and learn about semiconductor technology.
The kiosks will form part of exhibitions and events, helping the public, especially young people, learn more about semiconductors in a fun and engaging way. One of the kiosks is also housed at the university’s state-of-the-art semiconductor fab, the Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM). A fab or fabrication facility is where semiconductor chips are made.
Semiconductors are at the heart of the modern world. They are the brains that drive everyday devices such as our smartphones, laptops and remote car keys, as well as being critical for transport, energy and communications. Wales has a thriving semiconductor industry which is becoming an ever more important part of the economy.
The technology used in the kiosks has been developed by Imersifi, a Swansea-based company set up by two Swansea University graduates. Imersifi creates world-class Virtual Reality applications that allow for the simulation of any environment or scenario. Their technology is also at the heart of a high-tech simulation centre in the University’s Medical School, to help train the next generation of health professionals.
Professor Chip and Professor Nano, the AI personas created for the kiosks, harness the power of AI to answer a wide range of questions, making complex semiconductor concepts accessible and engaging for students, researchers, and industry professionals.
The kiosks are touch-free, with hand-tracking technology, powered by Ultraleap. They are also complemented by a range of Virtual Reality applications that are already widely used. One is called Sand to Semiconductor. Aimed at students this application guides them through the complex processes of how Semiconductors are created: from sand rich in silicon to the chips that power our devices.
The kiosks form part of the START-SEMI project, which aims to develop skills, talent, and re-education in the semiconductor industry. It is led by Swansea University, with Imersifi and CSConnected as industry partners, and the University of Leeds and the University of Warwick as academic partners. It is funded by Innovate UK.
Joe Charman, co-founder of Imersifi, said: “Our TouchFree AI Kiosk represents a significant leap forward in interactive technology, enabling users to explore semiconductor concepts in an immersive and intuitive way. It’s fantastic to see people from all ages and backgrounds interacting with our bespoke solutions to dive into the world of semiconductors.”
Professor Owen Guy of Swansea University, Head of Chemistry and a semiconductor expert, said: “The Prof. Chip and Prof. Nano characters are a really fun way to engage and learn about semiconductors. Visitors to our new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) facility at Swansea can ask the AI systems anything about the exciting world of semiconductors, including how they are made and their applications. We hope to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to take up careers in Wales’s rapidly growing semiconductor industry.”