4 May 2005

Chinese University and Microsoft Research Asia Establish Joint Laboratory

　　The Inauguration Ceremony of the Microsoft-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Human-Centric Computing and Interface Technologies was held today at the Chinese University. Officiating guests included Professor Lawrence J. Lau, Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Assistant Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia; Professor Andrew Yao, Distinguished Professor-at-Large of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Professor Peter Yum, Dean of Engineering of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

　　The Chinese University and Microsoft Research Asia have long-standing academic and research collaboration. Establishment of the joint laboratory will further unite research strengths of both sides to develop innovative human-centric computing and interface technologies that improve quality of life. The joint laboratory will also strive to promote collaboration between the academia and the IT industry, provide leading research infrastructure and nurture talents.

　　Professor Lawrence J. Lau expressed his gratitude to Microsoft Research Asia for its diligent efforts and dedication devoted towards the establishment of the joint laboratory. He looked forward a creative, innovative and rewarding research journey between the University's Faculty of Engineering and Microsoft Research Asia.

　　The essence of human-centric computing and interface technologies is to enhance user-computer interaction by imitating the natural modalities of human communication. The novel technologies endow the computer with perceptual abilities to "see" the user, "hear" his or her speeches, and "sense" his or her gestures and touch. On the other hand, the computer can generate instant multimedia messages. Thus, computers will become more user-friendly, more accessible, and more applicable to our daily lives.

　　Professor Andrew Yao, Turing Award winner and Distinguished Professor-at-Large of the Chinese University, will serve as Chairman of the International Advisory Board of the joint laboratory. He said, "Human-centric computing is considered by many as the great unfinished revolution in information technology. The establishment of this joint laboratory creates a unique opportunity for the immense talents residing in the Chinese University and Microsoft Research Asia to work toward making this grand vision a reality."

　　Other members of the advisory board include Professor Fred Juang, Motorola Foundation Chair Professor and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; and Professor Victor Zue, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Co-Director, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Assistant Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia and Professor Peter Yum, Dean of Engineering of the Chinese University, will serve as Managing Directors of the joint laboratory.

　　"Microsoft Research Asia is delivering innovation that will impact the way we live, learn, work and play for years to come. We are committed to working with the leading universities in the region to advance the state-of-the-art in computer science research and foster local talents," commented Dr. Hsiao-Wuen Hon, "Today's announcement symbolizes our continued efforts to strengthen existing university relations and build new partnerships with academia in the region."

About Microsoft Research
Founded in 1991, Microsoft Research is dedicated to conducting both basic and applied research in computer science and software engineering. Its goals are to enhance the user experience on computing devices, reduce the cost of writing and maintaining software, and invent novel computing technologies. Microsoft Research employs more than 700 people in six labs on three continents, focusing on more than 55 areas of computing. Researchers collaborate with leading academic, government, and industry researchers to advance the state of the art in such areas as graphics, speech recognition, user-interface research, natural language processing, programming tools and methodologies, operating systems and networking, and the mathematical sciences.

About the Faculty of Engineering of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a forward-looking comprehensive university. The Chinese University currently has an enrolment of about 18,000 students. The Faculty of Engineering, established in 1991, is one of the University's seven faculties. It offers many undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its five departments: Automation and Computer-Aided Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering, and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management. The Faculty of Engineering has world-class teaching staff coming from prestigious universities possessing extensive teaching experience and outstanding research track records. It is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to support teaching and research activities. The Faculty has set out its mission to train future leaders in engineering, to pursue knowledge at the frontier of modern technology, and to apply advanced technology to meet societal and human needs.

(From left to right) Professor Peter Yum, Dr Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Professor Lawrence Lau and Professor Andrew Yao unveiled the plaque for the Joint Laboratory.

Dr Hsiao-Wuen Hon (left) and Professor Lawrence Lau.

return to press release index
return to homepage