Keynotes

Prof. Minamizawa holds a doctoral degree in Information Technology from the University of Tokyo, specializing in haptic and embodied media research, virtual and augmented reality, and human-computer interaction design. Since joining the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, Prof. Minamizawa has undertaken various projects related to haptic media, delving into the utilization of digital technology to convey, enhance, and create human experiences, with applications in social development.

He is actively involved in promoting activities related to sensory design and has led the university’s advanced smart robot development project. His research expertise aligns well with the future technologies to be discussed at this symposium. In this symposium, we hope Prof. Minamizawa can share his latest research findings, and anticipate substantial benefits and inspirations for students and faculty in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and computer science related to HCI. This collaboration aims to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue, broaden participants’ perspectives, and enhance awareness of the applications of emerging technologies.

Prof. Jeong holds master's and doctoral degrees in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently teaches courses on persuasive communication and strategic communication research at the Department of Media and Communication and the Graduate School of Media Studies at Korea University. During his tenure, he also served as a visiting professor at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of the University of Texas, where he conducted research on medical and health communication.

Prof. Jeong’s research focuses on communication strategy and media effects in a multi-media, multitasking environment. His recent work explores how message effectiveness varies by communicator, content, and medium, and he has developed evidence-based strategies applied by major government agencies, including the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the Ministry of Environment. He also examines how individuals can improve their digital literacy and fact-checking skills to critically evaluate misinformation such as fake news, deepfakes, and false advertising. Drawing on these insights, he has contributed to media literacy advancement through national projects with the Korea Press Foundation and the Viewers’ Media Foundation.

Prof. Wei is a Fellow of the International Communication Association. He has held positions as Chair Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Visiting Chair Professor at the Institute of Communication Studies at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and the Gonzales Brothers Professor of Journalism at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of South Carolina. Additionally, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the internationally renowned journal Mass Communication and Society from 2014 to 2016.

Prof. Wei’s research expertise spans media effects, communication technologies, and he is also a trailblazer in mobile communication research. He has contributed significantly to this area, including a notable retrospective work titled “Mobile communication research in 15 top-tier journals, 2006–2020: An updated review of trends, advances, and characteristics,” published in Mobile Media & Communication in 2022. Furthermore, he has edited books entitled “Mobile media and civic Activism: Asian cases, experiences, and theories,” which was published by Springer in English and by the Global Citizenship Education Center at National Chiao Tung University in Chinese.

Prof. Chang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Hong Kong Baptist University. Her research focuses on health communication, with particular emphasis on the intersections of technology, culture, and public discourse in shaping health behaviors. She adopts a social psychological approach to investigate health information behaviors, the effects of mobile health (m-health) interventions on personal health management, and the relationship between social media use and psychological well-being. Complementing this, she also takes a cultural perspective to examine how cultural values influence individuals’ health beliefs and practices, offering a nuanced understanding of health communication across diverse social contexts.

Prof. Chang’s work is highly interdisciplinary, and she has collaborated with researchers and students across communication, information science, and health domains. Her studies have been published in leading international journals, including Journal of Communication, Communication Theory, Health Communication, International Journal of Medical Informatics, Computers in Human Behavior, Telematics & Informatics, and Qualitative Health Research. She also contributes actively to the academic community as a member of the editorial boards of Health Communication, Journal of Women & Aging, Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, and Journal of Information Society.