The Immersive Lens

Finger Lakes Community College

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EDUCATION
UPDATED WEEKLY

The Immersive Lens features faculty experts from Finger Lakes Community College exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping learning and work. Each episode offers clear, practical conversations about new tools, apps, and ideas—cutting through the hype to highlight what actually matters for educators, professionals, and the curious alike.

5D AGO

Episode 9: Accessibility

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle accessibility! Topics Covered: 🗒 Summary: In this episode of "The Immersive Lens," hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu kick things off by discussing recent tech and AI developments. They explore how AI is being trained on physics rather than previous human designs to create highly efficient printed circuit boards, effectively avoiding human biases and errors. The hosts also recount Paul's recent trip to London where he experienced new AR glasses and gesture-controlled mini drones, before shifting to the challenges of spotting AI-generated content in fake 1980s He-Man movie trailers and YouTube shorts. Additionally, they briefly touch on Google Stitch, a web-based application used for rapid app UI prototyping. The episode's deep dive centers on digital accessibility and "universal design" - the concept that designing for disabilities, such as adding closed captions or physical "curb cuts," ultimately benefits everyone. The hosts share practical advice for making educational and digital content accessible to comply with mandates like Title II of the ADA. They recommend using AI to generate highly descriptive alt text for images, utilizing accessibility checkers in programs like Adobe Acrobat and Word, and improving visual accessibility through high-contrast dark modes and legible sans-serif fonts like Atkinson Hyperlegible. Finally, they highlight the robust built-in accessibility features found across Mac, Chromebook, and mobile devices, concluding that designing for accessibility is always worth the effort to level up the experience for all users. 🔗 Links & Resources: Quilter's AI just designed an 843‑part Linux computer that booted on the first try. Hardware will never be the same. Selfridges in London Meta Glasses Viture - Luma XR Glasses He-Man Trailer Google Stitch Section 508 99% Invisible - Episode 308 - Curb Cuts Google Gem - Alt Text Generator Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker Read Easier With Our Family of Hyperlegible® Fonts Read with Dyslexie Font Sans forgetica Lexend The Law of Closure Adobe Express Descriptive Video Demonstration - The Lion King Mac Accessibility Chromebook Accessibility FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

41 min
MAR 2

Episode 8: Mirrorless, DSLR, Phones, Camcorders- O My!

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle … Topics Covered: In Study of Cybercrime, Users Responded to Phishing Differently Based on What Kind of Device They Used The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI Reach Landmark Agreement to Bring Beloved Characters from Across Disney’s Brands to Sora 2025 Word of the Year: Slop GoPro cameras Power Mac G4 SONY CAMCORDER Hi8 Review - Using a 30 YEAR OLD CAMERA Today! Videotape format war How Kodak Failed P2 (storage media) Rochester's Tinseltown to unveil IMAX 70mm projector, enhancing local movie experience DJI Osmo Pocket 3 🗒 Summary: In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu welcome their first on-air guest, Jeff Kidd, who typically manages the show's control room, to discuss the technology and history behind cameras. Before diving into the main topic, the group covers recent tech news, including a Carnegie Mellon study indicating that mobile phone users are less likely to click on malware links than PC users due to differing attention contexts. They also discuss Disney's recent $1 billion investment in OpenAI and the Merriam-Webster word of the year, "slop," which refers to the flood of low-quality AI-generated content on the internet. The core discussion tracks the evolution of video production, sparked by the podcast's upgrade from a single GoPro to a multi-camera setup using Sony mirrorless devices. The trio reflects on the shift from analog to digital, sharing experiences that range from Paul's work with 35mm film to Jeff's time in news broadcasting using expensive, low-capacity P2 cards that required "pre-roll" to capture action without wasting storage. They analyze how the transition from formats like VHS and Betamax to modern, high-capacity digital storage has made editing easier but perhaps less disciplined, ultimately advising listeners to choose equipment - such as smartphones or gimbals like the DJI Osmo - based specifically on their creative goals. 🔗 Links & Resources: FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

40 min
FEB 23

Episode 7: OpenClaw

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle … Summary: This episode of The Immersive Lens explores the rapidly thinning veil between the physical and digital worlds, anchored by the emergence of OpenClaw (formerly CloudBot and MoltBot). Hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu dive into the rise of agentic AI - systems capable of not just processing information, but executing tasks directly on a user's local machine. This shift from cloud-based assistance to localized, autonomous action represents a significant milestone in how we delegate our digital lives to artificial intelligence. Paul and Dave balance the sheer utility of these tools - such as automating home systems or managing complex file structures - with the sobering reality of prompt injection and security vulnerabilities. While the potential for "PaulBot" to manage personal taxes and workouts is enticing, the duo provides a cautious verdict: the power of open-source, localized AI is revolutionary for productivity, but it requires rigorous "guardrails" and "sandboxing" before it can be trusted with the keys to our digital kingdom. 🔗 Links & Resources: I Saved a PNG Image To A Bird "I Saved A PNG Image To A Bird": YouTuber Stores 176KB Drawing Of A Bird Inside A Bird's Song OpenAI says new coding model helped build itself SAM 3D TRELLIS.2: Native and Compact Structured Latents for 3D Generation Apple Creator Studio OpenClaw - Wikipedia Introducing OpenClaw OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joining OpenAI, Altman says ChatGPT Atlas Claude in Chrome What Is a Prompt Injection Attack? | IBM Moltbook Molt bot Getting started with Cowork | Claude Help Center A Grace Blackwell AI supercomputer on your desk | NVIDIA DGX Spark Project Vend: Can Claude run a small shop? (And why does that matter?) \ Anthropic Project Vend: Phase two \ Anthropic FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

40 min
FEB 16

Episode 6: Whacha ya wearin?

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle … Topics Covered: Google Stitch YouTube Premium Supergirl Trailer The Hero's Journey -Joseph Campbell Accessibility - I'm not Remarkable Apple Watch Casio World Time Book: Natural Born Cyborg Meta Glasses Google Aura Rabbit OS2 Cicret Bracelet In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu discuss emerging technologies and creative media tools before shifting to their main topic. They review "Google Stitch," a new AI tool that allows designers to reimagine websites and export the code, as well as new visual editing features within Google Gemini. The hosts also touch on YouTube Premium's new A/B testing features for thumbnails and titles, share their reactions to the latest Superman and Supergirl trailers, and praise Apple’s emotional new commercial regarding accessibility. The central discussion focuses on the evolution and utility of wearable technology, ranging from smartwatches to future concepts like smart glasses. Paul advocates for the Apple Watch Ultra, citing benefits like battery life, sleep tracking, and health anomaly detection, while Dave expresses hesitation due to privacy concerns and a dislike for constant notifications. The conversation expands to cover smart rings, clothing, and the potential for augmented reality glasses to eventually replace smartphones. They conclude with a buyer’s guide, suggesting users consider factors such as battery life, ecosystem compatibility, and specific health tracking needs when choosing a device. 🔗 Links & Resources: FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

39 min
FEB 9

Episode 5: AI Production - Creation of a Holiday Video

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul Engin and Dave Ghidiu discuss the escalating competition in the AI sector, specifically OpenAI's "Code Red" response to the dominance of Google’s Gemini 3 model. They detail OpenAI's development of a new model, code-named "Camed Garlic," which reportedly relies on user feedback telemetry rather than professional evaluations to regain ground. They also highlight significant industry milestones, such as the announcement that the AI short "Critters" will become the first feature-length AI film next year, and the release of Meta's Hyperscape Capture, which allows users to create digital twins of physical spaces using Quest 3 headsets. They go on a deep dive with engineer Jeff Kidd into the creation of an AI-generated holiday greeting for Finger Lakes Community College, a project that required between 30 and 40 hours of work rather than a simple "prompt and done" solution. The team utilized a complex "tech stack" including Google’s Nano Banana for generating character sheets, Google Flow for animation, ElevenLabs for audio isolation, and traditional tools like Photoshop and After Effects for "blue screening" characters into scenes. Ultimately, the hosts conclude that while AI provides animation efficiencies, producing professional-quality work still requires significant human intervention and traditional production skills to resolve issues like character consistency and lip-syncing. Topics Covered: —-- Add and remove below just a reference Dave Ghidiu delete this—-- Project Iceberg: MIT’s interactive tool mapping AI exposure and job market disruption Screen Evolution: From 4:3 CRTs to 16:9 HD and the new age of Foldables Designing for Devices: The struggle of creating content that works on a watch, a phone, and a desktop The "Fold" is Dead: How scrolling culture has changed web design and user engagement Immersive Tech: Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and the future of "infinite" screen real estate Mentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @Google 🔗 Links & Resources: OpenAI Declares ‘Code Red’ as Google Threatens AI Lead 匚尺丨ㄒㄒ乇尺乙 -- An animated short created with AI Meta Horizon Hyperscape Capture (Beta) Finger Lakes Community College Holiday Card 2025 Google Gemini (Nano Banana, Veo3) Flow ElevenLabs Rankin-Bass Rudolph FLX AI Hub blog post - behind the scenes —-- Update above Dave Ghidiu delete this—-- FLCC Holiday video: https://youtu.be/HDEq6fLejOA?si=dzMW4puOt0USVmVA FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

42 min
FEB 2

Episode 4: Does Size Matter?

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle a question as old as the smartphone itself: Does screen size matter? From the bulky CRT TVs of the 90s to the sleek, foldable phones and immersive Vision Pro headsets of today, Paul and Dave explore how the evolution of screen real estate has fundamentally shifted how we consume media and develop content. They discuss the challenges developers face when designing for an ecosystem that now includes everything from smartwatches to ultra-wide monitors, and how user behavior changes based on the device in hand. But first, Dave drops a bombshell about "Project Iceberg"—an interactive data visualization tool from MIT that maps job markets and AI exposure risk down to the zip code. Is your career safe from automation? Dave and Paul break down the data. Topics Covered: Project Iceberg: MIT’s interactive tool mapping AI exposure and job market disruption Screen Evolution: From 4:3 CRTs to 16:9 HD and the new age of Foldables Designing for Devices: The struggle of creating content that works on a watch, a phone, and a desktop The "Fold" is Dead: How scrolling culture has changed web design and user engagement Immersive Tech: Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and the future of "infinite" screen real estate Mentions: @MIT @Apple @Samsung @Meta @Android @Google 🔗 Links & Resources: Project Icebergs: https://iceberg.mit.edu/ Quest 3: https://www.meta.com/quest/quest-3/ Vision Pro: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/ a-ha - Take On Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914 FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #TechHistory #UXDesign #WebDevelopment #ProjectIceberg #FutureOfWork #ScreenTime #FoldablePhones #VisionPro #TheImmersiveLens #EdTech ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

41 min
JAN 26

Episode 3: Low Barrier Tools

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. Are you ready to create professional-grade content without the Hollywood budget or a high-end PC? In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tear down the barriers to creativity! They explore the explosive rise of "Low-Barrier Media Development Tools"—web-based powerhouses like @AdobeExpress, @Canva, and the game-changing @GoogleWorkspace Vids. Discover how these platforms are democratizing design, allowing anyone with a Chromebook or a smartphone to build stunning infographics, motion graphics, and collaborative video projects in minutes. Paul and Dave break down how AI integration is stripping away the steep learning curve of legacy software, turning students and educators into instant content creators. Plus, the duo geeks out over the sudden drop of Google’s Gemini 3, the uncanny realism of AI actor Tilly Norwood, and what the future holds for digital storytelling. Topics Covered: Democratizing Design: Why you don't need a "Pro" device to create pro content Google Vids: Editing video as easily as a slide deck The Big Three: Deep dives into Adobe Express, Canva, and creative collaboration AI Update: The shock release of Gemini 3 and the new era of AI actors Mentions: @AdobeExpress @Canva @GoogleWorkspace @HistoryChannel @OpenAI 🔗 Links & Resources: Adobe Express: https://express.adobe.com/ Canva: https://express.adobe.com/ Google Vids: https://workspace.google.com/products/vids/ Tilly: https://www.tillynorwood.com/ FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #ContentCreation #EdTech #CreatorEconomy #GoogleVids #AdobeExpress #CanvaLove #DesignForEveryone #TheImmersiveLens #Gemini3 #FutureOfLearning ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

33 min
JAN 19

Episode 2: AI Bias

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode of The Immersive Lens, hosts Paul and Dave tackle the critical and complex issue of AI Bias. From training data that inadvertently stereotypes gender and race to algorithms that filter resumes unfairly, Paul and Dave explore how "machine learning" is often just "human mirroring." They break down the different types of bias—including training, results, and intentional bias—and discuss real-world examples from major tech companies like Amazon and Google. The duo also introduces the concept of the "Algorithmic Bias Treadmill," explaining how social media platforms and AI models can create self-reinforcing loops that alter language and culture. Finally, Dave shares a fascinating (and slightly concerning) report about "AI work slop" and how AI-generated content might be affecting professional reputations. It’s an eye-opening look at the ethical challenges we face as we integrate AI deeper into our daily lives. Topics Covered: Types of AI Bias: Training, results, intentional, and human Real-World Failures: Amazon's resume bot, Google's photo labeling, and the "Pink & Blue" gender bias The Algorithmic Treadmill: How TikTok and social algorithms change language and culture AI & Reputation: The "work slop" phenomenon and how AI might be devaluing human creativity Mentions: @Amazon @Google @TikTok @IBM @Microsoft @OpenAI @Twitter @TheVerge 🔗 Links & Resources: FLX AI Hub: https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ FLCC New Media: https://newmedia.csc.flcc.cloud/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends #AIEthics #AlgorithmicBias #MachineLearning #TechEthics #TheImmersiveLens #HigherEd #DigitalCitizenship #FutureOfWork ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

44 min
JAN 12

Is AI a Dirty word?

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engin (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode, Paul and Dave tackle the provocative question: Is "AI" a dirty word, or a double-edged sword?. Before diving into the tech, the duo dishes on local flavor, including a rave review of the student-run culinary experiences at Julia’s. The conversation quickly heats up as the hosts break down the latest "frontier models" shaking up the industry. From @OpenAI's mind-blowing Sora 2 video model (complete with audio!) to the new @Canva integration that’s turning ChatGPT into a design powerhouse, they cover the tools you need to know. But it’s not all productivity hacks. Paul and Dave explore the ethical gray areas of the creative world, including the rise of AI actress Tilly Norwood and the controversial trend of "vertical soap operas" taking over mobile screens. They also debate the "Student Turing Test" and introduce a new educational philosophy: "Co-create, don't abdicate". Whether you’re a tech optimist or a skeptic, this episode offers a roadmap for using AI optimally rather than just responsibly. Plus, get a sneak peek at Dave’s upcoming "Vibe Coding" course (CSC 295) using @AnthropicAI's Claude. 🔥 Hot Topics Discussed: • The AI Landscape: Comparing ChatGPT, @Microsoft Copilot, @Google Gemini, @Meta Llama, and @Adobe Firefly. 🔗 Links & Resources: • Dinner at Julia’s: Make a reservation at the FLCC student-run restaurant: https://www.flcc.edu/restaurant/ • 100 Ways College Students Are Using ChatGPT: A recommended list of prompts to expand your learning (search via Google). • Book Recommendation: The Empire of AI by Karen Hao (Discussing the environmental and labor cost of AI). • FLCC New Media & Computing: Explore the degrees at https://www.flcc.edu/ and the FLX AI Hub at https://www.flcc.edu/ai/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Immersive Lens to stay curious and connected! #AI #EdTech #GenerativeAI #HigherEd #Podcast #Sora2 #VibeCoding #DigitalEthics #FLCC #NewMedia #TechTrends ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. https://www.flcc.edu/ https://www.theimmersivelens.com/ Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

47 min
JAN 5

The Immersive Lens Prologue

What happens when emerging technology meets creativity, education, and real-world impact? You get The Immersive Lens — a podcast exploring the tools, ideas, and innovations shaping how we live, work, and learn. Hosted by Paul Engin, Professor of New Media, and Dave Ghidiu, Assistant Professor of Computing Sciences at Finger Lakes Community College, this show takes listeners behind the scenes of cutting-edge tech. From AI and virtual worlds to digital design, media, and education, we break down complex topics and connect them to practical, human-centered applications. In this episode, meet the hosts and discover: What The Immersive Lens is all about How the FLX AI Hub supports businesses, educators, and communities The intersection of new media, web development, and AI Who this podcast is for — and why staying current has never mattered more Whether you’re an educator, student, creative professional, technologist, or simply curious about the future, The Immersive Lens offers thoughtful conversations that make fast-moving technology approachable and meaningful. 🎧 Subscribe, share, and join us as we explore the tech shaping education, work, and the world around us. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

6 min
JAN 5

The Immersive Lens Origin Story

Welcome to The Immersive Lens — the show where emerging tech meets creativity, education, and real-world impact. Hosted by Paul Engan (Professor of New Media) and Dave Ghidiu (Professor of Computer Science) at Finger Lakes Community College, this podcast dives into the technologies and creative innovations reshaping how we live, work, and learn—from AI and augmented reality to the future of media, design, and learning. In this episode, you’ll go behind the mic with Paul and Dave as they share their origin stories—from programming on an Apple IIe, building a 386 from scratch, discovering computer animation in the “Matrix” era, and working with early 3D tools that paved the way for modern storytelling. They also talk about what drives the podcast: helping people navigate today’s rapid-fire tech landscape with clarity, curiosity, and practicality. You’ll also hear about FLCC’s collaborative Capstone experience—where students from web/mobile, game programming, design, communications, and new media pitch projects, build real solutions, and learn the soft skills that make tech matter. If you’re into innovation without hype, hands-on learning, creative tech, and honest conversations about what’s worth paying attention to, you’re in the right place. ✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode—and share with a friend who loves tech, creativity, or the future of education. Recorded at Finger Lakes Community College in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. Stay curious. Stay connected. Thanks for looking through The Immersive Lens.

27 min

11 Episodes

The Immersive Lens features faculty experts from Finger Lakes Community College exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping learning and work. Each episode offers clear, practical conversations about new tools, apps, and ideas—cutting through the hype to highlight what actually matters for educators, professionals, and the curious alike.

Creator

Finger Lakes Community College
Years Active

2K
Episodes

11
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Finger Lakes Community College
Show Website

The Immersive Lens