Dr. Younbo Jung is an Associate Professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He earned his Ph.D. from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. At NTU, Dr. Jung has received five teaching-related awards, including the Nanyang Education Award (University) – Bronze in 2014. He has been an inaugural Fellow of the Teaching Excellence Academy since 2014.
In research, his interests focus on the socio-psychological effects of interactive media, including video games, virtual reality systems, human-robot interaction, and their applications in education and medical aids. His work has explored topics such as the use of virtual reality and haptic-enhanced systems for learning motor functions in stroke rehabilitation, the development of a patient/clinician distribution platform with tele-rehabilitation applications, Internet and computer training for seniors, the effects of social robots' embodiment on meaningful human-robot interaction, and the use of video games and social TV to improve seniors' well-being and foster intergenerational bonding.
His recent project examines the concept of trust and its relevance to emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain. Dr. Jung is a strong advocate for interdisciplinary research and has successfully collaborated on numerous projects with scholars from fields such as computer science, electrical engineering, physical therapy, and social work. In Singapore, his interviews have been featured on Channel NewsAsia (CNA) and in articles in The Straits Times.