Prof. Tommy Minchen WEI, Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and Director of the Colour Imaging and Metaverse Research Centre at PolyU
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a series of colour management technologies that provide vision-based solutions for lighting, imaging and metaverse systems. These cutting-edge technologies have been adopted by social media, imaging systems and manufacturers of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products, smartphones and drones.
Prof. Tommy Minchen WEI, Professor of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and Director of the Colour Imaging and Metaverse Research Centre at PolyU, has spearheaded research on the fundamental of colour science and the development of advanced algorithms and solutions for various imaging systems. He has been bestowed with the Hong Kong Engineering Science and Technology (HKEST) Award by the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences (HKAES) for his contributions in colour and imaging science.
Prof. WEI said, “This achievement has further supported my ongoing pursuit of interdisciplinary research excellence in colour, with the aim of sharping a visually better world for all.” Translating research outcomes with a significant community impact is highly fulfilling. Prof. WEI added, “As a scientist, my aspiration is to develop new algorithms based on human visual mechanisms that enhance colour appearance and calibrate perception variances across imaging systems. These systems encompass displays and cameras used in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and the metaverse.”
One notable achievement is the development of a six-channel RGBACL (Red, Green, Blue, Amber, Cyan and Lime) lighting module and control algorithm, which enhances the colour presentation of LED lighting systems. The algorithm for tuning the colour appearance of human face skin allows quick adjustment when captured by different cameras. This technology has been used by a famous manufacturer of cinema lighting fixtures and in the production of several Hollywood movies and TV series.
Prof. WEI also developed various solutions for capturing and displaying colours on video and image shooting equipment. These technologies encompass the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect human faces in the frame and optimise the colour appearance of skin tone.
Other innovations, such as chips with AI-powered white balance algorithm built-in ensure more faithful colours in photos and videos taken by digital cameras under different environment. These technologies have been adopted by world-class smartphone and XR device manufacturers.
Prof. WEI said, “My goal is to empower creative freedom by enabling creators to deliver the precise colours they intend for users to perceive. It is a tremendous honour to witness my research being translated and endorsed by world-class social media platforms, imaging systems, and manufacturers of digital devices worldwide.”
