The Times Australia
News From Asia

.

UN Digital Buddhism Research & Innovation Center Makes A Stunning Debut, NetDragon Digital Religion Department Assist Thailand's National Buddhist Strategic Deployment

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 March 2024 - On March 20, 2024, at the request and arrangement of Thailand National Center for The Dissemination of Buddhism and National Buddhist Strategic Deployment, the newly created Digital Buddhism Research & Innovation Center, built by NetDragon Digital Religion Department, made a stunning debut.

This space is located at National Center for The Dissemination of Buddhism, Sangha Educational Supervisory Center, and the Tipitaka Translation Project, bringing together the department's latest digital Buddhist products and providing a promising prospect for the continuous upgrading of Thailand's national digital Buddhism.

The Center is a benchmark project for digital Buddhism successfully launched in Thailand by NetDragon following its display of the United Nations Vesak Day Metaverse last year. It is also Thailand's first national digital Buddhist research base to be established after the release of the "Summary of the 2023-2037 Buddhist Promotion Master Plan."

The center is led by Most Ven.Prof. Dr. Phra Brahmapundit, member of the Supreme Sangha Committee of Thailand, Chairman of the International Council of the United Nations Vesak Day, Chairman of the International Association of Buddhist Universities, and former President of Mahachulalongkorn University. After visiting the center, Most Ven. affirmed the effort of NetDragon and supported the following work for the deployment of Thai digital Buddhism. He hoped that the research center could comprehensively promote and present the modernization and future development model of Thai Buddhism.

Mi Xiong, General Manager of NetDragon Digital Religion Department, accompanied Most Ven. and his team throughout the visit, introducing the digital products in the center. Mi Xiong expressed great honor in assisting the Thailand National Center for The Dissemination of Buddhism in constructing the first national-level digital Buddhist research base and pledged to continue exploring the use of digital power to assist in the dissemination of Thai Buddhism and world Buddhist culture.

During this debut, the Center showcased several digital Buddhist projects, including AR Vision -Nine Ball Meditation, which is a tool jointly developed by NetDragon and Rokid that combines Rokid's latest AR glasses to provide users with auditory, visual, and even tactile assistance for meditation. Rokid AR breaks the barriers between the body and space through "AI+AR," utilizing spatial computing capabilities of "visualization" and "interaction," allowing participants to enter a space of intelligent creation. This not only brings a new experience to meditation but also provides a new form of experience that is observable, touchable, and experiential for practices, Buddhist education, and the dissemination of Buddhist wisdom and culture. After experiencing it, Most Ven. expressed that this new form of digital practice will have a broader and deeper inspiration for Buddhist education, deserving further exploration and promotion.

The research center also demonstrated the Digital religion standing machine, a product that combines online guided tours, online offering of lights, and pre-booking of Buddhist events using an H5 platform as a carrier for online and offline services. Most Ven. greatly admired this product, stating that it was exactly the digital temple form he had been wanting for years. After receiving affirmation, Mi Xiong proposed vigorously promoting the ecological model of digital temples in Thailand.

Additionally, the center also displayed AR tour guide and interactive experience installations that combine VR technology with Buddhist themes. It also features the ActivPanel 9, a new interactive tablet from Promethean, which has approximately 30% market share globally for smart screens. The Promethean smart screen will provide an integrated, immersive, interactive classroom and various smart teaching software tools for future Buddhist education.

The completion and debut of the Digital Buddhist Research Center will provide a more diverse range of discussion topics for the upcoming United Nations Vesak Day and welcome eminent monks, scholars, and professors from around the world to visit and experience. Mi Xiong stated that the department is prepared to exchange and learn from professionals in the world of Buddhism and will focus on promoting the global dissemination of Buddhist culture and supporting the development of Buddhist education using advanced technology.

In the future, the Digital Buddhism Research & Innovation Center will explore expandable, sustainable, and reconstructable digital Buddhist worlds in the areas of teaching, propagation, experience, and research. NetDragon Digital Religion Department will also utilise the center as a base to assist the United Nations in promoting and deploying digital Buddhism in various Buddhist universities and institutions. By utilizing advanced software and hardware, AI, VR, and AR technologies, as well as gamification, modern technology, and modern healing methods, the department aims to innovate the dissemination of Buddhist culture and help establish a strong and sustainable way of life and values.

Hashtag: #ThaiBuddhism

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Tricia Paoluccio designer to the stars

The Case for Nuturing Creativity in the Classroom, and in our Lives I am an actress and an artist who has had the privilege of sharing my work across many countries, touring my ...

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...