A Field Trip to Tesla
By Colette Hsu
On October 27, the students of the Department of English Language and Literature visited Tesla, Inc., in Neihu, Taipei with their instructor, Prof. Kate Liu, to observe the progress of contemporary technology and its future trends.
Contemporary English Sci-Fi Films: Contesting Boundaries is a course about rethinking issues related to humanity, technology, and ecology through sci-fi films. This field trip to Tesla’s branch in Neihu, Taipei, was an activity to acquaint the students with how technological innovation is changing people's ideas about the boundaries between technology and humanity. At the beginning of the event, Liu led the class to the center’s auditorium to receive an orientation about Tesla.
Contemporary English Sci-Fi Films: Contesting Boundaries is a course about rethinking issues related to humanity, technology, and ecology through sci-fi films. This field trip to Tesla’s branch in Neihu, Taipei, was an activity to acquaint the students with how technological innovation is changing people's ideas about the boundaries between technology and humanity. At the beginning of the event, Liu led the class to the center’s auditorium to receive an orientation about Tesla.
The location of the field trip was in Tesla Inc., Neihu Dist., Taipei City, photograph by Colette Hsu, Oct. 27, 2020
Tesla, founded by Elon Musk, is an international company that focuses on developing technology, software, sustainable energy, and eco-friendly cars. Tesla’s products are known for their futuristic shapes, inspired by the classic sci-fi film Back to the Future, and reflect their vision to “accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.”
The receptionist Bruce Chao, an experienced marketing manager in Tesla as well as an alumnus of FJU English Department, introduced Tesla as a futuristic company not only because the designs of the cars are avant-garde , but also because the energy they consume is sustainable. Furthermore, the control system software is able to update, and the users do not need to purchase a whole new one to replace the outdated system. “And it is the trend for the future, like the breakthrough of iPhone,” Chao said.
The relationship between technology and personal privacy is a concern for people nowadays. Chao said, “currently Tesla’s security system is valid enough to keep the personal data from being leaked to the public or to the company.”
There is often news about car accidents related to the Tesla cars, so one of the students wondered whether Tesla cars were riskier than non-electric cars. Chao replied, “Tesla is as safe as other cars in the world, and the accident rate is not very high; however, their products are not widespread enough, so people may notice more car accidents of Tesla cars rather than those of other brands.”
The receptionist Bruce Chao, an experienced marketing manager in Tesla as well as an alumnus of FJU English Department, introduced Tesla as a futuristic company not only because the designs of the cars are avant-garde , but also because the energy they consume is sustainable. Furthermore, the control system software is able to update, and the users do not need to purchase a whole new one to replace the outdated system. “And it is the trend for the future, like the breakthrough of iPhone,” Chao said.
The relationship between technology and personal privacy is a concern for people nowadays. Chao said, “currently Tesla’s security system is valid enough to keep the personal data from being leaked to the public or to the company.”
There is often news about car accidents related to the Tesla cars, so one of the students wondered whether Tesla cars were riskier than non-electric cars. Chao replied, “Tesla is as safe as other cars in the world, and the accident rate is not very high; however, their products are not widespread enough, so people may notice more car accidents of Tesla cars rather than those of other brands.”
The students experiencing the car models in Tesla, photograph by Colette Hsu, Oct. 27, 2020
After being allowed to see the cars more closely, Terry Li, one of the junior students in the course, said, “The cars and the innovative elements in the sci-fi films have come true, and they are relatively cheaper than I imagine, and I have gained a lot today to witness the possibility of the progress of these cars in thirty years.”
As for the future of other technologies, Jasmine Hsu, another junior student, said, “although Tesla is a company for the elites of science and technology, I am inspired by the way they promote the products and the effects of the commercials, so I optimistically think that it is also a motivating future for those who are better at marketing.”
“This course aims to make students rethink reality by watching and thinking of the assigned films, and this activity can make them realize that the futuristic and sci-fi technologies are closer than people think. And the field trip today can help them realize the technology’s potential,” Liu concluded.
As for the future of other technologies, Jasmine Hsu, another junior student, said, “although Tesla is a company for the elites of science and technology, I am inspired by the way they promote the products and the effects of the commercials, so I optimistically think that it is also a motivating future for those who are better at marketing.”
“This course aims to make students rethink reality by watching and thinking of the assigned films, and this activity can make them realize that the futuristic and sci-fi technologies are closer than people think. And the field trip today can help them realize the technology’s potential,” Liu concluded.