After deciding on the theme, we first discussed its title and our team name. Choosing an appropriate name that is easily recognizable is no easy task. The teacher suggested that we should have knowledge of assistive device makers and Mr. Chi-kuang Tuan first before deciding the name and title. So, we went on the Internet searching frantically for relevant information. After successive rounds of discussions, we decided our project name as "Love Without Barriers: Assistive Device Maker Chi-kuang Tuan.”

Mind Map drawn by Wu Chen-yu(Click to enlarge)

After deciding the name, we began to think about how to carry out our research plan. We thought that since we hoped this project could set an example for others to follow, a field interview was inevitable. However, we found that there was very little information on the Internet, and the Taipei Veterans General Hospital Rehabilitation and Technical Aid Center was not open to the public, so we were not able to make a website with rich content. After discussion, we decided to change the theme.

After discussion and the teacher's assistance, we found that there is a century-old hand puppet troupe near the school. It is a very meaningful traditional art of Taiwan, so we decided to switch to the theme of "Ming Hsu Shih Glove Puppet Theater Troupe." Since we changed the theme, our time would be limited, so we determined the title of the theme in a very short time as “Century-old Skills and Clever Manipulation: Ming Xu Shi Hand Puppet Troupe” and our team as “Chi-Jen Bosom Friend.”

We nervously made the first phone contact. Although troupe director Yueh-chang Lin didn't have much free time due to health factors, we still managed to get rid of all difficulties and got his nod to an interview!

On the day of the visit, we were excited, expectant and nervous but we told ourselves we must give a good impression. Fortunately, after meeting troupe director Lin, his kind attitude made us relax in an instant. After the interview, he introduced the photos and reports on the wall, and many precious puppets. He also let us have a hands-on experience. We even posed for a group photo holding glove puppets with director Lin. We’d really appreciate it!

Finally, to let more people know about Ming Hsu Shih Glove Puppet Theater Troupe, CyberFair project members decided to make PowerPoint presentations to the students of the school, sharing the project and experiences. We hoped that through this activity, everyone could understand the beauty of this traditional art, and that local traditional arts, including glove puppetry (budaixi), Taiwanese gezai opera, shadow puppetry could continue to be handed down under the attention of everyone!

Study Flow Chart drawn by Wu Chen-yu (Click to enlarge)

Compiled by:Wu Chen-yu, Yan Yuan-yu Image source: CyberFair camera