He then launches into a demonstration of free software that presents literature and poetry lesson plans complete with 3D graphics and animation. This particular software, called The Emperor’s New Clothes, is aimed at 12- and 13-year-olds and comes with desert or tropical backdrops, options to view proceedings by day or night and the ability to add animated graphics of the emperor himself, all of which is meant to excite children’s interest and help them better visualise the lessons.
“For a very long time,” says Liu, “knowledge was very expensive. But the internet has somehow solved this problem. Now lots of knowledge, especially information, is free. I think we can all feel this, it’s become a part of our society now.”