Media Advisory: High School Students Mix Driving and Cell Phones In Engineering Simulation at UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Area high school students will be instructed to talk or text on their cell phones when they take the wheel of the driving simulator at the UB/NYSCEDII 2011 Cyber Engineering Workshop for Young Women at the University at Buffalo on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. in 106 Furnas Hall on the UB North Campus.

Media are invited to attend.

The idea behind the workshop is to demonstrate to young women how engineering relates to society and how engineering tools, such as the UB driving simulator, can help address social problems, such as the phenomenon of distracted driving and talking or texting while driving.

The workshop is sponsored by UB's New York State Center for Engineering Design and Industrial Innovation (NYSCEDII), the University Transportation Research Center - Region 2, Fisher-Price, Moog and Praxair.

Students will be using their cell phones while "driving" in NYSCEDII's simulator, which consists of a "car" mounted on a six-degree-of-freedom motion base that realistically simulates the sensations of turning, braking and traveling up- or downhill. The cabin is outfitted with high-performance simulation controls, such as a steering wheel, accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. While the platform is moving, four 10-by-8-foot display screens surround the car, simulating the world that the drivers are experiencing.

The 16 students, in grades 10-12, attend 12 area high schools: Akron, Barker, Clarence, Holy Angels Academy, Lake Shore, Mt. Mercy, Mt. St. Mary, Nardin Academy, Orchard Park, Starpoint, Tapestry Charter and Williamsville North.

UB instructors are Ken English, PhD, NYSCEDII deputy director and workshop coordinator and adjunct assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Greg Fabiano, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology in the Graduate School of Education.

Press arrangements: Ellen Goldbaum in the UB Office of News Services at 645-4605 and 771-9255 or Ken English at 510-5597.