Vaughn-Cooke speaks at virtual reality event on Capitol Hill

Assistant Professor Monifa Vaughn-Cooke (ME) and a team of students from the Hybrid-System Integration and Simulation Laboratory (HSIS) participated in the Virtual Reality Meets Capitol Hill event on Aug. 2 in Washington D.C. Vaughn-Cooke is an affiliate faculty member of the Institute for Systems Research.

The event, held at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, discussed the emerging role that federal, state and local governments will face in keeping the U.S. competitive with China and other countries in the growing virtual reality (VR) field. It also aimed to broaden awareness of the potential for VR beyond the gaming industry—for example for job training, emergency response scenarios and medicine.

Vaughn-Cooke, part of the University of Maryland's Brain and Behavior Initiative, was one of nine panelists representing industry, academe and government sectors. Her research includes applications of VR in safety-critical domains such as health care and nuclear power. Several of her current projects are creating tailored virtual simulations accessed through mobile technology to help people quit smoking or deal with psychological issues.

“Imagine if you could receive some of the same services that you might receive in a doctor's office, therapeutic services, but in the comfort of your own home, or while you are on the go,” Vaughn-Cooke explained during the panel.

The HSIS Lab is co-directed by Vaughn-Cooke, Ali Mosleh and Enrique Droguett.

| Read a story about the event at ComputerWorld.com |

| A two-hour video of the event is available on YouTube |

Published August 4, 2016