A virtual-reality laboratory for engineering education will be estab- lished at North Carolina State University that takes advantage of recent dramatic reductions in the cost of virtual-reality technology. A unique aspect of the project is the use of haptic devices that incorporate tactile stimulation into more traditional multimedia tools. The laboratory, which will be associated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, will be used by undergraduates to interactively explore complex materials-related topics like the range and strength of chemical forces. The educational software will be developed at NCSU in collaboration with the NIH National Center for Research Resources at UNC-Chapel Hill.
