By Johnny Duncan

Hard at work in East Orlando is the UCF’s Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). IST is an internationally recognized research institute that focuses on advancing modeling and simulation technology and increasing simulation's role in training and education. IST is considered part of the Florida High Tech Corridor, a group of counties stretching from Daytona Beach to the Tampa Bay Area. This region boasts the highest concentration of simulation and training related activities in the nation.

IST works on various projects that benefit from computer simulation. IST helped the military in designing computer training systems, and currently is involved with economic, educational, and environmental projects such as virtual Everglades tours, wildfire prevention, robotic testing, and human patient simulators. Because of this research, many companies outside of the military are adopting the same technology for mainstream use.

Founded in 1982, IST is one of the nation’s leading research centers for simulation, training, and mixed reality research for both defense and commercial applications. It employs about 100 full-time researchers and support personnel. Neighboring training systems developers in Research Park include the Naval Aviation (NAVAIR) Orlando Training Systems Division, U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), and the U.S. Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems.

Orlando is a recognized leader in simulation, laser, and information technology industries and these industries are fueling the growth of East Orlando’s digital media market, with over 400 digital media companies. Companies like Electronic Arts’ (EA), a $2 billion company and creator of Madden Football, FIFA Soccer, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour, have settled in Orlando. EA’s Tiburon studio employs several hundred and is the fastest growing studio among Electronic Arts World Wide Studio facilities.

EA recently announced a partnership with another local digital media company, XOS Technologies, who develop coaching and fan-management technology for sports teams. Together, the companies will produce a training simulator for college and pro football teams. This type of technology started at our very own Research Park.

Our local economy is being energized by these simulation training facilities and this technology is only going to increase the speed and quality of research in other areas. With new research institutes such as the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, the University of Central Florida’s new medical school, and Florida Hospital’s global surgical training facility, East Orlando is becoming the hot spot for research.

Additionally, local companies such as the CyTerra Corporation, which specializes in threat detection for military, commercial, and homeland security applications; Industrial Smoke and Mirrors, providing motion training solutions; and I.D.E.A.L. Technology Corporation, which delivers data extracting systems, are driving the local economy providing military products and services, technology for other industries, and jobs.

With many cross-over applications, the strength of the military’s simulation training has helped influence the growth of the region’s rapidly increasing digital media sector. Just a few years ago, Electronic Arts, the Economic Development Commission and other industrial partners helped UCF secure funding to develop a real-world video game program, and UCFs Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) was born. The school provides graduate level training in the interactive entertainment/gaming industry.

At UCF, over 200 technology patents have been issued in the past seven years and since the opening of UCF’s Technology Incubator in 1999, it has helped over 70 technology companies generate more than $150 million in revenue, and creating more than 450 jobs.

Technology is now becoming the driving force behind Orlando’s growth and it all started in 1978 when Research Park was established as a result of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature, combining the strengths of academia and the military.