FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2007 

New Group Works to Bring NC Into the Virtual Future

Official Launch of North Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association

Press Contact: Katherine Haney
919-459-2510
khaney@ncalta.org

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – Representatives from government and industry alike gathered March 20 to officially launch the formation of the North Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association.

“North Carolina has a rare blend of leading learning institutions, game development studios, new media companies, and companies dedicated to creating learning programs,” said NCALTA President, Jerry Heneghan. “NCALTA will leverage these groups to establish North Carolina as the world’s foremost hub for creating Advanced Learning Technologies.”

Dr. Stephen Scott, President of Wake Technical Community College, addressed the group and mentioned that many of the country’s video games are designed in the Triangle.  Dr. Scott said that Wake Tech is committed “to training a world class workforce and that students who are graduating from Wake Tech’s new Simulation & Game Development Program will be a part of that workforce.”  Wake Tech’s Simulation & Game Development Program became the first community college program of its type to be funded by the National Science Foundation last fall.
President and CEO of WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Bill Atkinson, told the group that “…serious gaming and advanced learning technologies is already being used everyday in the health care industry.”  Dr. Atkinson said the use of serious gaming technology will “…continue to grow and become a major tool in the training and education of not only those people involved in healthcare but almost any industry you can think of.”    “The use of this technology will greatly improve the overall quality of the care and treatment patients receive in hospitals today.” Dr. Atkinson said.

The Research Triangle area is home to more than 30 serious gaming and advanced technology companies.  It is quickly becoming the leading area in the United States for companies involved in these programs to locate. 
Richard Kristof, NC ALTA treasurer said “the mission of the North Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina through fostering the statewide growth of research, development and education in the creation of Advanced Learning Technologies for workforce development.”

For more information about the North Carolina Advanced Learning Technologies Association, please visit www.NCALTA.org .

Email: info@ncalta.org