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Wright State named as center for human-centered innovation

Photos: Day of Innovation at WSU

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 5:39 PM Monday, November 16, 2009

FAIRBORN — Wright State University will partner with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to help to make Dayton the world’s center for human-centered innovation and research.

Ohio political and higher education officials on Monday, Nov. 16, announced the university’s designation as an Ohio Center of Excellence in Human-Centered Innovation.

The center will support the mission of the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patt and provide increased opportunities for technology transfers to Ohio-based companies.

“In this rapidly changing knowledge economy we need to be sure that ... their mission is fully supported by a competent and robust intellectual and industrial base,” said David R. Hopkins, Wright State president.

The center will focus on developing systems and technology for human use, while considering human needs, capabilities and limitations, said Jennie Gallimore, the center’s director.

For example, a car of the future might be able to help drivers avoid a crash by sensing road and weather conditions, analyzing driving patterns and evaluating fatigue by eye-tracking or neuro-monitoring.

“Human-centered innovation is not just about the technology in the car, but also about the complex systems, processes and organizations that we as drivers all interact with,” Gallimore said.

In addition to supporting Wright-Patt and the Department of Defense, the center will focus on the development of health care information technology and innovations for reducing health care costs.

The center is an opportunity “to make Dayton a growth magnet for human systems research professionals,” said Joe Sciabica, executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patt.

The center includes 56 faculty from six Wright State colleges, who in the past five years have garnered more than $33 million in research funding, according to Hopkins.

The university has pledged $3 million to create a new endowed chair in human-centered innovation, Hopkins said. Wright State also plans to raise $10 million in capital funding with the support of the state and industrial partners, he said.

Dayton-area businesses have committed more than $1 million in cash and in-kind services over the next two years for research in human-centered innovation, said David Strobhar, president of Beville Engineering, Inc.

On Oct. 28, Gov. Ted Strickland named Central State University and the University of Dayton as Ohio Centers of Excellence in Advanced Energy.

The University System of Ohio’s “Strategic Plan for Higher Education” requires public universities to develop distinctive centers of excellence to sharpen their focus, and to serve as drivers of innovation and entrepreneurial activity.

“The future is about taking the ideas that are being created in these great institutions and helping translate them into success for our students, for our businesses and for our state,” said Eric D. Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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