From School Library Journal
Gr 4-6-This superficial, narrowly focused survey introduces flight simulators and related machines used for training, testing new products, and entertainment. Baker deliberately excludes virtual-reality devices and simulation software from his discussion-though he allows that they all use related, and converging, technology-and by omission leaves out simulators used in medical research, athletic training, and, except for a few vague comments, amusement parks. What he does cover, besides some cursory historical background, is the difficulty of creating even temporarily convincing training environments for pilots, tank drivers, astronauts, heavy-equipment operators, and the like using often-subtle combinations of generated visuals, sound, limited movement, and feedback. Color photos and computer-designed composites show several kinds of simulators, from inside and outside, at rest and in action. Written largely in generalities, and sans any signs of original research, this title may be useful in comprehensive collections as a secondary source for term papers, following basic reference tools.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Baker begins dramatically by placing the reader in an F-21 fighter streaking towards its target. An enemy missile locks onto the plane, "leaving you only seconds to eject before your craft is blown to pieces." Luckily, the reader's F-21 was a multimillion-dollar simulator, rather than a multimillion-dollar plane. Baker explains the many uses of simulators in training people to operate complex, expensive, or potentially dangerous systems such as ships, airplanes, submarines, space shuttles, control towers, and nuclear power plants. Clear, colorful photographs and computer images, some of them rather small, illustrate the text. Students will find this introductory book an attractive starting point for research. An appended list of resources suggests keywords for Internet searches on simulators as well as some specific Web sites to visit. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
