A Simulator Evaluation of Age Effects on Symbol Sign Recognition

1980 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wade Allen ◽  
Zareh Parseghian ◽  
Paul G. Van Valkenburgh
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Elderly Drivers ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Symbolic Information ◽  
Sign Recognition ◽  
Recognition And Response

The use of symbolic road signs is proliferating on the highways, and there is some concern in their effectiveness, particularly by elderly drivers. This paper describes an experimental study of problems encountered by a broad age range of drivers in learning and retaining symbolic information. A driving simulator was used to present 72 symbol signs to subjects during 25 minutes “drives.” Performance measures included the correctness of sign recognition, and the distance from the signs at which recognition took place. The experimental design looked at the effects of age and training on the learning and retention of symbol knowledge. The overall results showed strong age effects, but no influence due to the type of symbol training employed. All age groups learned and retained roughly the same number of symbols, but the older age groups started with less symbol knowledge initially. This result is hypothesized to be a generational effect rather than an age diminished-capability. Data interpretation also indicates that older subjects require longer recognition and response times.

Age Differences in the Useful Field of View in a Part-Task Driving Simulator

1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (14) ◽  
pp. 960-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Walker ◽  
Catherine Sedney ◽  
Kathryn Wochinger ◽  
Deborah A. Boehm-Davis ◽  
William A. Perez
Keyword(s):  
Age Differences ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Useful Field Of View ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Motion Threshold

This study investigated age-related differences in the useful field of view (UFOV) using a part-task driving simulator. Thirty-six licensed drivers, aged 20-25, 40-45, and 65-70, participated. Dynamic roadway images were projected on screens to the front and sides of the driver. Target stimuli consisted of full-size simplified images of a van moving forward on the side screens at a speed below the motion threshold. Subjects performed forward view tracking and cognitive tasks while responding to the van stimuli on the side screens. Increased levels of the forward view task load adversely affected response times to the vans for the older group only, but performance of the tracking task declined for all age groups with increased load.

The Effects of Distraction on Anticipatory Driving

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1960-1964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dengbo He ◽  
Birsen Donmez
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Task ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Task Engagement ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Novice Drivers ◽  
Secondary Tasks ◽  
Future Events ◽  
Simulator Study ◽  
Recognition And Response

The anticipation of future events in traffic can allow potential gains in recognition and response times. Anticipatory actions (i.e., actions in preparation for a potential upcoming conflict) have been found to be more prevalent among experienced drivers in a driving simulator study where driving was the sole task. The influence of secondary tasks on anticipatory driving has not yet been investigated, despite the prevalence and negative effects of distraction widely documented in the literature. A driving simulator experiment was conducted with 16 experienced and 16 novice drivers to address this gap with half of the participants provided with a self-paced visual-manual secondary task. More anticipatory actions were observed among experienced drivers in general compared to novices; experienced drivers also exhibited more efficient visual scanning behaviors. Secondary task engagement reduced anticipatory actions for both experienced and novice drivers.

scholarly journals User interface for in-vehicle systems with on-wheel finger spreading gestures and head-up displays

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 700-721
Author(s):  
Sang Hun Lee ◽  
Se-One Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Steering Wheel ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Driver Behaviour ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Gestural Interface ◽  
Recognition And Response ◽  
Specific Number

Abstract Interacting with an in-vehicle system through a central console is known to induce visual and biomechanical distractions, thereby delaying the danger recognition and response times of the driver and significantly increasing the risk of an accident. To address this problem, various hand gestures have been developed. Although such gestures can reduce visual demand, they are limited in number, lack passive feedback, and can be vague and imprecise, difficult to understand and remember, and culture-bound. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel on-wheel finger spreading gestural interface combined with a head-up display (HUD) allowing the user to choose a menu displayed in the HUD with a gesture. This interface displays audio and air conditioning functions on the central console of a HUD and enables their control using a specific number of fingers while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. We compared the effectiveness of the newly proposed hybrid interface against a traditional tactile interface for a central console using objective measurements and subjective evaluations regarding both the vehicle and driver behaviour. A total of 32 subjects were recruited to conduct experiments on a driving simulator equipped with the proposed interface under various scenarios. The results showed that the proposed interface was approximately 20% faster in emergency response than the traditional interface, whereas its performance in maintaining vehicle speed and lane was not significantly different from that of the traditional one.

Effect of Changing a Traffic Control Device Color on Driver Behavior and Perception across Different Age Groups

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110111
Author(s):  
Hatem Abou-Senna ◽  
Mohamed El-Agroudy ◽  
Mustapha Mouloua ◽  
Essam Radwan
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Traffic Management ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Traffic Density ◽  
Driving Conditions ◽  
And Performance

The use of express lanes (ELs) in freeway traffic management has seen increasing popularity throughout the United States, particularly in Florida. These lanes aim at making the most efficient transportation system management and operations tool to provide a more reliable trip. An important component of ELs is the channelizing devices used to delineate the separation between the ELs and the general-purpose lane. With the upcoming changes to the FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, this study provided an opportunity to recommend changes affecting safety and efficiency on a nationwide level. It was important to understand the impacts on driver perception and performance in response to the color of the EL delineators. It was also valuable to understand the differences between demographics in responding to delineator colors under different driving conditions. The driving simulator was used to test the responses of several demographic groups to changes in marker color and driving conditions. Furthermore, participants were tested for several factors relevant to driving performance including visual and subjective responses to the changes in colors and driving conditions. Impacts on driver perception were observed via eye-tracking technology with changes to time of day, visibility, traffic density, roadway surface type, and, crucially, color of the delineating devices. The analyses concluded that white was the optimal and most significant color for notice of delineators across the majority of subjective and performance measures, followed by yellow, with black being the least desirable.

scholarly journals Performance in complex life situations: effects of age, cognition, and walking speed in virtual versus real life environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Kafri ◽  
Patrice L. Weiss ◽  
Gabriel Zeilig ◽  
Moshe Bondi ◽  
Ilanit Baum-Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Virtual Environment ◽  
Real World ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Shopping Mall ◽  
Complex Task ◽  
The Real ◽  
Gait Parameters

Abstract Background Virtual reality (VR) enables objective and accurate measurement of behavior in ecologically valid and safe environments, while controlling the delivery of stimuli and maintaining standardized measurement protocols. Despite this potential, studies that compare virtual and real-world performance of complex daily activities are scarce. This study aimed to compare cognitive strategies and gait characteristics of young and older healthy adults as they engaged in a complex task while navigating in a real shopping mall and a high-fidelity virtual replica of the mall. Methods Seventeen older adults (mean (SD) age = 71.2 (5.6) years, 64% males) and 17 young adults (26.7 (3.7) years, 35% males) participated. In two separate sessions they performed the Multiple Errands Test (MET) in a real-world mall or the Virtual MET (VMET) in the virtual environment. The real-world environment was a small shopping area and the virtual environment was created within the CAREN™ (Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment) Integrated Reality System. The performance of the task was assessed using motor and physiological measures (gait parameters and heart rate), MET or VMET time and score, and navigation efficiency (cognitive performance and strategy). Between (age groups) and within (environment) differences were analyzed with ANOVA repeated measures. Results There were no significant age effects for any of the gait parameters but there were significant environment effects such that both age groups walked faster (F(1,32) = 154.96, p < 0.0001) with higher step lengths (F(1,32) = 86.36, p < 0.0001), had lower spatial and temporal gait variability (F(1,32) = 95.71–36.06, p < 0.0001) and lower heart rate (F(1,32) = 13.40, p < 0.01) in the real-world. There were significant age effects for MET/VMET scores (F(1,32) = 19.77, p < 0.0001) and total time (F(1,32) = 11.74, p < 0.05) indicating better performance of the younger group, and a significant environment effect for navigation efficiency (F(1,32) = 7.6, p < 0.01) that was more efficient in the virtual environment. Conclusions This comprehensive, ecological approach in the measurement of performance during tasks reminiscent of complex life situations showed the strengths of using virtual environments in assessing cognitive aspects and limitations of assessing motor aspects of performance. Difficulties by older adults were apparent mainly in the cognitive aspects indicating a need to evaluate them during complex task performance.

scholarly journals Visual Attention and Aging: an Age-Related Cognitive Model of Positive Adaptation

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-191
Author(s):  
José Manuel Rodríguez-Ferrer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cognitive Model ◽  
Covert Attention ◽  
Positive Adaptation ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Healthy Young People

We have studied the effects of normal aging on visual attention. Have participated a group of 38 healthy elderly people with an average age of 67.8 years and a group of 39 healthy young people with average age of 19.2 years. In a first experiment of visual detection, response times were recorded, with and without covert attention, to the presentation of stimuli (0.5º in diameter grey circles) appearing in three eccentricities (2.15, 3.83 and 5.53° of visual field) and with three levels of contrast (6, 16 and 78%). In a second experiment of visual form discrimination circles and squares with the same features as in the previous experiment were presented, but in this case subjects only should respond to the emergence of the circles. In both age groups, the covert attention reduced response times. Compared to young people, the older group achieved better results in some aspects of attention tests and response times were reduced more in the stimuli of greater eccentricity. The data suggest that there is a mechanism of adaptation in aging, in which visual attention especially favors the perception of those stimuli more difficult to detec

Visual, Perceptual, and Cognitive Measures as Predictors of Collision Detection in Older Drivers

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 1018-1022
Author(s):  
Christina L. James ◽  
Kathryn Wochinger ◽  
W. Spencer James ◽  
Deborah Boehm-Davis
Keyword(s):  
Collision Detection ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Error Type ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Dependent Variables

This experiment examined whether visual, perceptual, or cognitive measures predicted the ability to detect vehicle collisions in intersections. Sixty subjects, comprised of three age groups balanced by gender, were presented dynamic intersection approaches in a part-task driving simulator. The subjects were asked to project the forward progress of crossing traffic and to indicate whether any of the crossing vehicles would conflict with their vehicle. Independent variables included visual, perceptual, and cognitive test batteries. Dependent variables included accuracy in collision detection and error type. Results showed that all three batteries predicted accuracy, but that the perceptual battery was the most predictive for each age group.

scholarly journals The Influence of Relative Age Effects on the Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels of Children Age 9 to 10 and 11 to 12 Years of Age

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon J. Roberts ◽  
Lynne M. Boddy ◽  
Stuart J. Fairclough ◽  
Gareth Stratton
Keyword(s):  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Age Effects ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Relative Age Effect ◽  
First Time

The aims of this study were firstly to examine whether there was an observed relative age effect in the cardiorespiratory fitness scores of 9-10 and 11-12 year old children, and secondly whether any observed effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturity. Cardiorespiratory fitness data from 11,404 children aged 9-10 years and 3,911 children aged 11-12 years were obtained from a large cross-sectional field-based fitness testing program. A one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant relative age effect (p < .01) existed in the 20mSRT scores across all the age groups. Furthermore, ANCOVA analyses identified a statistically significant relative age effect was maintained after controlling for somatic maturation (p < .05). From a public health perspective these results confirm the existence of relative age effects for the first time and consequently may hold implications for relatively younger children in the accurate assessment of their cardiorespiratory fitness scores.

Advance Information on the Road: A Simulator Study of the Effect of Road Markings

1976 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Witt ◽  
Carl G. Hoyos
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Driving Behavior ◽  
Speed Profile ◽  
The Road ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Road Signs ◽  
Advance Information ◽  
Simulator Study ◽  
On The Road ◽  
Accident Statistics

Accident statistics and studies of driving behavior have shown repeatedly that curved roads are hazardous. It was hypothesized that the safety of curves could be improved by indicating in advance the course of the road in a more effective way than do traditional road signs. A code of sequences of stripes put on right edge of the pavement was developed to indicate to the driver the radius of the curve ahead. The main characteristic of this code was the frequency of transitions from code elements to gaps between elements. The effect of these markings was investigated on a driving simulator. Twelve subjects drove on simulated roads of different curvature and with different placement of the code in the approach zone. Some positive effects of the advance information could be observed. The subjects drove more steadily, more precisely, and with a more suitable speed profile.

scholarly journals AN EVALUATION OF AIRPORT WAYFINDING AND SIGNAGE ON SENIOR DRIVER BEHAVIOUR AND SAFETY OF AIRPORT ROAD ACCESS DESIGN

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-129
Author(s):  
Nur Khairiel Anuar ◽  
Romano Pagliari ◽  
Richard Moxon
Keyword(s):  
Road Safety ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Driver Behaviour ◽  
Driving Behaviour ◽  
Road Design ◽  
Driver Performance ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Car Driving

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of different wayfinding provision on senior driving behaviour and road safety. A car driving simulator was used to model scenarios of differing wayfinding complexity and road design. Three scenario types were designed consisting of 3.8 miles of airport road. Wayfinding complexity varied due to differing levels of road-side furniture. Experienced car drivers were asked to drive simulated routes. Forty drivers in the age ranges: 50 to 54, 55 to 59 and those aged over 60 were selected to perform the study. Participants drove for approximately 20 minutes to complete the simulated driving. The driver performance was compared between age groups. Results were analysed by Mean, Standard Deviation and ANOVA Test, and discussed with reference to the use of the driving simulator. The ANOVA confirmed that age group has a correlation between road design complexity, driving behaviour and driving errors.

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