Effects of visual fidelity on curve negotiation, gaze behaviour and simulator discomfort

Effects of visual fidelity on curve negotiation, gaze behaviour and simulator discomfort

van Leeuwen, P.M. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)
Gómez i Subils, C
Ramon Jimenez, A
Happee, R. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)
de Winter, J.C.F. (TU Delft Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)

2015

Technological developments have led to increased visual fidelity of driving simulators. However, simplified visuals have potential advantages, such as improved experimental control, reduced simulator discomfort and increased generalisability of results. In this driving simulator study, we evaluated the effects of visual fidelity on driving performance, gaze behaviour and subjective discomfort ratings. Twenty-four participants drove a track with 90° corners in (1) a high fidelity, textured environment, (2) a medium fidelity, non-textured environment without scenery objects and (3) a low-fidelity monochrome environment that only showed lane markers. The high fidelity level resulted in higher steering activity on straight road segments, higher driving speeds and higher gaze variance than the lower fidelity levels. No differences were found between the two lower fidelity levels. In conclusion, textures and objects were found to affect steering activity and driving performance; however, gaze behaviour during curve negotiation and self-reported simulator discomfort were unaffected.

Practitioner Summary: In a driving simulator study, three levels of visual fidelity were evaluated. The results indicate that the highest fidelity level, characterised by a textured environment, resulted in higher steering activity, higher driving speeds and higher variance of horizontal gaze than the two lower fidelity levels without textures.

driving simulation
simulator fidelity
curve negotiation
eye-movements
simulator discomfort

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7804526c-706d-4edc-898a-3137eb88bd03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2015.1005172

2015-08-18

0014-0139

Ergonomics: an international journal of research and practice in human factors and ergonomics, 58 (8), 1347-1364

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2015 P.M. van Leeuwen, C Gómez i Subils, A Ramon Jimenez, R. Happee, J.C.F. de Winter