How Video Games Have Changed Simulation Training (and Improved) Bob Davis CEO & President bdavis@driverinteractive.com

Why This Topic? ADTSEA members take personal responsibility for protecting people behind the wheel (and in crosswalks) We need to be using the latest technology and learning methods

THE INSTRUCTOR’S CHALLENGE IRL Gamer Talk for “In Real Life” Get and Retain Their Attention Complex Situations Such as being beside a semi, hydroplaning, distracted pedestrians, etc. Cannot Let Them Fail Allow them experiential learning Give Immediate Individual Feedback You Can Test For Knowledge But Not For Skill Get the Parents to Lead by Example

Physicist Invents First Video Game October 1958: Physicist Invents First Video Game Physicist William Higinbotham created the game Tennis for Two The ball was just a dot that bounced back and forth. Brookhaven National Laboratory ©1995 - 2017, AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

EARLY VIDEO GAMES First Major PC Game First PC Game DONKEY 1972 Arcades for 1975 Consoles First PC Game DONKEY Written by Bill Gates

Football Games in 1986 (about the time of the DeKalb study)

Football Video Games in 2016

WHAT IS GAMES-BASED LEARNING? The integration of gaming experiences to increase engagement and motivation.  Complex environments where players make decisions in increasingly difficult circumstances. Experience environments that are new and potentially too dangerous or too difficult to create in real life. Experimentation and risk taking is encouraging players to try alternative courses of action and experience different outcomes. Gamification recognizes opportunities to improve intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, engagement and to change behavior.

Transfer of Knowledge (hopefully not too boring) On-Demand: Information is provided at crucial times to maximize proper responses Hydroplaning information as you are hydroplaning Discovery Principle: The learner is allowed to explore and discover Front loading information is less effective than experiential learning methods Transfer Principle: Learners apply learning from earlier stages to later stages Such as extensive scanning at an intersection

How are today’s video games different from traditional simulators?

Driving Games Yesterday Driving Games Today

Traditional Simulation Systems Traditional simulator systems more focused on rules of the road Scripted traffic does the same thing each time Rules and language are “dry” Punishment focused Teach from only inside the car Focusing on mechanics of driving like shifting isn’t what is dangerous Ignored behavioral issues like distractions Often the software doesn’t even have a name

SIMULATION IS NOT A BUNCH OF HARDWARE!! Simulator…………. ……….. …………Training Curriculum? 200 Page Book………………..…. …..………… Textbook Curriculum?

Think About How People Learn Least Effective (reading) When you drive down the road you should maintain a safe following distance of four to six seconds behind the vehicle in front of you by choosing a fixed object such as a pole or sign then when the vehicle passes that object you begin counting and you should be able to count to 6 before passing the same object you identified. Most Effective (visual interaction)

WHY ARE VIDEO GAMES SO COMPELLING? Immediate Feedback Creates Relevancy Competitive Achievement Maintains Focus Multi Tasking Is Interesting (like driving) Unfamiliar Situations Spike Curiosity Dangerous Situations Create Emotions

VIDEO GAME DRIVING SKILLS RESEARCH “Video games, even like Mario Cart can improve real-life driving skills.” Source: NY University of Shanghai Teen reaction time and vision are better…but not their judgement and anticipation Hazard detection skills increase Games are focused on engagement and achievement with constant feedback and goals

Modern simulation Feature examples MADE POPULAR BY VIDEO GAMES

Real Time On-Screen Scoring and Dynamic Life Bar 18

DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT CHANGES Change wind amount and direction Boating Safety Virtual Trainer Change the level and direction of current Switch from day to night (in lesson)

POINT OF VIEW CHANGES Unique Perspectives for Learning Example: Lane Changes & Blind Spots

INTELLIGENT, RANDOM, VARIABLE TRAFFIC (not scripted!) Texting and driving lesson 21

INSET MINI MAPS Real Time View of Backing Your Semi Compass and Map of Lake Real Time View of Backing Your Semi

VIRTUAL CUES Racing Examples Simulation Examples

CREATE YOUR ENVIRONMENT 24

WEB ACCESS PARENTAL COMPANION To help parents see what their students are learning and to offer tips for parents to help instruct their teens. 25

VIRTUAL TRAINING TECHNIQUES Learn faster than books or lecture Concepts taught in class come alive More time “behind the wheel” including inclement weather Safely practice dangerous scenarios without the danger Consistent, objective, measureable learning

(but with real time scoring) UNLIMITED FREE DRIVING PRACTICE (but with real time scoring) 27

Driver’s Ed vs. Driver Training Previous studies on “driver’s ed” that deemed it largely ineffective did not consider the teaching method itself was ineffective! Could you fly a fighter jet with classroom training only? Or flying only in good weather? And, never in combat situations? Of course not!

QUESTIONS? Contact: Bob Davis, CEO & President Virtual Driver Interactive 916-990-4416 bdavis@driverinteractive.com Actual Virtual Driving Essentials Scene 29