1. How Video Games Have Changed
Simulation Training
(and Improved)
Bob Davis
CEO & President

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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
© , AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY

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

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

7. Football Video Games in 2016

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. Driving Games Yesterday
Driving Games Today

12. 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

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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. Modern simulation Feature examples
MADE POPULAR BY VIDEO GAMES

18. Real Time On-Screen Scoring and Dynamic Life Bar18

19. 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)

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

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

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

23. VIRTUAL CUES
Racing Examples
Simulation Examples

24. CREATE YOUR ENVIRONMENT24

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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!

29. QUESTIONS? Contact: Bob Davis, CEO & President
Virtual Driver Interactive
Actual Virtual Driving Essentials Scene 29