Driving Simulator Experiment With and Without Using a Cellphone

Please read the full instruction before you start. Thank you!

For this current assignment, I would like you to think about how attention is used in everydayactivities. You will be taking part in a driving simulation and will do it under two conditions –without and without using your cell phone.The simulator will ask you to find different hazard targets – things that might interfere withdriving and decrease safety for you and others.As you are “driving” (the video is just moving), you will need to use a mouse or touch screen toclick on the video when you have identified the hazard targets.The simulator may ask for the following hazard targets to be identified in the video (not allvideos are the same):Here is what the simulator considers a specific hazard target:Furthermore, each category will have different aspects as defined below. Please read them andbe aware that these might be part of the video. The instructions tell you how to drive whenfaced with a potential hazard.Driving simulator without cellphoneAfter reading all about the hazards, please go to:https://driving-tests.org/defensive-driving-hazard-simulator-1/The link will take you to the driving simulator and will tell you which hazards you need toidentify.You will undertake the driving simulator without using your cell phone.Press “START” when you are ready – make sure that you are ready to click on each hazard(touch screen or mouse) as the drive unfolds.Once completed, take a screen shot of your ability to identify/avoid the hazards. The simulatorprogram will give you a tally, such as this:You will include the screen shot in your online lab write up.Driving simulator with cellphoneNext, find a time when you can call someone for about 5-10 minutes. This is a perfect time tocatch up with a friend or a family member!You do not need to tell the person that you are doing a homework assignment because I wouldlike the conversation with that person to flow as it would if you were actually driving (handsfree).Click on the following link:https://driving-tests.org/defensive-driving-hazard-simulator-3/Again, read the types of hazards that the driving simulator wants you to identify. You will needto do all of the set up before place the phone call.When you are ready to begin driving, place the phone call. Once the phone call has begun, putthe call on speak or use headphones.Then press “START” on the driving simulation.You will need to talk naturally (as a lot of us do when driving) AND drive at the same time,identifying all the targets.Once the video has ended, take a screen shot of the hazards you identified.Again, you will include the screen shot in your write up.Write-up for Homework:Part 1: Insert the screen shot of your driving ability without using your cell phone. In a briefparagraph, describe your driving ability incorporating the following concepts we learned aboutin class:overt attentioncovert attentionobject based attentionvisual searchtask switchingtop down attentional controlPart 2: Again, insert the screen shot of your driving ability but this time while talking on yourcell phone. In a brief paragraph describe how identifying the hazards was affected by talking onthe cell phone - specifically any changes in how your attention under the driving conditionschanged by the addition of a dual task (talking while driving):overt attention covert  based attention visual search task switching top down attentional control