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

Abstract

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.

Keywords::

• driving simulation
• simulator fidelity
• curve negotiation
• eye-movements
• simulator discomfort

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Green Dino for their support in developing the virtual environments for this experiment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental content may be viewed online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2015.1005172.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs through the project Driver Observation in Car Simulators (HTASI09004-DrivObs) and by the Dutch Technology Foundation (Stichting voor de Technische Wetenschappen), the Applied Science Division of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) and the Technology Program of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.