One of the most important reasons why driving simulators are sometimes frowned at by driving instructors is that instructors themselves often experience simulator sickness when driving in a driving simulator. Because the become nauseous, they develop a strong aversive reaction but they also start to drive very poorly. And from that they conclude that driving simulators are not suited for training young people. In contrast, young inexperienced drivers almost never experience simulator sickness. So, although for more experienced drivers, a simulator has this disadvantage, it is suitable as a training method for young inexperienced drivers: the precise target group for driver training.
In a number of driving simulators, simulator sickness is being handled by using a motion platform. This results in a high price and thats why these high-end simulators are usually not used for driver training, because no driving school can afford these systems. Also, there is not much evidence that a motion platform really helps in coombatting simulator sickness, because the motions are almost always different compared to the actual motions one experiences while driving.
Since driving is mostly a visual task, you don't need motions to learn driving. People should learn to check the speedometer regularly, and they get sufficient visual feedback when the accelerate of decelerate. Also, the visual flow gives sufficient indications of vehicle speed.
The thing that results in simulator sickness is always acceleration, or especially deceleration. That's because simulator sickness is a result of a mismatch between vestibular (inner-ear) information and visual information. In a simulator you SEE that you decelerate (when you brake) but your vestibular system does not provide that information: so, there's a mismatch that results in the experience of disorientation and nausea. But only if you have a lot of driving experience and thus a long lasting experience in the co-existence of these two sources of information.
There are two different types of acceleration: longitudinal acceleration and lateral acceleration. Longitudinal acceleration occurs when you press the accelerator to increase speed, or when you press the brake to decrease speed, or release the accelerator so you brake more slowly. Lateral acceleration occurs when your car turns, via a steering wheel movement. Its mainly the braking part of the longitudinal acceleration that results in simulator sickness.
Because an experienced driver such as a driving instructor, misses the vestibular cues when braking, they tend to brake too hard in a simulator, to compensate for the lack of motion cues. And then they become even more sick. That's why it is important to use proper brake pedals where you can give a dosed braking response and slow down more gently.
In a number of driving simulators, simulator sickness is being handled by using a motion platform. This results in a high price and thats why these high-end simulators are usually not used for driver training, because no driving school can afford these systems. Also, there is not much evidence that a motion platform really helps in coombatting simulator sickness, because the motions are almost always different compared to the actual motions one experiences while driving.
Since driving is mostly a visual task, you don't need motions to learn driving. People should learn to check the speedometer regularly, and they get sufficient visual feedback when the accelerate of decelerate. Also, the visual flow gives sufficient indications of vehicle speed.
The thing that results in simulator sickness is always acceleration, or especially deceleration. That's because simulator sickness is a result of a mismatch between vestibular (inner-ear) information and visual information. In a simulator you SEE that you decelerate (when you brake) but your vestibular system does not provide that information: so, there's a mismatch that results in the experience of disorientation and nausea. But only if you have a lot of driving experience and thus a long lasting experience in the co-existence of these two sources of information.
There are two different types of acceleration: longitudinal acceleration and lateral acceleration. Longitudinal acceleration occurs when you press the accelerator to increase speed, or when you press the brake to decrease speed, or release the accelerator so you brake more slowly. Lateral acceleration occurs when your car turns, via a steering wheel movement. Its mainly the braking part of the longitudinal acceleration that results in simulator sickness.
Because an experienced driver such as a driving instructor, misses the vestibular cues when braking, they tend to brake too hard in a simulator, to compensate for the lack of motion cues. And then they become even more sick. That's why it is important to use proper brake pedals where you can give a dosed braking response and slow down more gently.
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