In many situations, driving is essential for senior citizens to maintain their independent lifestyle. A systematic literature review was conducted that summarized the age-related physical, visual and cognitive functional declines and their associated risk to driving. Based on these findings, we explored whether the skills required in playing Xbox Kinect video games were correlated with measures of driving performance among older drivers. Fifty-two participants, 65 years of age or older (Mean = 72; SD = 3.84; range 65 – 85 years; 29 males) who have access to a car and drive frequently were invited to play Just dance, Table Tennis (ping pong), Bowling, and Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training Exercises on an Xbox Kinect 360. Participants also completed a 25-minute on-road driving task along a predetermined route to assess and identify critical driving errors using a similar instrument as that used by a driving license tester. Bivariate correlation examined the relationship between game scores and these objective driving skills. There was a significant correlation between the Xbox Kinect video games and on-road driving scores (r = 0.861, p <0.001), indicating that ‘good gamers are good drivers’. This was correlation was significant for the males (r = 0.864, p <0.001) as well as for the females (r = 0.878, p <0.001). We suggest that performance on Xbox games may be a suitable, cost-effective and less-risky indicator of on-road driving skills for older drivers, particularly in jurisdictions in which mandatory testing of older citizens has been introduced or is being considered as a requirement in the driver licensing process.
LINK : http://journal.acs.org.au/index.php/ajis/article/view/1110/704
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteUsing Xbox as method of evaluation for drivers is pretty awkward and probably not the most accurate. Of course there is a lot of games based on driving like Need for Speed or Grand Theft Auto, but I would not consider them as a proper research method. There are also gadgets with possibility to connect to your computer - steering wheel, lever, pedals and even the entire seat.
Since they are normal driving exams why to use the games that have not much in common with real driving?
In my opinion it is much better to send drivers for the re-examination - the same exam as everyone must pass the first time. This requires re-reading the rules, a few rides with an instructor and exam with examiner who will determine whether they are able manually and mentally to not cause danger on the road.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
Soon there will be an introduction of cars that do not require drivers. As we know for a long time, they are in a testing phase, so we can expect that in a short time they will be commonplace in our lives. It will be a very good solution for the elderly.
Older people are in risk of sudden health accidents. I do not know if the support system foresee situations such as heart attack, stroke or similar. This can only further jeopardize the health of particularly vehicle driver.
Regarding the first point, I am convinced that we are talking about it attributes such as ability to respond quickly, adaptation, reflexes, etc.
DeleteIt is interesting what you said about Situations dry as heart attack, stroke or similar, I will read more about it.
Thanks for this optimistic article. For me (as an elderly car, motorcycle and bike driver) and for all elderly people this is generally good news that for example gaming can delay inescapable at least a little. This article generally covers not only elder gaming as a main track to achieve high ability forever not only driving ability. Authors clearly show that only physical and mind exercises during the whole life can help people keep normal ability during their life and especially during ageing. Until the elderly can live without additional help from their family or government it is for them a kind of real freedom. Ability to drive their self, to do homework, to do shopping etc. should be very important for elders because without independence in their life they will be as a weight for all around. Everybody especially family will think how to put the helpless elders in place for elders for example. Therefore in our ageing population government should develop health programs for elders which will encourage them to active life, for exercises, for learning to the end. Therefore I reckon our government’s idea to decline retirement age it was very, very bad move for all.
ReplyDeleteI used to read about people who retire. These people have nothing to do, die quickly. But people who are active socially, physically, mentally, have better health.
ReplyDeleteThere were several researches about influence of computer gaming on elderly people. Obviously stimulating brain by computer games helps elderly people to stay in good mental shape. But driving needs relfex and observation more than logical thinking that is useful for solving puzzles. Therefore using Xbox kinect seems to help elderly people to drive a car more that playing Civilization or Sudoku. Thought I'm sure that playing Gran turismo using proper steering wheel could give better correlation with real-life driving that some kinect games.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend autonomous cars not only for elderly people but for everyone. People make mistakes, get tired, get drunk or ares imply stupid and consider themselves the best drivers in the universe that do not need to obey regulations. Hopefully autonomous cars will end era of human drivers very soon.
That’s very interesting topics. Have you heard about Self-Regulation ?
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons that older drivers are not found to be significantly riskier drivers, despite medical evidence that demonstrates that their driving skill declines with age, is that they change their driving habits to compensate for their diminished competence as drivers. This self-regulation takes several forms.
First, older drivers tend to avoid driving conditions that put them at greater risk. The study finds that older drivers tend to stay off the road during peak traffic times and at night. By contrast, younger drivers show no particular pattern during the day and drive more frequently at night.
Second, many older drivers give up driving entirely, because they understand that they are a risk to others and to themselves. By removing themselves from the pool of drivers, they leave behind older drivers who drive comparatively well, thus affecting the analysis of relative risk.
Source: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9272.html
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteWhen I have read this article I thought about an idea to apply augmented reality as a treatment for phobias. For example, if someone suffers from arachnophobia, which is fear of spiders, he or she can wear special glasses and try to become accustomed to spiders displayed in surroundings or even on his/her hand. According to scientists, this is very effective treatment.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
I think that systems which may help older people driving are an interesting idea. Algorithms and computing power are more and more efficient so such solution may improve safety on roads and enable older people being more mobile as well as people with some disabilities.
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteWhen I have read this article I thought about an idea to apply augmented reality as a treatment for phobias. For example, if someone suffers from arachnophobia, which is fear of spiders, he or she can wear special glasses and try to become accustomed to spiders displayed in surroundings or even on his/her hand. According to scientists, this is very effective treatment.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
I think that systems which may help older people driving are an interesting idea. Algorithms and computing power are more and more efficient so such solution may improve safety on roads and enable older people being more mobile as well as people with some disabilities.
Hello. That is especially interesting topic because most of people in normal circumstances will be 65+ years old. I have driving license and when I see (not only older) driver I am thinking (of course only in my mind) "who gave you license" sometimes. It depends from his physical and mental states. I have seen many times on the road when this drivers behave very well and I hope that I will be equally independent. Transferring this part of people to autonomous cars would be not fair. Problem is when this person can faint during its travel - drivers health state should be tracked and driving license addicted to its results. On the other hand if somehow they will lose license (law regulations etc.) this people will loose their independent. When we repeat this research on the people who are not such independent I think that their practices indicators can be worse. Autonomous cars are not ready yet so we shouldn't talk about them as an replacement option for a travel. That is why supportive systems are the only way right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious did someone do research that compares 65 years old driver to younger person with 1 month experience. THey both have an license and who is "worse driver"? That is the first question, which cross my mind. Maybe we should add a green leaf for young drivers and yellow leaf for older ones? It can be a sign for other traffic participants "be patient - you was like me or you will be ;)".
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I cannot quote any studies which involve the usage of the methods from the world of entertainment.
However, I think many of the psychology studies may involve games as a great way of understanding processes.
AR technology seems to be a great idea for phobia treatment like arachnophobia.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
It is a tough question. Helping older drivers will always improve the safety of the other road users and their own.
However, I thinkt this solution has its limitations and it will not eliminate all the problems.
Autonomous cars seems to be a more reasonable solution for older people because it seems to offer equal opportunities to the drivers.
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteEven T-Mobile had a game to help older people. https://firma.t-mobile.pl/pl/dla-mediow/informacje-prasowe/-/kazde_miejsce_jest_dobre_zeby_walczyc_z_demencja/aid/0a93a1f6fdeca498246fdf2d459eb5bd
Of course AR or VR are a bit different, but they can be helpfull in the future. However, the biggest problem with those technologies is price for older people. Especially in poor countries like Poland. I can't imagine my grandmother going to store to buy new PS4 with VR.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
Autonomous cars. Why ? Older people can simply enjoy the ride. Most elders are either slow and unpredictable drivers or very fast drivers with slow reflex. There is a higher chance for elders to have a heart attack during the ride and so on. Basically, we should test every driver over 60 to increase overall safeness on roads.
I must say that this topic is interesting I was thinking about my father who is now 68 and his driving skills and I must say that he is better driver then I am. But I was thinking that his motor skills will decrease when he gets older and I think that this would be great idea to get him autonomus car. It would much safer for him and for other road traffic participants. But ther is one big minus and this will be price, especially in Poland. I don't think that this car would be cheaper then Renault Scenic or similar car. I think that the best solution for this will be some kind of system which will be able to help driver in driving, it would be much cheaper than autonomous car.
ReplyDeleteAbout Xbox and this kind of similar stuff I would be very sceptic and that is because older people don't like to sit in front of monitor (or TV) whole day so it would be hard to get their attention. But maybe our generation in 30 years will be more keen to do such a things - I would.
Very interesting article!
ReplyDelete1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
On our last year English course I presented an article about games used for medical purposes (http://utminers.utep.edu/asinghal/Wang-Singhal-%202014%20chapter%20on%20Digital%20Games%20DK-AS-GK%20Book.pdf), like: helping manage with pain, reducing post-traumatic stress problems or supporting patients in depression therapy. If you did not see it, I encourage you to read the paper :)
Also in our Academy there is a laboratory (in Bytom) with a big screen in front of a treadmill, where research about motion are conducted (http://bytom.pja.edu.pl/laboratorium/laboratorium-hdmi-dynamiki-i-wielomodalnej-interakcji/). It looks a bit like using entertainment for science.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
Autonomous cars - sounds good, but I am affraid they will drive without accidents, only when there will not be any human drivers around them. In such case they will work not only for elderly peple, but for everyone.
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDelete- When searching the web, I encountered the article which describes the application called Sea Hero Quest, which is used as a researchh field by the UK scientist to investigate the root cause of dementia and Alzheimer and in the future will help to fight with both diseases.(http://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/Wiadomosci/Swiat/Aplikacja-ktora-pomaga-naukowcom-walczyc-z-demencja!-00022226).
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
- I think that autonomous cars are generally better than human beings, no matter the age they are. Currently the technology in cars is far more advanced compared to automatic pilots used in planes (which by the way are used by 95% of the time of flight) and one fatal incident by Tesla driver won't turn back the treed of switching into autonomous cars sooner than we can realise.
To be honest I am not familiar with augmentation of new cars for older people. But improvement in today automotive world is really astonishing.
ReplyDelete1. Unfortunately, I do not know any other research methods from the world of entertainment. But I guess I will do some reading, as far as this topic is concerned, as I find it extremely interesting.
ReplyDelete2. I think that an autonomous car might be a better solution for an elderly person. They could enjoy the ride and also they would not pose danger for other road users. In Poland the issue of elderly people behind the wheel is not as burning as for example in France. In some regions more than 80% of accidents is caused by elderly people. There is no law that would make them stop using the car after certain age. It's no surprise to see an 80-year old woman, blind as a bat, driving a highway withour paying attention to other people or signs whatsoever. For such persons an autonomous car would be a perfect solution.
Hey, thanks for sharing with us this interesting article. At first sight I thought the games that would be tested will be racing or driving simulators, however I see that it mostly checks reactions to objects and how fast certain reflexes are. Perhaps a better indicator with even higher correlation would have been to let the seniors drive some driving simulator (games like Project Car, maybe even GTA ;) ) and as input use a driving wheel and gas/brake pedals, which are much cheaper than a Kinect and in my opinion could represent reality much better. For now if I had to chose between autonomous cars or systems that sometimes aid driving I would chose the later as they seem less invasive but can sometimes help in situations of need.
ReplyDelete1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteI really don’t know about such methods. It’s the first time I’ve heard about it. I think it is a very good contribution to help people in general: not only older and not only drivers.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
In my view autonomous cars are better for older drivers. The main advantage of using such cars is that they can be driven wherever they want without stress. It could be really convenient to older people. Systems that would be created to help older drivers can improve their skills only in few percent. Autonomous cars solve all problems for older drivers expect one – the price. I think that they wouldn’t afford buy such expensive invention.
1. Do you know of other research methods from the world of entertainment? What kind?
ReplyDeleteI heard that the police and army are interested in the VR technology for training their people. Like the previous speakers read about VR technology applications in the treatment of phobias. In my opinion, only human imagination is the limit.
2. What is better? Autonomous cars for older people or systems to help older drivers?
I think that elderly people should receive a driver's license in this system as we receive student cards. Between 65 and 75 years living driving license valid for two years, renewable four times, after two years by pasting stamps and enter data into the system. After 75 years renewable every year. In the future, autonomous cars can be a solution, but it must be affordable and must gain the trust the elderly - who naturally are less trusting to the technology.