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Driving Skills Training for Older Adults: An Assessment of DriveSharp

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2015

Katherine A. Johnston
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
David Borkenhagen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
Charles T. Scialfa*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Calgary
*
La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: / Correspondence and requests for reprints should be sent to: Charles T. Scialfa, Ph.D. Department of Psychology University of Calgary Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 (scialfa@ucalgary.ca)

Abstract

Computer-based, cognitive training procedures aim to increase safety by improving skills related to driving, such as speed-of-processing and the Useful Field of View. The current study assessed the effectiveness of DriveSharp in training older drivers in a naturalistic class setting. Participants (n = 24) attended 10 hours of DriveSharp classes over 5 weeks. Pre- and post-testing sessions assessed improvements on a dynamic hazard perception test, Trails A and Trails B. A control group (n = 18) completed only pre- and post-testing sessions. In-class training times were lower than expected. Participants’ improvement in the games leveled off after the first assessment and the DriveSharp group did not demonstrate a significant improvement in performance compared to the control group. Among several usability issues, the most problematic were misunderstanding task goals and the difference between training and evaluation. There are several implications for those using DriveSharp to enhance older drivers’ safety.

Résumé

Les procédures de formation cognitive informatique visent à augmenter la sécurité en améliorant les compétences relatives à la conduite, comme la vitesse-de-traitement et le Useful Field of View. L'étude actuelle a évalué l'efficacité du DriveSharp dans la formation des conducteurs âgés dans un cadre de classe réaliste. Les participants (n = 24) ont assisté à 10 heures de cours de DriveSharp pendant 5 semaines. Les séances pré- et post-test ont evalués améliorations sur un essai dynamique de la perception du risque, Trails A et Trails B. Un groupe de contrôle (n = 18) a terminé seulement les séances pré- et post-test. En classe, les temps de formation étaient plus bas que prévus. L'amélioration des participants aux jeux ont stabilisée après la première évaluation, et le groupe de DriveSharp n'a pas démontré une amélioration significative des performances sur les tests, par rapport au groupe de contrôle. Parmi plusieurs questions relatives à la facilité d'utilisation, les plus problématiques étaient le malentendudes objectifs de la tâche et la différence entre la formation et l'évaluation. Il y a plusieurs implications pour ceux qui utilisent DriveSharp pour améliorer la sécurité des conducteurs âgés.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2015 

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