Task analyses of driving generally list a number of visual activities that require switching perceptions between different visual images. Thus a driver must very rapidly and continuously shift attention to interact with changing elements in a dynamic visual scene. Typically, however, visual tests used for certification and renewal of driver licenses ignore the transient nature of seeing and use visual test stimuli presented for extended duration under static conditions. Furthermore, recent literature implies that disruption of visual performance due to alcohol ingestion and other stressors is greater for tests involving transient visual capabilities than for tests of static visual performance such as high and low contrast acuity. We believe that how these temporal visual factors are modified by alcohol and aging, and even how many temporal factors there might be, have not been investigated thoroughly. While considerable literature exists on temporal and spatio-temporal processing, transportable, standardized tests of such abilities have not been generally available. To this end, a portable computerized test battery of six temporal acuity tests (saccadic accuracy, simultaneity, strobe, phi phenomenon, critical flicker frequency, and masking) was administered to participants in a series of interlocking studies. Reliabilities, effects of practice, and predictive validities are available for alcohol, aging, and sleep loss effects. Factor analyses from two of these studies (N=58 and N=45) suggested a consistent two-factor dimensionality for the battery. The application of these tests for driving safety is discussed and current plans for relating performance to simulated and real driving performance (i.e. accidents) is reported. (Author/publisher) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD Abstract No. E201067.
Abstract