Driving Simulator Scenario

One component of my Master's degree thesis involved creating a driving simulator scenario to help familiarize cognitively impaired individuals with how to operate the simulated vehicle within the scenario. The primary design challenges associated with creating this scenario, along with their respective solutions, are summarized in the table below.

Design Challenges	Design Solutions	Sample Image (click for larger image)
Design a way to deliver consistent instructions to users	About thirty (30) "startup screens" (presented as a slide show to users of the simulator) were developed to walk the subject through fundamental simulator rules and instructions.
Help users learn how to stop properly at simulated intersections	A series of intersections were added to the beginning and end of this scenario to gradually ease users from following pre-recorded stopping instructions with therapist/researcher feedback to being able to properly stop at intersections without any assistance. Click on the image to the right to view a larger image, in which two stop signs (look for the red dots) can be seen in the distance.
Balance the need to introduce simulated driving events with the learning curve of the subject	Easier events were placed at the beginning of the scenario, spaced far enough apart to allow the subject to not become overloaded with new information. More difficult (but still not yet challenging) situations are introduced later in the drive. The image to the right is from a part of the drive near the end of the scenario.