Virtual Environmentents as Laboratories for Studying Human Behavior: Modeling, Testing, and Validation

本研究的目的是探讨在动态环境中使用虚拟环境作为研究人类行为的媒介。该项目有两个重点：一个是旨在推进场景建模技术的计算组件，以满足适应受试者行为的可复制体验的实验需求；另一个是在虚拟自行车模拟器中调查儿童骑自行车行为的实验组件。虚拟环境为研究人类行为提供了一种令人兴奋的新媒介，它将实验室控制实验的严谨性与自然实验的生态有效性相结合。他们让实验对象沉浸在看似真实的世界中，但条件是可以控制的。此外，他们可以真实地模拟危险情况，而不会有伤害对象的风险。为了开发虚拟环境作为研究人类行为的实验室的潜力，必须在控制由车辆、行人、骑自行车的人和交通灯组成的虚拟环境的动态技术方面取得重大进展。在实验中，正确的事情必须在正确的时间和地点发生。此外，该活动应保持自发的外观；实验对象应该感到他们有行动的自由，其他物体的行为正常。本研究将探讨在线方向在实验过程中作为一种自适应协调模拟对象行为的手段。心理学研究将作为测试和强化情景控制方法的试验场。在虚拟环境中进行的实验将与在真实环境中进行的实验进行比较，以验证模拟器作为研究人类行为的实验室的使用。这项工作整合了高保真仿真、复杂行为控制、人为因素和发展心理学的研究。这项研究将推进虚拟环境技术、实验方法和模拟器验证，并增加我们对儿童受伤的主要原因的理解。

The objective of this research is to investigate the use of virtual environments as a medium for the study of human behavior in dynamic environments. The project has two thrusts: a computational component directed at advancing scenario modeling techniques to meet the needs of experiments for replicable experiences that adapt to subject behavior, and an experimental component that investigates children's bicycle riding behavior in a virtual bicycling simulator. Virtual environments present an exciting new medium for the study of human behavior that combines the rigor of controlled laboratory experiments with the ecological validity of natural experiments. They immerse subjects in worlds that appear physically real, but where conditions can be controlled. In addition, they can realistically simulate dangerous circumstances without risking injury to subjects. To exploit the potential of virtual environments as laboratories for studying human behavior, significant advances must be made in techniques for controlling the dynamics of virtual environments populated with vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and traffic lights. In experiments, the right things must happen at the right time and place. Furthermore, the activity should maintain an appearance of spontaneity; subjects should feel that they have freedom of action and that other objects are behaving normally. The research will investigate on-line direction as a means to adaptively coordinate the behaviors of simulated objects during experiments. Psychological studies will serve as a proving ground to test and harden scenario control methodologies. Experiments conducted in virtual environments will be compared to experiments conducted in real environments to validate the use of simulators as laboratories for the study of human behavior. This work integrates research on high-fidelity simulation, control of complex behaviors, human factors, and developmental psychology. The research will advance virtual environment technology, experimental methods, and simulator validation, and increase our understanding of a leading cause of childhood injuries.