Papers

LAST UPDATED SOMETIME in 2003 - To see my latest website visit www.erikolsen.org/

Olsen, E. C. B., Lee. S. E., Wierwille, W. W., and Goodman, M. J. (2002, October 3). ANALYSIS OF DISTRIBUTION, FREQUENCY, AND DURATION OF NATURALISTIC LANE CHANGES. In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the HFES (Human Factors and Ergonomics Society) 2002, Baltimore, MD.

ABSTRACT: This paper describes preliminary results of naturalistic lane change distribution, frequency, and duration data collected unobtrusively from 16 commuters using instrumented vehicles. The study was designed to improve upon previous data collection methods and support crash avoidance system development.

A total of 8,667 lane changes (including unsuccessful maneuvers) were identified and classified in terms of severity, urgency, maneuver type, and success/magnitude. The total miles driven was 23,949 (38,542 km) with an average of 37.4 miles (60.2 km) per commute and 2.76 miles (4.44 km) per lane change. More than 37% of lane changes were due to a slow vehicle ahead. The mean duration for 7,192 single lane changes was 6.28 seconds with a standard deviation of 2.0.

Analysis revealed no significant effects for duration. For frequency, significantly more lane changes were completed by drivers on the interstate, perhaps due to traffic density, while sedan drivers made significantly more lane changes than SUV drivers. A significant driver type (vehicle normally driven) by route (interstate or highway) interaction was discovered, perhaps due to driving style. A gender by route interaction was also found.

Olsen, E. C. B., and Wierwille, W. W. (2001, Aug. 22). A unique approach for data analysis of naturalistic driver behavior data. SAE Future Transportation Technology Conference, Costa Mesa, CA.

ABSTRACT: This paper describes an effort to gather lane-changing and passing driver behavior data using naturalistic observation methods. Participants were ordinary commuters who drove instrumented vehicles to and from work while data were automatically collected. The three types of data included driver, vehicle response, and vehicle interaction data via collected video, vehicle sensor, and radar systems. These data were combined using a data integration system to understand lane-change and passing maneuvers. Developed specifically for this project, this system allows analysts to understand and characterize lane-changing and passing maneuvers by presenting the three types of data in an intuitive, integrated manner. The integrated data will facilitate understanding of driver behavior. This understanding will assist designers in the development of future crash reduction countermeasures including Crash Avoidance Systems (CAS).

Olsen, E. C. B., and Wierwille, W. W. (2001, June 4). Naturalistic lane change and passing data for use in ITS. In Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the ITSA (Intelligent Transportation of Society America) 2001, Washington, D.C.

ABSTRACT: Traditional driver performance data collection methods have ordinarily relied on experimenters riding with drivers to collect data. Such methods are limited because drivers may exhibit performance that differs from that while driving alone. Alternatively, naturalistic observation methods can be employed by the use of vehicle instrumentation to collect data in an unobtrusive manner.
This paper outlines the data types, data collection, data analysis, expected results provided by these data, and how these data can be used by designers in the development of safe, naturalistic Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) of the future. Additionally, this paper includes an overview of a lane change and passing study that is currently taking place. The study involves 16 commuters who drove to and from work for 20 business days, for a minimum of 50 miles round trip each day. Starting in September 2000, ordinary drivers drove instrumented vehicles instead of their normal vehicles during their commute to and from work. Data collection was fully automated and equipment was unobtrusive. Both a sedan and an SUV were used in this study.

Olsen, E. C. B., Sharkey, T. J., and Hennessy, R. H. (2000, July). The New Millennium Electronic Surveillance Interface Suite (NEMESIS): A future interface for the U.S. Navy Airborne Early Warning (AEW) E-2C Hawkeye Workstation (poster). In Proceedings of IEA 2000/HFES 2000 Congress, Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

The poster presentation begins with the task and equipment function descriptions, followed by the task and workload analysis performed, and concludes with a summary of the design process. Descriptions of the HMI’s key features and functions and an artist's rendition are also included.

Olsen, E. C. B. (1996, August). Evaluating driver performance on the road and in a simulator (Thesis). San José, CA: San State University.

Olsen, E. C. B., and Andre, A.D. (1996, May). Evaluating Driver Performance on the Road and in a Simulator. In Proceedings of the Silicon Valley Ergonomic Institute's 2nd Annual Conference (ErgoCon '96), Palo Alto, CA.

Graying Drivers: A Representative Literature Review of Reaction Time and Older Drivers. by Erik Olsen

With the emergence of the older driver and the "graying of America," statistics of driver accidents and fatalities are continuously being interpreted. The results seem to indicate that older drivers are an increasingly large group, which needs serious consideration in terms of study, understanding, and accommodation. In this representative literature review, reaction time and driver performance are presented. Reviewing these two variables allows one to develop a foundation of the importance of driving and aging. Other areas of research are also presented.

EVALUATION OF THE POLICE UTILITY VEHICLE

A Workplace Evaluation: Handtools, Workstation Design, Information Processing and Controls & Displays of a 1991 Chevrolet Police Utility Vehicle as used on patrol by the San Jose City Police Department. Written in 1993, this is an evaluation of a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice Police Vehicle used by the San Jose Police Department. Handtools will be reviewed, as well as aspects of workstation design, information processing, and, controls anddisplays associated with a police officer’s methods and requirements while on patrol. Emphasis is specifically on theorientation of controls and displays of the Mobile Display Terminal (MDT), radio, lights, and siren of the vehicle. Recommendations and predictions are also included.

An Evaluation of Hertz' NeverLost: A five-pronged approach to system evaluation. 12/16/98 (a class project).

An in-depth review of the NeverLost route guidance system was performed using a series of methodologies common to human factors research and development. For this project, five methods were used including a "Don Norman" analysis, function/task analysis, link analysis, usability evaluation, and an (informal) error analysis. After an overview of the system, results from each of these analyses are summarized. Following this, discussion about the five-method approach is included. Finally, system improvements are suggested and future research is recommended. Let us first begin with an overview of NeverLost, background of the project, and an overview of the system we evaluated.

At What Age and for What Reasons, Should Older Person's Drivers Licenses be Taken Away? by Erik Olsen

This paper attempts to address the question, "At what age, and for what reasons, should older person's driving licenses be taken away?" The structure of the paper generally follows four areas: 1) The older driver "problem;" 2) Arguments for and against age related driver license restrictions; 3) My personal beliefs about older driver license restrictions; and 4) My opinions and their effect on how I interact with my family.

Olsen, E. C. B. (August, 1995).The evolution of a virtual reality driving simulator: From law enforcement training to research and assessment. In Proceedings of the Third Annual International Conference: Virtual Reality and Persons with Disabilities. San Francisco Airport Marriot Hotel, CA.

A virtual reality driving simulator (VRDS) being used by police agencies is presented. The evolution from police training to driver assessment and research is discussed. This presentation will review automated data collection capabilities of the latest VRDS produced by Time Warner Interactive Simulation Products for use as an assessment tool for the disabled.

Olsen, E. C. B., Ellsworth, O. T., Horst, D. P., Jahns, D. W., Thompson, D. A., Olsen, R. A., and Ziedman, K. (May 1995). Human Factors in Litigation. In Proceedings of the Silicon Valley Ergonomic Institute's 1st Annual Conference (ErgoCon' 95). San Jose, CA.

Human factors expert testimony plays an important role in litigation and forensics. This panel presents key issues of human factors litigation of interest to the public, academic, and professional sectors, as well as to present and future lawyers, business people, and consultants.

Integration Themes in Multimodal Human-Computer Interaction Oviatt, S. L. and Olsen, E. (1994). Proceedings of the 1994 International Conference on Spoken Language Processing, Acoustical Society of Japan, 2, 551-554.

Abstract: This research examines how people integrate spoken and written input during multimodal human-computer interaction. Three studies used a semi-automatic simulation technique to collect data on people's free use of spoken and written input. Within-subject repeated-measures studies were designed, with data analyzed from 44 subjects and 240 tasks. The primary factors that govern people's selection to write versus speak at given points during a human-computer exchange were evaluated. Analyses revealed that people write digits more often than textual content, and proper names more often than other text. A form-based presentation, in comparison with an unconstrained format, also increased the likelihood of writing. However, the most influential factor in patterning people's integrated use of speech and writing is contrastive functionality, or the use of spoken and written input in a contrastive way to designate a shift in content or functionality, such as original versus corrected input, data versus command, and digits versus text. Different patterns of contrastive mode use accounted for approximately 57% of the integrated pen/voice use observed in these studies. Information also is summarized on preferential mode use, and simultaneity of pen/voice input. One long-term goal of this research is the development of quantitative predictive models of natural modality integration, which could provide guidance on the strategic design of robust multimodal systems.

Contact Sharon Oviatt at oviatt@cse.ogi.edu for more details and updates about on-going research.
She is at the Center for Human-Computer Communication (CHCC)
Department of Computer Science
Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology
See also, the unofficial document Managing Errors: Impressions from the assistants

Olsen, E. C. B., Eberhard, J. W., Andre, A. D., Ball, K., Hunt, L., and Corn, A. (October 1994). Assessing the older driver: An interdisciplinary approach. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 38th Annual Meeting. Nashville, TN.

Numerous groups of professionals have been studying driving and aging for many years, including human factors researchers, occupational therapists, optometrists, and special educators. Unfortunately, however, this diverse set of professionals has not joined efforts in developing comprehensive assessment techniques for older drivers. This panel represents an important step toward supporting an interdisciplinary approach to elderly driver assessment.

Sharkey, T. J., Olsen, E. C. B., Chamberlain, R. M., Dick, R. A., Hazard, T. R. and Hennessy, R. H. (1997, August 8). The New Millennium Electronic Surveillance Interface Suite: NEMESIS Final Report (for Naval Air Systems Command [E-2C]). Monterey Technologies, Inc.: Los Gatos, CA.

Olsen, E. C. B. (1996, August). Evaluating driver performance on the road and in a simulator. Thesis. San Jose State University: San Jose, CA..

The purpose of this study was to determine if a driving simulator can replace an on-road evaluation in the context of an Occupational Therapist (OT) Driver Assessment and to identify the differences between road and simulator environments. The benefits of using a simulator to perform driver assessment are many-fold and include: 1) a more time- and cost-efficient method for evaluations (e.g., weather concerns would be eliminated), 2) the ability to evaluate drivers under complex conditions where failures are likely to occur, and 3) the safety of both the evaluator and driver would be improved.

With this in mind, the present study focused on differences between environments and compared driver evaluations conducted on-road to that conducted in a medium-fidelity driving simulator. Overall, the data does not show strong promise for replacing on-road OT assessments with this particular simulator. This is largely due to the differences in fidelity and feedback between actual and simulated driving, coupled with the discomfort (i.e., simulator sickness) experienced in the simulator by a significant proportion of the participants. However, some aspects of the data suggest that parts of the driver evaluation process may be better performed in a simulator. Continued research is proposed, addressing the differences between actual and simulated vehicle environments and the establishment of OT evaluation techniques in conjunction with simulation.

	© 1998 Erik Olsen
Personal		Papers
Résume	home	Ergonomics
Serious		Resources
	Thesis