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RESEARCH THE KITE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Street The successful application of self-driving cars to
enhance independence depends on whether older
Smarts adults accept and use the technology. To explore
this issue, Drs. Alex Mihailidis and Jennifer
Campos tested how various factors—including the
drivers’ age, driving style and road conditions—
Study reveals the factors that impacted the acceptance of the technology.
affect older adults’ acceptance Their research team, led by PhD student
Shabnam Haghzare, designed a series of driving
of automated cars scenarios for participants ranging in age from 65
to 90. These scenarios, which were tested using
Self-driving cars may one day enable individuals— the KITE Research Institute’s state-of-the-art
who can no longer safely drive—to return to DriverLab simulator, exposed the participants
the freedom of the road. The technology has to challenging conditions such as heavy rain
the potential to enhance the independence and and dense traffic, as well as clear daytime
wellbeing of these individuals, which include older roads. For each scenario, two driving sessions
adults who may no longer have adequate vision, were completed: one that was controlled by the
reflexes or focus. participant; and one that was controlled by the
computer to simulate a self-driving car.
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