Cognitive Studies In Context Laboratory Module

Effects of Cell Phone Use on Driving Performance: Investigating the Mechanism of Interference

Appendix B: Scenario Editing Instructions

by Leon Rozenblit
Department of Psychology, Cornell University
lgr4@cornell.edu

In General

There are two ways to modify the driving simulator's behavior. The first is by editing the Gains file parameters. The second is by editing the driving scenario.

The Gains file

The Gains file controls some global behaviors of the driving simulator that remain constant from scenario to scenario. The Gains file parameters are described in some detail in Appendix B of the STISIM User's Guide.

!CAUTION! Any changes you make in the Gains file will affect all subsequent runs of the simulator. Please be sure to

Log any changes you make in your notebook
Change the Gains file back to its original condition before you leave.

The Driving Scenario File

The driving scenarios control the shape and length of the course, the order in which objects appear on the screen as the driver proceeds through the course, and the kinds of objects that appear. Scenarios are specified using a Scenario Definition Language (SDL). SDL is detailed in Appendix C of the STISIM User's Guide.

Editing the files

From the main STISIM menu:

Select Edit files
Press F2
Select Retrieve file
Press Enter for a list of files you can select
Follow screen prompts for saving and exiting

Press F1 for on-line help.

See also E-17 in the STISIM User's Guide.

Some specific questions

How do I put up a sign?
See C-55 for a blank Rectangular sign or C-23 for a blank Diamond sign.
How do I create a Big Stop Sign event?
See C-42. A file called "stop.pde" is a previously defined event that you can call by entering [on distance], PDE, stop.pde where "on distance" = the distance in feet down the course you want the stop sign to appear.
How do I change correct driving side to left side of the road?
See B-3. In the Gains file, change line 18 to "L."