Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality

Objective: It is of critical importance to develop socially sensitive vehicles that will enhance pedestrians’ sense of comfort and safety. The current study is the first to extend these effects to vehicles, by investigating individual comfort distance in virtual reality with regard to vehicles that...

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Main Authors: Farid Pazhoohi, Gini Choi, Alan Kingstone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-04-01
Series:Australian Journal of Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1882272
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author Farid Pazhoohi
Gini Choi
Alan Kingstone
author_facet Farid Pazhoohi
Gini Choi
Alan Kingstone
author_sort Farid Pazhoohi
collection DOAJ
description Objective: It is of critical importance to develop socially sensitive vehicles that will enhance pedestrians’ sense of comfort and safety. The current study is the first to extend these effects to vehicles, by investigating individual comfort distance in virtual reality with regard to vehicles that vary in terms of size, viewing angle and anthropomorphized emotional expression. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of individual differences in terms of height, anxiety and aggression. Method: Forty-four individuals were presented with three-dimensional stimuli of vehicle models differing in size and viewing angle in virtual reality and positioned them at the distance they felt the most comfortable with. Results: Our results show that individuals are more comfortable standing further from larger vehicles and when presented with the front versus the rear view of a vehicle. Moreover, the distance from vehicles was negatively associated with the height of the individuals. Conclusion: This paper suggests that it is important for designing self-driving and autonomous vehicles to consider that vehicle size and direction as well as pedestrian’s height may impact the comfort distance felt by pedestrians. These data have clear implications for vehicle design, including self-driving and autonomous vehicles. KEY POINTS What is already known: Individuals maintain larger distances when in front of individuals/agents than beside or behind them. Individuals provide greater physical space to larger agents (animals and/or humans). No previous study investigated the effect of vehicle size, view angle, and fascia on the comfort distance preferred by individuals as pedestrians. What it adds: Individuals are more comfortable standing further from larger vehicles. Individuals prefer to place more distance between themselves and a vehicle when seeing it from the front versus the rear. Shorter individuals adopt a larger distance from vehicles irrespective of vehicle size and viewing side.
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spelling doaj.art-7e6f5631be1a4f8ca47dc2d5000570e02023-09-14T13:24:37ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362021-04-0173217918710.1080/00049530.2021.18822721882272Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual realityFarid Pazhoohi0Gini Choi1Alan Kingstone2University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaObjective: It is of critical importance to develop socially sensitive vehicles that will enhance pedestrians’ sense of comfort and safety. The current study is the first to extend these effects to vehicles, by investigating individual comfort distance in virtual reality with regard to vehicles that vary in terms of size, viewing angle and anthropomorphized emotional expression. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of individual differences in terms of height, anxiety and aggression. Method: Forty-four individuals were presented with three-dimensional stimuli of vehicle models differing in size and viewing angle in virtual reality and positioned them at the distance they felt the most comfortable with. Results: Our results show that individuals are more comfortable standing further from larger vehicles and when presented with the front versus the rear view of a vehicle. Moreover, the distance from vehicles was negatively associated with the height of the individuals. Conclusion: This paper suggests that it is important for designing self-driving and autonomous vehicles to consider that vehicle size and direction as well as pedestrian’s height may impact the comfort distance felt by pedestrians. These data have clear implications for vehicle design, including self-driving and autonomous vehicles. KEY POINTS What is already known: Individuals maintain larger distances when in front of individuals/agents than beside or behind them. Individuals provide greater physical space to larger agents (animals and/or humans). No previous study investigated the effect of vehicle size, view angle, and fascia on the comfort distance preferred by individuals as pedestrians. What it adds: Individuals are more comfortable standing further from larger vehicles. Individuals prefer to place more distance between themselves and a vehicle when seeing it from the front versus the rear. Shorter individuals adopt a larger distance from vehicles irrespective of vehicle size and viewing side.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1882272vehicle sizevirtual realitycomfort distancecars and trucksvehicle perception
spellingShingle Farid Pazhoohi
Gini Choi
Alan Kingstone
Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
Australian Journal of Psychology
vehicle size
virtual reality
comfort distance
cars and trucks
vehicle perception
title Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
title_full Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
title_fullStr Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
title_full_unstemmed Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
title_short Larger distances from larger vehicles: effect of vehicle size, viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
title_sort larger distances from larger vehicles effect of vehicle size viewing side and their facia on comfort distance in virtual reality
topic vehicle size
virtual reality
comfort distance
cars and trucks
vehicle perception
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1882272
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AT alankingstone largerdistancesfromlargervehicleseffectofvehiclesizeviewingsideandtheirfaciaoncomfortdistanceinvirtualreality