Investigation of the Model for Path Selection Behavior Using Virtual Reality System : Introduction of Personality Parameter

Abstract

Prediction of risky behaviors during walking will help design of environments and education of road safety. However, many restrictions are inevitably imposed on experimental investigations about the behavior because it is difficult to remove the risk of accidents and to control experimental variables in real spots. Using virtual reality (VR) is expected to lighten these restrictions. In this study, we performed behavioral experiments in an immersive virtual reality system. In the experiments, a moving obstacle was displayed in the VR system and subjects were required to walk from a start point to a goal point without collision with the obstacle. With these experimental results, we estimated a parameter in the model for path selection behavior; the parameter is assumed to reflect each subject's personality. The estimated parameter highly correlated with some of personality factors acquired from personality questionnaire. These results indicate that personality profiles closely relate with the path selection behavior, and the personality factors can be used as important information for improving the accuracy of the model for the path selection behavior.