Distraction-1

Objectives of the Unit

• Two primary goals:

  • Describe examples of change blindness, inattentional blindness, and inattentional deafness.

  • Identify the dangers associated with distracted driving and walking.

Key Concepts

Change Blindness

• Definition:

  • Change blindness is the phenomenon where individuals fail to notice changes in their visual field.

• Examples:

  • An observer not realizing a person's clothing has changed during a video.

  • A study where participants fail to detect a different object in a scene after a brief visual interruption.

Inattentional Blindness

• Definition:

  • Inattentional blindness occurs when an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight due to focusing on another task.

• Examples:

  • Seeing a basketball game but failing to notice a person in a gorilla suit walking through the frame.

  • Focusing on a crossword puzzle and not noticing environmental changes happening around.

Inattentional Deafness

• Definition:

  • Inattentional deafness refers to the failure to hear an auditory stimulus due to focused attention elsewhere.

• Examples:

  • Not hearing someone call your name while deeply engrossed in a book or while listening to music.

  • Missing an important announcement made over PA while being distracted by a conversation.

Dangers of Distracted Driving

• Overview:

  • Distracted driving significantly increases the risk of accidents and fatalities on the road.

• Examples of distractions:

  • Texting or using a mobile phone while driving.

  • Engaging with in-car entertainment or navigation systems.

  • Eating or drinking while driving, leading to a lack of focus on the road.

• Consequences:

  • Slower reaction times, increased likelihood of crashes, and reduced situational awareness.

  • Legal repercussions and potential loss of life.

Dangers of Distracted Walking

• Overview:

  • Just like driving, walking while distracted can lead to serious safety issues.

• Examples of distractions:

  • Using a smartphone to text or check notifications while walking in streets or across parking lots.

  • Listening to music with earbuds, making it hard to hear environmental dangers.

• Consequences:

  • Increased risk of accidents, such as tripping, falling, or being hit by vehicles.

  • Reduced awareness of surroundings and possible interruptions to pedestrian paths.