10. Evaluation method for conductors’ safety check skills using VR technology

In conductor training, it is important to develop the skills to visually check for safety on the platform.
However, there is currently no way to quantitatively determine where the trainees are looking when checking for platform safety, or how their line of sight differs from that of the instructing conductor.
Therefore, training sessions provide guidance based on the inferred line of sight from the trainee's actions and behavior, as well as trainee reports of observed locations.

In response, this study attempted to quantitatively capture eye movement using VR technology. Specifically, we created several scenarios using 360° live-action video for platform safety checks, including a normal scenario with no hazardous events and a hazardous event scenario with incidents such as passengers rushing onto the train. Based on the experiences of 66 instructing conductors and 140 trainees, we statistically identified eye movements that showed differences.
For example, in the normal scenario, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the eye fixation time looking at the front area from the conductor's position to the front of the train, specifically the area between the Braille block and the vehicle (Figure 1 (1)).
In the hazardous event scenario, the time it took for the instructing conductor to notice the area where the passenger was moving just before the rushing on to the train was shorter (Figure 1 (2), left).
We also developed a score from the instructor’s characteristic eye movements that allows us to assess whether someone's eye movement is closer to that of an instructor or a trainee (Figure 1 (2), right).

The results of this eye movement assessments can be understood in advance by the instructors to enable efficient instruction. The comparison of quantified eye movements can also be used to check the effectiveness of various training programs. Each scenario can be completed in approximately three minutes, helping to improve practical training programs for conductor safety checks and enhancing the effective teaching.