An email alert has just come through from the DSA with a link to some early-stage computer generated imagery (CGI) clips they’re working on for the Hazard Perception Test (HPT).
I can see this one dragging the rats out of the sewers (at the time of writing, ten votes, three of them negative on the YouTube site).
The quality is very impressive.
Some of the negative comments seem to have completely overlooked the fact that these are EARLY-STAGE clips, and not the finished article. That’s why there’s no sound.
As the DSA says in the email:
The clips are early prototypes. DSA aims to bring these computer-generated clips into the theory test by the end of 2013. It means DSA can introduce hazards that would be hard to film safely – particularly those involving vulnerable road users.
It’s a brilliant idea. Just a shame that technology moves forward faster than the thinking of some ADIs.
Looking at some of the comments, one thing that is repeatedly overlooked by those who are anti-HPT from the outset and saying that it should be done in a real car is that it IS done in a real car – the HPT is only one small part of the training a learner receives, and much of that training IS in the car. It happens during their lessons!
Others are totally ignoring the fact that these are merely samples – very early samples, at that. The DSA is asking for feedback, and comments about overtaking the cyclist too close to a roundabout or not adhering to the 2 second rule are precisely the sort of feedback they want and need.
ADIs need to help make the clips better – not just poo-poo the whole idea. The level of reality is already quite stunning, and by the time they come into proper use I expect they’ll be better still.
But hey, I’m just too positive.