Science+Fair

Do distractions, such as talking on a cell phone, affect driving video gaming scores? I believe that distractions such as talking on a cell phone or having a deep conversation with someone will affect driving video game scores just as much as it would if it were someone driving an actual vehicle while talking on a cell phone or having a deep conversation with another person.
 * Distracted Driver Alert: **
 * I. Problem: **
 * II. Variables: **
 * Independent Variable:  The volunteer will be playing the same game on the same level and on the same course through the whole game.
 * Dependent Variable:  The first time the volunteer will be playing without talking on a cell phone and then the second time the volunteer will be playing while talking on a cell phone.
 * Controlled Variable: I will find out their score (MPH) when they are done each of their trials and the time it took them to complete each course.
 * III. Materials: **
 * A gaming system, such as a Nintendo Wii
 * Driving game for the gaming system, like Mario Kart(I used Monster Truck Mayhem)
 * Steering wheel for the gaming system
 * 3 to 4 volunteers at the most
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cell phones (2)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Lab notebook
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Graph paper
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 19px;">IV. Hypothesis: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 19px;">V. Procedure: **
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">First, I will set up the driving video game for a single player mode. I will let my volunteer pick their own driving course that they are comfortable with because they will be driving this course for the entire experiment. My volunteer and I will also have to agree on a difficulty level.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I am going to let my volunteer have a practice trial with the game before they begin the actual experiment. This way while they are being tested they will not have to ask any questions about the game and the rules for the game.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Once my first volunteer feels comfortable with the given game, we will start the experiment. Their first time driving the course, the gamer should play the game with no distractions what so ever. Once the first course is completed, I will record his/her time and score (in this case, MPH).
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">I will then bring the first gamer back and have him/her drive the second course again, although this time I will be talking on the cell phone with the gamer and while talking to them on the phone I will be asking them simple questions such as 2x2 or how to spell //Mississippi// or even just have a normal conversation with them as you would on a regular basis. Then at the end of that course I will record that data of the gamers’ time and score.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">After the first volunteer takes his/her turn I will do all of the steps over with the rest of my volunteers.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Then I will compare and contrast the data of no distractions while “driving” and talking on a cell phone while “driving.”

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">(MPH) || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">26 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">122 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">11 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">123 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">123 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">44 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">124 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">58 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">18 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">47 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">131 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">36 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">130 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">28 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">123 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">48 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">125 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">34 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">131 MPH ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 19px;">VI. Data Analysis: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gamer || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Driver Distraction || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial # || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Completion Time || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Course Score
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gamer 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Without a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trail 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">3 minutes
 * ^  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">3 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">8 minutes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gamer 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Without a cell Phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">3 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">4 minutes
 * ^  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">6 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">6 minutes

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">27 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">127 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">57 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">125 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">18 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">27 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">125 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">36 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">131 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">33 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">20 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">148 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">29 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">128 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">28 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">128 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">31 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">16 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">127 MPH || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">40 seconds || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">126 MPH ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gamer 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Without a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">3 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gamer 4 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Without a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">With a cell phone || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 1 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 2 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes
 * ^  ||^   || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Trial 3 || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">2 minutes

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In conclusion, the results of this experiment were that driving while talking on a cell phone does affect driving video game scores. For two of my volunteers driving while using a cell phone was not that strong of a distraction although for my other two it was a distraction. I’m sure this is a strong distraction for many others as well and these people must be cautious and realize the dangers of the usage of cell phones while controlling a vehicle. This dangerous act has been study for quite a while now and people continue to disobey the law that is stated in many areas. Surprisingly, in these areas that have established this law are the places that have the most accidents due to cellular use. For the safety of others, we must obey these laws and the areas that establish them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 19px;">VII. Conclusion: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 27px;">Abstract __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">My science fair experiment is based on whether distractions such as talking on a cell phone affect driving video game scores. In this problem I will test at least four volunteers to see if the talking on a cell phone distraction is strong enough to change their scores to a higher range or a lower range. I have always believed that cell phone usage while driving is a risky thing to do and I want to look into this study myself. Cell phone usage while driving is illegal in some places and in my own opinion it should be illegal not in only some areas but everywhere.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">For this experiment, there are many steps in proceeding correctly. First, I will set up the driving video game for a single player mode. I am going to let my volunteer have a practice trial with the game before they begin the actual experiment so this way while they are being tested they will not have any questions about the game. Once my first volunteer feels comfortable with the given game, we will start the experiment. The first time the first gamer plays they will not have any distractions. Once the first course is completed, I will record his/her time and score. I will then bring the first volunteer back and have him/her drive the second course again, although this time I will be talking on the cell phone with the gamer and while talking to them on the phone I will be asking them simple questions or even just have a normal conversation with them. Then at the end of that course I will record that data of the gamers’ time and score. After the first volunteer takes his/her turn I will do all of the steps over with the rest of my volunteers.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In conclusion, the results of my experiment were successful. Talking on a cell phone while driving does disrupt drivers’ focus according to my volunteers help. By having longer time spans and lower scores means that if my volunteers were driving an actual vehicle, they could’ve had an accident. I hope this was a good learning experience for them as much as it was for me.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Research Paper **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> In recent years, it has been established that talking/texting on a cell phone while driving is dangerous and will not be tolerated. Many states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and many others have enforced laws against the distraction of cell phone usage while operating a vehicle of any kind. In many studies, the main cause of horrific car accidents is cell phone distraction. Many studies also show that it is not only teenage drivers performing the cause; it is adult owners of cell phones that are contributing to these accidents as well. Many cell phone users believe that it is appropriate to talk or text while driving a vehicle, but that is false. This act is not only dangerous but is illegal in many locations.

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Talking on a cell phone while driving is a major multitasking act that can cause severe traffic accidents. Even when the cellular device is hand-held or hands-free, such as Bluetooth, it is dangerous. It is not so much the holding of the cell phone that is dangerous, it is the strong distraction that it causes. The only time when using a cell phone while driving is understandable is when it is an emergency situation. Many people believe this theory, although they still do advise you to maintain your focus on the driving.

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> In past years, 2002-2003, there were approximately 134.5 million cell phone users. If there was about 200 million cell phone users over eight years ago, imagine how many there are now. More cell phone users mean more car accidents. Half of these millions of people use their phones at the most inconvenient times such as when they are driving. When someone receives a phone they automatically believe that it is perfectly fine to text, call, or even play a game on their cell phones while they are driving, but this is incorrect. It is not perfectly fine to do this unless you are intentionally willing to hurt others or even yourself in an accident.

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> On July 1, 2008, California began to enforce two laws which were designed to reduce the traffic accidents due to cell phone usage. The first law “prohibits all drivers from using a hand-held wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle.” The second law “states that drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone, or hands-free device, while operating a motor vehicle.” The purpose of these two laws is to prevent traffic accidents due to tasks not paying attention to the road ahead, and looking away from the road.

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> There are both pros and cons for talking on a cell phone while driving. The pros are that it is convenient when there is an emergency and it is safer to have a cell phone with you when you are maybe driving alone. The cons include that people get killed frequently by people that are talking on cell phones and you cannot pay attention while you are talking on a cell phone. Another con is that this can hurt you, too. Maybe if you got into an accident your car can get pretty beaten up and you can get hurt as well.

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Talking is not the most dangerous task while driving, instead texting is. About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year. While teens are texting, they spend 10% of their time outside their designated driving lane. Texting, or even talking on a cell phone, can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as a 70-year-old’s. Answering a text takes away five seconds of your time. In those five seconds a driving accident can occur and cause death. In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in the U.S and another 448,000 were injured. Out of the 5,474, 995 involved were killed because of the cell phone usage of other people while driving.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In conclusion, this act of multitasking is still done by many people even if they are in a location where it is illegal. These drivers do not think of it as a risky thing to do or as a law that must be followed. They must keep in mind that if they are caught talking or texting or doing anything on their cell phone that is not necessary at the time they will suffer the consequences of jail. These consequences could even involve them being hurt or killed in an accident. The purpose of the laws enforced in many areas is to prevent minor or severe injuries and death. Many drivers do obey these laws but for others who do not will be given consequences whether it is being arrested or being harmed by their own selves.