ABSTRACT
The saga associated with inattentional blindness (or IB) research involves the modern flight simulator as used in pilot training. In simulators, trainees are subjected to unpredictable events such as engine misfire, instrument failure, or sudden changes in weather. Today’s pilots undergo the most rigorous training of any professional group, with this being directly tied to the emergence of the knowledge base referred to as human factors research. The aviation industry represents the most successful example of how basic research into human capacity has been used to solve applied problems. The development of the modern flight simulator represents an achievement that would have been inconceivable at the outset of controlled flight 120 years ago.
