System, method and apparatus for driver training

A method of training a trainee regarding a dash board layout, the method includes:

• providing a training system comprising a computer, a dashboard graphics display, an information graphics display and a windshield graphics display, the dashboard graphics display includes a touch screen interface that is operatively coupled to the computer, thereby sending signals to the computer indicative of where a touch is made on the dashboard graphics display;
• displaying a plurality of icons on the dashboard graphics display, the icons representing gauges, indicators and/or data of a dashboard of a target vehicle;
• presenting a simulation scenario on the windshield graphics display in conjunction with the dashboard graphics display, monitoring responses of a trainee;
• if the responses indicate an error was made, stopping the simulation scenario and presenting instructional training on any or all of the dashboard graphics display, the information graphics display, and/or the windshield graphics display, the training including prompting by the computer for the trainee to touch one of the icons by a message on the information graphics display, the computer reading a set of coordinates from the touch screen interface corresponding to a location of the dashboard graphics display touched by the trainee, and the computer comparing the set of coordinates to a location of the icon on the dashboard graphics display and the computer determining if the trainee touched the correct icon, thereby determining if the trainee understands the icons.

A system for driver training comprising:

• a computer;
• at least two graphics displays, a first graphics display of the graphics displays simulates a windshield of a target vehicle and a second graphics display of the graphics displays simulates a dashboard of the target vehicle;
• means for presenting a simulation on the first and second graphics display by the computer;
• means for evaluating, by the computer, responses to the simulation;
• and
• responsive to errors in the responses to the simulation, means for presenting instructional training on any or all of the first graphics display, the second graphics display and/or a third graphics display, the instructional training including displaying icons on the second display representative of gauges, indicators, and/or controls;
• the instructional training also requesting identification of one of the icon that is displayed on the second graphics display and means for determining where a trainee touches the second graphics display, the means for determining is operatively coupled to the computer thereby signaling the computer with coordinates of where the second graphics display is touched by the trainee.