Christine L Schlichting

Reaction Time to Spatial Frequencies Using Yellow and Luminance-Matched Neutral Goggles

ABSTRACT The popularity of yellow goggles for outdoor activities has long been a paradox to visual scientists as previous tests of their effectiveness have failed to show any visual advantage. The achromatic/chromatic theory of color vision suggests a possible solution to the paradox which was tested by measuring reaction times to spatial frequencies of varying contrast. Reaction times were faster with yellow goggles than with luminance‐matched neutrals under certain conditions. These conditions included frequencies in the middle of the range of human sensitivity and, specifically, the lower contrasts of these frequencies. The theoretical and practical applications of the results are discussed.

Performance and preference with various VDT phosphors.

Subjects searched for target letters and symbols in VDT displays produced with green, amber, yellow, red, blue, and white phosphors. The green was rated more highly than yellow, and blue was rated worst. There were no significant differences in search time, but there were significant differences in the number of errors made with different phosphors. Yellow produced the fewest errors and white the most. Speed and accuracy did not correlate with the preference ratings for the various phosphors.

The Perception of Depth Contours with Yellow Goggles

The ability of subjects to discriminate the depth of depressions in the snow was conducted at a cross-country ski area. The percentage of correct judgments on an overcast day was significantly greater with yellow goggles than with luminance-matched neutral goggles. This experiment, suggested by the chromatic—achromatic theory of color vision, indicates why yellow goggles are popular despite many previous unsuccessful attempts to prove their effectiveness.

The Vision Of Submariners And National Guardsmen: A Longitudinal Study.

Abstract This study was designed to differentiate among possible causes of an increased incidence of myopia and related symptoms among submariners by making a longitudinal comparison of the visual functions of two groups of subjects, submariners and National Guardsmen. Refractive error, visual acuity, phorias, accommodation, and depth perception were measured. Submariners showed statistically significantly greater losses in visual acuity, accommodation, and depth perception over a 3.5‐year period than did the guardsmen, but the differences were very small. Comparison with data in the literature gives evidence of large shifts in refractive error for young men, both submariners and guardsmen, born in recent years. It is suggested that whatever factors are responsible for the increase in myopia in the general population are operating even more effectively among submariners.