Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
Night Vision
Current Research and Future Directions
\
Symposium Proceedings
Working Group on Night Vision
Committee on Vision
Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C. 1987
r
OCR for page R2
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board
of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National
Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special come
petences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures
approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sci-
ences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society
of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the
futherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the
authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate
that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of
the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers.
It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with
the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government.
The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting
national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements
of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences
to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of
policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the res-
ponsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be
an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of
medical care, research, and education. Dr. Samuel O. Thier is president of the Institute
of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916
to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of
furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with
general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating
agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in
providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering commu-
nities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medi-
cine. Dr. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice chairman, respectively,
of the National Research Council.
This work relates to Department of the Navy contract N0014-80-C-0159 issued by the Office of
Naval Research under Contract Authority NR 201-204. However, the content does not necessar-
ily reflect the position or the policy of the government, and no official endorsement should
be inferred.
The United States government has at least a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable
license throughout the world for government purposes to publish, translate, reproduce, deli-
ver, perform, dispose of, and to authorize others to do, all or any portion of this work.
Copies available from:
Committee on Vision
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20418
Printed in the United States of America
OCR for page R3
WORKING GROUP ON N IGHT VI SION
CHRIS A. JOHNSON (Cochai r), Department of Ophthalmology, Unive rsity
of California, Davis
HERSCHEL W. LE I BOWIT Z (Cocha i r ) , Depar tment of Psychology, Pennsylvani a
State University
RONALD E. CARR, New York University Medical Center
JO ANN KINNEY, Vision consultant, Sur ry, Maine
WALTER MANORS, Center for Visual Sc fence, University of Rochester
..(
WILLIAM A. MONACO, Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia
DONALD G. PITTS, College of Optometry, University of Houston
· . ~
OCR for page R4
COMMITTEE ON VI SION
ANTHONY J. ADAMS (Chair) ~ School of Optometry, University of California,
Ber keley
ROBERT SERULER (Past Chair), Departments of Psychology, Ophthalmology, and
Neurobiology/Physiology, Northwestern University
IRVING BIEDERMAN, Department of Psychology, State University of New York,
Buf falo
RANDOLPH BLAKE, Cresap Neuroscience Laboratory, Northwestern University
RONALD E. CARR, New York University Medical Center
SHELDON EBENHOLTZ, College of Optometry, State University of New York,
New York
ANNE B. FULTON, Department of Ophthalmology, Children' s Hospital, Boston
CHRIS A. JOHNSON, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California,
Davis
JO ANN KINNEY, vision consultant, Surry, Maine
AZRIEL ROSENFE1D, Center for Automation Research, University of Maryland
PAMELA EBERT FLATTAU, Study D irector
iv
OCR for page R5
SYMPOSIUM CONTRIBUTORS
l
KENNETH R. ALEXANDER, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary
IAN L. BAILEY, University of California, Berkeley
HAROLD E. BEDELL, University of Houston
ELIOT L. BERSON, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
H. RICHARD BLACKWELL, (formerly) Institute for Research in Vision
Ohio State University
.
O. MORTENSON BLACKWELL, ~ formerly) Institute for Research in Vision,
Ohio State University
DAVID R . COPENHAGEN, School of Medicine, University of California,
San Francisco
BRIDGADIER GENERAL F. DOPPELT, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace
Medicine
SHELDON EBENHOLTZ, College of Optometry, State University of New York,
New York
GERALD A. FISHMAN, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary
KENNETH DISH, Pennsylvania State University
RALPH NORMAN HABER, University of Illinois, Chicago
LEWIS O. HARVEY, JR., University of Colorado, Boulder
THOMAS HECKMAN, University of California, Davis
CHRIS A. JOHNSON, University of California, Davis
JO ANN KINNEY, Vision consultant, Surry, Maine
v
OCR for page R6
HERSCHEL W. LEIBOWITZ, Pennsylvania State Univernity
DONALD I. A. MACLEOD, University of California, San Diego
WALTER MAKOUS, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester
ROBERT MASSOF, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University
WILLIAM A. MONACO, NaYa1 Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia
D. ALFRED OWENS, Franklin and Marshall College
CYNTHIA OWSLEY, University of Alabama, Birmingham
DONALD G. PITTS, University of Houston
ROBERT B. POST
, University of California, Davis
TOM REUTER, University of Helsinki, Finland
A. F. SANDERS, Instit~t for Psychologie I, Aachen, Federal Republic
of Germany
JAMES B. SHEEHY, Naval Air Development Center,
STANLEY SMITH, Ohio State University
ANDREW STOCRMAN, University of California, San Diego
Warminster, Pennsylvania
COLONEL THOMAS TREDICI, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine
Hi
OCR for page R7
FOREWORD
The Committee on Vision is a standing committee of the National
Research Council's Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and
Education. The committee provides analysis and advice on scientif ic
issues and applied problems involving vision. I t also attempts to
stimulate the further development of visual science and to provide a
forum in which basic and applied scientists, engineers, and clinicians
can interact . Wor k ing g roups of the committee study questions that may
involve eng ineer ing and equ ipment, physiolog ical and physical opt ics,
neurophysiology, psychophysics, perception, environmental effects on
vision, and treatment of visual disorders.
In order for the committee to perform its role effectively, it draws
on experts from a wide range Of scientific, engineering, and clinical
disciplines. The members of this working group were chosen for their
expertise in research related to the functioning of the human eye under
conditions of low illumination and for their familiarity with the
application of those research findings to the selection and training
of military personnel.
This report reflects their evaluation of our present understand-
ing of research directions in the area of night vision. The report
provides an account of the visual processes involved in night vision
and of the perceptual, cognitive, and human factors issues related to
the performance of visually guided tasks under low-illumination condi-
tions. The report addresses available screening procedures for the
testing of night vision capabilities and some of the more promising
directions for further development of tests in this area. The report
reviews the latest instrumentation involved in night vision research
and describes the elements of a comprehensive night vision laboratory.
The findings and recommendations of this working group will be of
particular interest to those involved in the assessment and selection
of military personnel, those engaged in the design of equipment for
visually guided night operations, and those whose basic research
activities continue to strengthen the knowledge base in this area.
Anthony J. Adams, Chair
Committee on Vision
vii
OCR for page R8
OCR for page R9
CONTENTS
PREFACE
SUMMARY: FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Opening R emar k s, 17
Brigadier General F. Doppelt
Ambient Illuminance Dur ing Twilight and From the Moon, 19
Herschel W. Leibowitz
PHOTORECEPTOR PROPERTIES
Introduction, 25
Eliot L. Berson
Phototransduction and Dark Noise in Rod Photoreceptors, 26
David R. Copenhagen and Tom Reuter
Night Blinding Disorders: Detection and Diagnosis, 37
Gerald A. F ishman
Retinitis Pigmentosa and Allied D iseases:
D iagnos ~ Is r Pathogenesi s, and Management a 41
Eliot L. Berson
Changes of Illumination, 57
Walter Makous
General Discussion, 76
OC ULOMOT()R AND SPAT IAL ORI ENTAT I ON FACTORS
Introduction, 83
Herschel W. Leibowitz
1X
· . ~
V111
1
15
23
Some Aspects of
81
OCR for page R10
Normal Variations of Visual Accommodation and Binocular
Vergence: Some Implications for Night Vision, 85
D. Alf red Owens
Orientation and Localization Dur ing N ight Vision, 107
Robert B. Post and Thomas Heckmann
Cor rect ion of N ight Myopia: The Role of Vergence
Accommodation, 116
Herschel W. Leibowitz, James B. Sheehy, and
Kenneth W. Gish
N ight Vision in Relation to Oculomotor Function, 124
She ldon M. E benho ltz
General D iscussion, 136
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL FACTORS AFFECTING NIGHT VISION
Introduction, 143
Kenneth R. Alexander
.
Eccentric Regard, Task, and Optical Blur as Factors
Inf luenc ing Visual Acu ity at Low Luminance s, 14 6
Harold E. Bedell
Contrast Sensit ivity, 162
Lewis O. Harvey, Jr.
The Perception of the Layout of Space Dur ing Flight, 174
Ralph Norman Haber
Recent Investigations of Glare as a Factor in
Visibility at Night, 196
H . R ichard B. lackwell and O . Mortenson B lackwell
Duplicity, Phase Lags, and Destructive Interference in
Mesopic and Scotopic Flicker Perception, 206
Donald I.A. MacLeod and Andrew Stockrnan
Mobility and Visual Performance Under Dim Illumination, 220
Ian L. Bailey
General D iscussion, 231
HUMAN PERFORMANCE I SSllES
Introduct ion, 2 37
Jo Ann K inney
Visual Search in Vigilant Performance, 240
A.F. Sanders
x
141
235
OCR for page R11
Peripheral Visual Function at Various Adaptation Levels
Chris A. Johnson, 256
Aging and N ight Vision, 275
Cynthia Owsley
The Role of Vision Models in Human Factors, 288
Andrew B. Watson
General D iscussion, 299
SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW: THREE PERSPECTIVES
Perspective: Walter Makous, 305
Perspective:
Perspective
APPENDI XES
Donald G. Pitts, 313
William A. Monaco, 316
A: Testing Night Vision: The Military Experience During
· and Following World War II, 321
B: Symposium Program, 333
303
319
OCR for page R12
OCR for page R13
PREFACE
In response to a request from the United States A ir Force School of
Aerospace Medicine (USAF/SAM), the Committee on Vision established the
Working Group on Night Vision. The working group was asked to define
the relevant parameters of night vision, to summarize recent innovations
in basic and applied research in the area, and to specify guidelines for
establishing a comprehensive night vision laboratory.
To accomplish these goals, the working group convened a symposium to
review what is known about night vision and about the research methods
and instrumentation underlying scientific and clinical investigation in
the area. Twenty-four specialists from the fields of neuroscience, psy-
chology, ophthalmology, optometry, and human factors met for three days
at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in October 1985. Sympo-
sium participants were asked to consider three aspects of night vision
research:
· a general overview of the subject matter in their areas of
expertise, with particular emphasis on recent developments, emerging
techniques, and "hot topics";
o practical implications of the subject matter for the performance
of detection, recognition, localization, and other tasks under reduced
illumination conditions, especially as they pertain to aviation and
related areas; and
· implications of the subject matter for the design and imple-
mentation of screening procedures to evaluate the efficacy of night
vision capabilities of individuals.
Four panels were formed for the symposium to address a broad range
of topics--photoreceptor properties--phototransduction, retinal dis-
eases, psychophysical considerations; oculomotor factors--accommodation,
convergence, spatial orientation; spatial and temporal factors--contrast
sensitivity, visual acuity, glare, flicker sensitivity; and miscellane-
ous topics--human factors considerations, visual search, methodology,
peripheral vision, aging, and computer modeling.
Our purpose was to bring together experts representing different
methodological approaches to present their research findings and
· . ~
x~
OCR for page R14
identify and discuss major research problems. The participants were
invited to summarize innovations in night vision research since World
War II; to provide a historical perspective, working group member Jo
Ann Kinney summarized an unpublished review of night vision research
during and after World War IT written by the late Parker Johnson (see
Appendix A). The symposium program was an intensive three days with
ample opportunity for formal and informal group discussion (see program
in Appendix B). The working group subsequently met on two occasions to
review the f indings f rom this symposium and to address the concerns of
USAF/SAM regarding the establishment of a night vision laboratory. The
findings and recommendations of the working group, the edited papers,
and edited versions of the discussions that followed the panel presen-
tations are the contents of this book.
In addition to the 24 specialists who participated in the night
vision symposium, a number of people contributed in important ways to
the success of the symposium and to this report. Wayne Shebilske, the
committee's study director through June 1985, planned the symposium and
Pamela Ebert Flattau, the committee's study director after July 1985,
provided important assistance in organizing the effort and in preparing
the report. Gora P. Lerma, the committee's administrative secretary,
provided valuable secretarial and administrative assistance. Michael
K. Hayes of the National Academy Press helped improve the style and
clarity of the report. And finally, Estelle H. Miller of the National
Academy Press and Cheryl J. Halley of the Commission on Behavioral and
Social Sciences and Education lent their excellent production skills to
the project in preparing the report for publication.
Chris A. Johnson
Herschel W. Leibowitz
Cochairs, Working Group on Night Vision
.
XIV
