Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/28
Title and Subtitle: Visual performance assessment through clear and sunscreen-treated windows
Report Date: August 1978
Authors: Welsh KW, Rasmussen PG, Vaughan JA
Abstract: Reflective sunscreen filters are frequently bonded to vehicle windows to reduce interior heat and brightness. The present study was conducted to investigate the optical properties of and visual preformance through clear and sunscreen-treated glass panels that served as windows in an observation booth.
Five combinations of external and internal brightness levels were used. Light transmission values through the clear, gold, silver, and bronze panels were 92, 20, 18, and 8 percent, respectively. Visual performance tests were conducted at 6 m (20 ft) on 12 subjects with normal visual acuity and color vision. Two tasks were conducted under brightness levels on the external display and in the subject's booth, respectively, of 1:1, 5:1, 50:1, 5:5, and 50:5 fL.
Visual acuity using Landolt C figures and scores on a contour identification task were minimally impaired for any luminance ratio when the clear (control) panel was used. With the sunscreen panels, scores on both tests decreased as a function of target brightness and panel density. With one external/internal luminance ratio(5:1), identification of signal light colors was generally impaired while viewing through sunscreen materials. Decreases were particularly evident for green and red lights presented at intermediate and low intensity levels.
Key Words: Visual performance, Sunscreens, Aviation safety
No. of Pages: 14
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/28
Title and Subtitle: Visual performance assessment through clear and sunscreen-treated windows
Report Date: August 1978
Authors: Welsh KW, Rasmussen PG, Vaughan JA
Abstract: Reflective sunscreen filters are frequently bonded to vehicle windows to reduce interior heat and brightness. The present study was conducted to investigate the optical properties of and visual preformance through clear and sunscreen-treated glass panels that served as windows in an observation booth.
Five combinations of external and internal brightness levels were used. Light transmission values through the clear, gold, silver, and bronze panels were 92, 20, 18, and 8 percent, respectively. Visual performance tests were conducted at 6 m (20 ft) on 12 subjects with normal visual acuity and color vision. Two tasks were conducted under brightness levels on the external display and in the subject's booth, respectively, of 1:1, 5:1, 50:1, 5:5, and 50:5 fL.
Visual acuity using Landolt C figures and scores on a contour identification task were minimally impaired for any luminance ratio when the clear (control) panel was used. With the sunscreen panels, scores on both tests decreased as a function of target brightness and panel density. With one external/internal luminance ratio(5:1), identification of signal light colors was generally impaired while viewing through sunscreen materials. Decreases were particularly evident for green and red lights presented at intermediate and low intensity levels.
Key Words: Visual performance, Sunscreens, Aviation safety
No. of Pages: 14
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012