A brief target that is visible when displayed alone can be rendered invisible by a trailing stimulus (metacontrast masking). It has been difficult to determine the temporal dynamics of masking to date because increments in stimulus duration have been invariably confounded with apparent brightness (Bloch's law). In the research reported here,…

THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PROPER SCHOOL LIGHTING, DRAWING DIRECTLY FROM THE NEW "AMERICAN STANDARD GUIDE FOR SCHOOL LIGHTING." PRINCIPLES FOR PROVIDING A COMFORTABLE AND EFFICIENT VISUAL ENVIRONMENT ARE THESE--(1) ANY SCHOOL LIGHTING SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A CHEERFUL, FRIENDLY, AND…

LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS ALONG WITH DESIGN IMPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. COMMENTS OF SEVERAL LEADING LIGHTING AUTHORITIES ARE INCLUDED. A SERIES OF LIGHTING CONSIDERATIONS RECOMMENDS--(1) CHILDREN CAN ACQUIRE AN AWARENESS OF THEIR LUMINOUS ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EARLY TRAINING, (2) INTENSITY, DISTRIBUTION, HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL POLARIZATION AND THE…

Recent research indicates that by 4.5 months, infants use shape and size information as the basis for individuating objects but that it is not until 11.5 months that they use color information for this purpose. The present experiments investigated the extent to which infants' sensitivity to color information could be increased through select…

This paper reviews the literature on visual literacy over the past 25 years. The following areas of visual literacy are reviewed: theoretical foundations of visual literacy; establishing a research agenda; visual vocabulary; visual learning/visual teaching; visual thinking; visual-verbal relationship; and visible language. (Contains 158…

This paper is a report on a decade of teaching visual literacy at the American University (Washington, D.C.). Visual literacy is defined as an awareness that comes with appropriate development of basic visual and aural competencies. The 15 reasons for studying visual literacy are perception, drawing, expression, brain awareness, design elements,…

An application method for evaluating the visual significance of reflected glare is described, based upon a number of decisions with respect to the relative importance of various aspects of visual performance. A standardized procedure for evaluating the overall effectiveness of lighting from photometric data on materials or installations is needed…

Discusses research undertaken to determine recommended levels of lighting for effective seeing. Factors considered include age, veiling reflections, brightness differences, glare, and pleasantness. Also points out some common lighting practices that are wasteful and inefficient and suggests alternatives. (DN)

Fifty-eight undergraduates took part in an experiment evaluating a full-spectrum light closely approximating natural sunlight and a cool-white fluorescent light commonly used in institutional settings. Four classes of a single teaching assistant were used and each class was compared against itself under different lighting conditions. Data were…

Discusses physiological and psychological aspects of color. Includes guidelines for using color effectively, especially in the development of computer programs. Indicates that if applied with its limitations and requirements in mind, color can be a powerful manipulator of attention, memory, and understanding. (Author/JN)

Two experiments tested the effects of crawling-onset age, amount of crawling experience, and testing age on avoidance of the deep side of a visual cliff apparatus by human infants. Crawling-onset age disciminated between infants because crawling during the tactile phase interferes with later visual control of locomotion. (Author/RD)

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of three variables on the perception of the psychophysical phenomenon of flicker in wide angle cathode ray tube (CRT) displays. The three independent variables treated in the experiment were: 3, 6, and 9 foot-lambers (FL) illumination levels; four images, three static and one dynamic; and 26…

Presents a review of the literature dealing with the theory of the naming of colors. A comparison is made between the names of colors in Italian and Dutch, discussing the differences between languages in terms of the influence of the sociocultural context. (61 references) (CFM)

This paper reports on a study which was conducted to determine the impact of color on learning. The entire seventh-grade class from a Midwest junior high school was used in the study. Each student was randomly assigned into one of four treatment groups: (1) color-cued presentation, color-cued assessment; (2) color-cued presentation, black/white…