This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mayeur, A. Articles by Bastien, J.M. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mayeur, A. Articles by Bastien, J.M. C. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Effect of Task and Eccentricity of the Target on Detection Thresholds in Mesopic Vision: Implications for Road Lighting

Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France

Roland Brémond

Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France, roland.bremond{at}lcpc.fr

J.M. Christian Bastien

Université Paul Verlaine, Metz, France

Objective: The aim of this work is to assess how adding a driving-related task affects the detection of objects in peripheral vision, under mesopic conditions. Background: The main index used to assess the quality of road lighting installations refers to simple detection tasks in foveal vision, which raises methodological and practical questions. Method: The experimental design consisted of a three-phase experiment. In the first phase, two groups (control and experimental) performed a peripheral detection task (simple task). Based on these results an individual detection threshold was computed for each participant and eccentricity. A tracking task was performed in Phase 2 for both groups (steering a tracking target along a circuit, on a screen). In the third phase, the control group performed the same task as in Phase 2. The experimental group performed a double task, with a tracking (primary) task and a peripheral detection (secondary) task. Results: The data show an effect of the tracking task and eccentricity on peripheral event detection. The tracking task caused detection performance to decrease from 84.2% to 67.5%, p < .001. Conclusion: The small target visibility model used in road lighting may be improved, taking into account the effects of task and eccentricity on target detection. Application: This study supports improved roadway lighting design by guiding consideration of sign eccentricity and task load.

Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 50, No. 4, 712-721 (2008)
DOI: 10.1518/001872008X312260


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?