Effects of Background Lighting Color and Movement Distance on Reaching Times Among Participants With Low Vision, Myopia, and Normal Vision

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of target distance (30, 35, and 40 cm) and the color of background lighting (red, green, blue, and yellow) on the duration of movements made by participants with low vision, myopia, and normal vision while performing a reaching task; 48 students (21 women, 27 men; M age = 21.8 year, SD = 2.4) participated in the study. Participants reached for a target (a white LED light) whose vertical position varied randomly across trials, ranging in distance from 30 to 40 cm. Movement time was analyzed using a 3 (participant group) × [4 (color of background lighting) × 3 (movement distance)] mixed-design ANOVA model. Results indicated longer times for completing a reaching movement when: participants belonged to the low vision group; the target distance between the starting position and the target position was longer (40 cm); and the reaching movement occurred in the red-background lighting condition. These results are particularly relevant for situations in which a user is required to respond to a signal by reaching toward a button or an icon.

Effect of Refractive Error on Color Vision

“…There were previous studies which investigated the factors that affect color perception and refractive error. Huang et al has studied on 48 students with low vision (whose visual impairment cannot be corrected even with glasses, lenses or surgery), myopia and normal vision and found that long wavelengths, distance and low vision increases the duration needed to locate a target (7). Thyagarajan et al reported that refractive blur above +3D increases error rates in color vision by performing the FM-100 and CCT tests (8).…”