Project Title:

Development of a Portable Dark Focus Instrument

12.01-5090
901617
Development of a Portable Dark Focus Instrument

Abstract:

Neurobiological research indicates that changes in accommodation are associated with
stresses that may occur during space missions (e.g., extended duration flight, variable
gravity, long term confinement, space motion sickness). The consequences of this
for the national space program are twofold. Measures of accommodation may be used
to index onset and extent of space motion sickness and other stresses of spaceflight,
both after entry to hypogravity conditions and during readaptation to terrestrial
conditions. An accurate measure of accommodation may be used to signal that visual
performances may be degraded. The primary objective of this project is to develop,
calibrate, and validate a portable device to measure accommodation. In Phase Ii fabrication
and extensive field testing of the device will be conducted.
A sophisticated device to measure accommodation could be used to signal the impairment
of subject state mediated by autonomic activity as well as the direct reduction of
visual detection performance and would have use both in the military and private
sector. It could also have application in personnel selection, task analysis, and
the quantification of visual fatigue.
visual accommodation, visual performance, dark focus, empty field myopia, space adaptation
syndrome, vision testing