Human Factors: Visual ‘fiddling’ test
Visual ‘fiddling’ test (1979)
The Visuology department of the IZF focused on basic visual functions (including visual acuity, colour vision, and depth perception), instrumental vision (including viewers, thermal imaging equipment, and brightness enhancers) and visual ergonomics (including lighting and typography). The Visual Fiddling test (“Priegel test”) was an example of an application of research into basic visual functions. The test measures whether a person’s eyes are suitable for fine reading work, i.e. finicky work.
The test was developed in the late 1970s and became commercially available in 1983.
The test pattern consisted of Landolt Cs with openings ranging from 0.12 to 0.04 mm (see below). This pattern was illuminated from behind on a frosted glass surface presented through a simple box. The observer could hold the box in his hand, at a distance of his choosing. To check whether the C’s had been read correctly, one could consult the back of the box where the C’s were shown enlarged.
