The Effectiveness of Color Deficient Individuals in Detecting and Identifying Targets with Varying Degrees of Concealment.

The purpose of the field study was twofold: To determine the relative effectiveness of real/induced color deficiency on detection, identification, or discriminability of targets possessing varying degrees of concealment; and to determine the relative effectiveness of filters which utilized differences in spectral reflectance of camouflaged targets and surrounding natural objects. Twelve target situations were selected for this study. The selected target situations varied with respect to size, shape, and degree of concealment. Two viewing positions were selected, the targets ranging in distance from 1055 meters to 2952 meters. Seventy-two soldiers participated. Twelve exhibited some type of real color deficiency, 12 wore goggles/filters which induced red color deficiency, 12 wore goggles/filters which induced green color deficiency, 12 wore goggles/filters which enhanced spectral reflectances, and 24 had normal color vision. (Modified author abstract)