Determining laser eye protection (LEP) acceptability for color appearance by comparing two prediction metrics: E-94 score and color zone analysis (CZA)

This joint Air Force-Navy study aims to provide a model for user acceptance for color appearance of Laser Eye Protection (LEP). The purpose of the study is to improve the capability to predict LEP color naming errors and user approval of specific filters. First, mathematical modeling, prediction generation and computer programming will be performed. Second, human use experiments are performed and Experiments 1 and 2 are set up to evaluate user acceptability metrics using color naming and operationally relevant cockpit tasks. Experiment 1 evaluates color naming using the FM-100 hue test and Modified Color Symbology Identification (MCSI) test, while Experiment 2 evaluates user acceptance in experienced pilots using the flight simulation task. During both experiments, data will be collected from subjects viewing LEP (one AF filter and one Navy filter) plus a control condition with no filters. Both experiments include a cognitive distraction condition to better capture the environment in which military members operate. Predictions are compared with user responses to a LEP acceptability survey. Lastly, the data are analyzed, reported, and presented. In this presentation, we will report our findings on modeling and prediction generation. We will also present our data on human use testing to date. We will make evaluations based on the data collected to show which metric (E-9 4 or CZA) better predicts LEP user acceptance.