The Trotter Paterson 2012 lecture brought Mark Rae, the director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a professor in Architecture and Cognitive Sciences to discuss 'What ever happened to visual performance?'

Abstract: The topic of visual performance, central to much of the history of lighting research in the 20^th century, seems out of date and largely forgotten. Human factors research today has moved on to more fashionable topics associated with solid state lighting, like color rendering, brightness appearance and biological rhythms. Despite these trends, visual performance remains a cornerstone in all lighting applications; it is, and always will be, important to see well. With modern lighting technologies and inexpensive electric energy, visual performance for interior spaces can be, and practically is, taken for granted. This complacency is not really valid for roadway lighting, however. Solid state lighting and controls technologies together with new insights into the link between visibility and vehicle crash safety will soon provide renewed interest the old, but fundamental research topic of visual performance.

A handout of Mark's presentation can be found here.

Bio: Dr. Mark Rea teaches courses in leadership and in visual and circadian processes, and supervises graduate students at master’s and Ph.D. levels. He conducts research in many areas including circadian photobiology, mesopic vision, psychological responses to light, lighting engineering and visual performance. He is the author of more than 250 scientific and technical articles related to vision, lighting engineering, and human factors and was the editor-in-chief of the 8th and 9th editions of the IESNA Lighting Handbook. He was elected Fellow of the IESNA and of the SLL.  Dr. Rea is a recipient of the IESNA Medal and of the William H. Wiley outstanding faculty at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.