New Technologies for Human Visual Function Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

The research into visual optics has been strengthened by the great availability of, and new developments in, systems for the evaluation of the optical quality of the eye. These systems measure the eye’s properties through optical techniques and obtain structural, functional, and biomechanical images. However, the final visual perception depends not only on the optical quality of the retinal image, but also on the neurocognitive processing that gives meaning to the concept of visual quality within the perceptual function of vision. At a practical, clinical level, the means of evaluating visual function subjectively or through psychophysical methods are limited to measurements of visual acuity and cursory tests of contrast sensitivity. Other important aspects of visual function, such as motion perception, color vision, or the measurement of spatio-temporal thresholds, are frequently neglected. In addition to techniques that have rarely been used in clinical practice, many psychophysical tests have fallen into disuse because they have become obsolete due to technological advances that now allow for better machine–human interactions. The emergence of low-cost touch and portable display screens, together with unexpensive microprocessors, as well as a great versatility of intelligent lighting systems, will allow for the adaptation and evolution of obsolete psychophysical measures in order to evaluate spatial vision, temporal vision, and color vision in visual–cognitive function.  Key topics regarding the new generation of visual function assessment devices include the following: - Arduino-powered devices for visual optics experiments;- new methodologies for spatio-temporal vision assessment;- human-vision–machine interactions;- computer vision learning from human vision;- psychophysical approaches and visual system modelling;- color perception and neurological implications. 

Dr. Francisco Avila Gomez
Guest Editor

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• arduinopowered lighting
• spatiotemporal visual evaluation
• humanmachine vision interaction
• computer vision learning from human vision.
• psychophysical vision approaches
• modeling of the visual system
• color perception
• neural coding
• brain activity and visual perception