Performance and Preference on a Sonar Detection Task under Various Colors of Ambient Illumination

Twenty observers participated in a sonar detection task under three photoptically matched colors, bright white light, and no ambient light conditions. All trials were run under mesopic conditions to simulate normal operations at sea. The subdued white and the no light conditions resulted in the shortest detection times, followed by the bright white, blue, and red conditions. Most subjects, however, preferred the red or blue illumination. There appears to be no correlation between preference and performance. Advantages of using the subdued white lighting in sonar control rooms are discussed.