P-29: Variability in Susceptibility to the Color Flash Effect in Field Sequential Color Displays

We report on a study to develop population statistics on susceptibility to the “color flash effect” (CFE) a visual artifact observed, to varying degrees, by viewers of field sequential color (FSC) displays. Subjects made saccades across a vertical bright line generated by a simulated Philips “scrolling color” FSC display, judged to be representative in this regard to conventional FSC displays. Pre-analyzed test data from 32 young adults show that contrast ratio thresholds and luminance thresholds for CFE detection vary over (wide) ranges of log 1.2 (15.9:1) and log 1.07 (11.8:1), respectively. A statistically significant though moderate (0.40) correlation exists between the two thresholds. The results of less rigorous testing of 26 old-than-40 year adult indicate that CFE susceptibility is not age-dependent. The well-researched perceptual mislocalization of signals flashed during a saccade is identified as the primary cause of CFE.