August 5th, 2005 | The following text is abstracted from Wikipedia &
http://www.ghuth.com/2005/08/05/scotopic-and-photopic-vision/#comment-79
92

“Scotopic vision is the monochromatic vision of the eye in dim light.
Since cone cells are nonfunctional in low light, scotopic vision is
produced exclusively through rod cells. Vision in normal light with
functioning rod cells is photopic vision”.

That “cone cells are non-functional (or shutdown)…” there is just no
experimental evidence for such a statement! One would reason this way if
one believed that cone cells are the source of color…which they,
clearly in this explanation, are not! “Scotopic vision is produced
exclusively through rod cells”… how on earth? …invoking what
mechanism? Scotopic and photopic vision are therefore presented as two
separate systems. What physical evidence is there for this statement?
From the viewpoint of my geometric explanation all of this is completely
erroneous and leads one down the wrong path of thought… and has done
so for years and years! It attempts to explain phenomenologically the
behavior of the vision process but, in fact, using the completely wrong
mechanisms.

The correct definitions for these terms (if the terms must be used at
all):

Scotopic vision: “under low light level conditions the rod cells of the
peripheral retina act together (and there is experimental evidence of
this) as a “light meter” using the exact short wavelength limit of
visual response to control pupillary constriction dilating the pupil of
the eye and controlling the admittance of light to the retina. Under
these conditions there is still insufficient light intensities of the
three primary RGB wavelengths falling on the retina to activate the
“Land color mechanism”, i.e., insufficient light intensity incident on
either side of the geometrically determined mid-band (550 nm) reference
point at 7-8 degrees of retinal eccentricity. The colorless image that
is perceived results from long wavelength radiation falling on the
central all-cone fovea.”

Photopic vision: “under normal, i.e., daylight, levels of illumination
the three primary RGB light intensities abstracted by the retina are
sufficient to activate the “Land color mechanism” as defined above and
the image including the hues of color is perceived. Peripheral rods,
acting together and determined by the short wavelength end of the
visible spectrum, constrict the pupil thus controlling the intensity of
light entering the eye as necessary”

This entry was posted on Friday, August 5th, 2005 at 3:20 pm and is
filed under Color Vision ,
Edwin Land , Fovea
, Retina
, Rods and Cones
, Running Commentary
.

At ADG Eco Lighting Advisors we agree and this is evident with the
Induction Lights used in
http://www.architecturaldetailgroup.com/induction/
Please feel free to explore our blog and the information regarding
Scotopic Luminescence and its relevance in better quality lower watt
consuming lights. http://adgwebnet.com/greenwordpress/

Please also make reference to
http://www.cirtopic.com/products/Energyconservationscotopic.pdf.pdf

Energy Conservation Using Scotopically Enhanced Fluorescent Lighting In
An Office Environment

Prepared For:

Building Technologies Program Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable
Energy U.S. Department of Energy

DISCLAIMER

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of
the United States Government. Neither the United States Government, nor
any agency thereof, nor any of their

employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their
employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal
liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed,
or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service
by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not
necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or
favoring by the United States Government or any agency, contractor, or
subcontractor thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed
herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States
Government or any agency thereof.

COPIES OF THIS REPORT

Electronic (PDF) copies of this report are available to the public from:

National Technical Information Service (NTIS) www.ntis.gov

BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM U.S. department of Energy
www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/documents/

FORWARD

Scotopically enhanced lighting studies have been ongoing by the U.S.
Department of Energy since 1990. While the theoretical energy savings
potential of this lighting method has been

clearly established prior to this study, user acceptance remained
unknown. Because this method requires both a shift in color spectrum and
a reduction in traditional lighting level measurements, occupant
acceptance under these altered conditions presents a potential critical
market barrier to the use of this method in applied practice. This
study, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Pacific Gas &
Electric Company, and the University of California, investigates the use
of a previously derived design method in a field application to
determine the acceptability and energy savings potential of Scotopically
enhanced lighting when used at reduced lighting levels.

This study was managed by AfterImage + Space. Brian Liebel was the
principal investigator and primary author of this report. He is a
registered professional electrical engineer in California and is
Lighting Certified with 20 years of specialized experience in lighting
research, design, and applications. Rita Lee, co-author and chief editor
for this report, assisted with the occupant surveys and overall results
analysis. She is a registered architect in California and is a LEED
Accredited Professional with 15 years of specialized experience in
commercial interior architecture.

COMMENTS

The Department is interested in receiving input on the material
presented in the report. If you

have suggestions of better data sources and/or comments on the finding
presented in this

report, please submit your feedback to Dr. James R. Brodrick at the
following address:

James R. Brodrick, Ph.D.

Program Manager - Lighting Research & Development

EE-2J / Forrestal Building

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, D.C. 20585