Farnsworth Lantern Test
Encyclopedia
The Farnsworth Lantern Test, or FALANT, is a test of color vision developed specifically to screen sailors for shipboard tasks requiring color vision
. It was developed by Dr. Dean Farnsworth while stationed at the Naval Submarine Research Laboratory in New London
, CT during World War II
. After its adoption by the US Navy in 1954 as the standard color vision test, it has additionally been used to screen aviators as well as personnel who will serve shipboard.
The test consists of showing lights of various colors to the test subject and asking him to identify the colors. At least nine color pairs are administered during the test. By design, the FALANT allows mild color-blindness conditions to pass the test, while still excluding the more serious cases of color-blindness. The test is intended to mimic the types of situations requiring color vision that a sailor would find while serving aboard a ship.
The FALANT is accepted by the United States
Federal Aviation Administration
as a test of color vision for the purpose of obtaining a pilot's license. However, the United States Air Force
discontinued use of the FALANT in 1993 due to its frequent failure to identify cases of color blindness considerably more serious than the test was intended to let pass.
The original FALANT apparatus is no longer manufactured, but many modern equivalents of various levels of sophistication are available today.
Color vision
Color vision is the capacity of an organism or machine to distinguish objects based on the wavelengths of the light they reflect, emit, or transmit...
. It was developed by Dr. Dean Farnsworth while stationed at the Naval Submarine Research Laboratory in New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, CT during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After its adoption by the US Navy in 1954 as the standard color vision test, it has additionally been used to screen aviators as well as personnel who will serve shipboard.
The test consists of showing lights of various colors to the test subject and asking him to identify the colors. At least nine color pairs are administered during the test. By design, the FALANT allows mild color-blindness conditions to pass the test, while still excluding the more serious cases of color-blindness. The test is intended to mimic the types of situations requiring color vision that a sailor would find while serving aboard a ship.
The FALANT is accepted by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
as a test of color vision for the purpose of obtaining a pilot's license. However, the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
discontinued use of the FALANT in 1993 due to its frequent failure to identify cases of color blindness considerably more serious than the test was intended to let pass.
The original FALANT apparatus is no longer manufactured, but many modern equivalents of various levels of sophistication are available today.