Age, luminance, and print legibility in homes, offices, and public places

Field studies were conducted in homes, offices, and public places with youn ger and older adults to determine how legibility performance (in a proofrea ding and phone book search) changes with age and luminance. Homes and publi c places generally exhibited much lower than recommended luminance values f or reading. Older adults had higher light levels in their homes than did yo unger adults at reading locations. Older adults performed less quickly than did younger adults on most legibility tasks. Adding light helped younger a nd older adults equally for most legibility tasks (in homes and public plac es), though increased luminance differentially improved the performance of older office workers. In response to feedback about low light levels, nearl y 60% of building managers in public places indicated in a 6-month follow-u p that they had improved lighting or were planning to do so. Actual or pote ntial applications of this work include setting luminance guidelines for ad ults and identifying barriers to lighting changes.