Appraisal of a light box as a low vision reading aid

Abstract

Of fifty visually handicapped teenagers who had undertaken an hour of intensive reading on the transilluminating light box, thirty-eight claimed to prefer it to conventional, over-task, lighting. The three subjects who expressed a dislike of the light box made comments which suggest that design modification could make the box generally acceptable. Transillumination is found beneficial because it overcomes the problem of head shadow associated with conventional lighting systems, and would appear to have very good contrast rendering properties. The most suitable materials for use with the light box will require careful consideration. It is clear from these observations that the light box could become a useful aid to the visually handicapped and should therefore receive further development and investigation.