A History of Light and Colour Measurement: Science in the Shadows

Abstract

The object of this book is to explore how and why the brightness and colour of light, which seem to be purely subjective quantities of general use, have been transformed into measurable quantities. To find the answers to these questions the author considers mainly the history, sociology and philosophy of science. Instead of following a classical chronological style of presentation Sean Johnston prefers to describe, over rather long periods of time, the main factors and actors that have influenced the development of light and colour measurement. This method applies very well to this unusual and complicated subject to describe the different levels and nodes of the network of this field of measurement. After a clear introduction presenting the problem of light and colour measurement, the book starts with an evocation of the motivations and results of the pioneers of light measurement during the 17th and 18th centuries, followed by a presentation of the techniques available at the beginning in photometry, radiometry and colorimetry. The rapid and important development of photometry during the 19th century due to the pressure of the gas and later electric lighting industries is then analysed, leading to the conclusion that the eye of the observer used for the measurement is a very poor metrological apparatus. For the same period of time the role and the place of researchers and engineers in society is also studied. Then, for the beginning of the 20th century, the leading role of newly created metrological institutes in realizing and offering standards to industry for light and colour measurement is emphasized. The very difficult task of replacing, during the period between the two world wars, visual photometry by physical photometry to take advantage of the newly developed photoelectric detectors is also analysed, showing that in spite of the difficulties it was possible to offer convenient instruments on the market for light and colour measurement. During the same period of time, the decisive role of the Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) in reaching an agreement on a coherent colorimetric system among groups of people with diverse interests is also explained. The development, from the end of the second world war up to the beginning of the 1970s, of radiometry mainly for military applications is then analysed. Considering the unusual development and evolution of the measurement of light and colour compared with most of the other sciences, the author, in the last chapter of the book, suggests defining photometry, radiometry and colorimetry as `peripheral sciences' having well specified properties. The book is easy and very pleasant to read. It provides not only a lot of interesting information on the various techniques used in the past for light and colour measurement but, first and foremost, clear explanations of the causes and the paths of the development and evolution of this specific field of metrology. Many people, organizations and events that have had major influences on the history of photometry, radiometry and colorimetry are presented. Even if it is not possible to be exhaustive and to extend the covered period of time indefinitely, it would probably have been interesting to have few words on the role of the Consultative Committee of Photometry and to extend the covered period to 1979 in order to include the present definition of the unit of luminous intensity. The terminology used avoids overly specific terms known only by specialists but nevertheless remains perfectly correct even if, now and then, there is some small loss of accuracy. So, a very large number of people could read and understand this book even if they are not expert in light and colour measurement. This book can be recommended not only to the specialist in the field of light and colour measurement who wishes to understand the present situation in this specific field of metrology and trace its historical development, but also to everybody interested in metrology in general because most of the explanations given for photometry, radiometry and colorimetry can be applied to other fields of metrology. Jean Bastie

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