CONCLUSIONS

The value of the stress detection glasses appears to be in the way they amplify a person’s color perceptions. Determining what the observations mean will take some experience by comparisons with known plant stresses. Comparing different types of vegetation may be difficult. Changes in vegetation that is naturally a yellowish color may be difficult to detect. The glasses amplify color changes but give no indication of what is causing the change. As an example, natural color changes in leaves at the beginning of fall are significantly enhanced but the vegetation is probably healthy.

Some users find the glasses somewhat disorienting or upsetting. Others seem to have no problems, at least using them for short periods of time.

The ability of the eye to detect plant stress problems seems to increase with experience. A novice may not notice minute changes that the seasoned veteran may think are obvious. For this study, testing was of short duration. The ability to detect changes with the glasses may increase with more experience.

The glasses do appear to have utility for forestry work. Some experience with the glasses appears to help when evaluating what one sees. They may not provide magic answers as to whether vegetation is about to die but they do amplify a person’s perceptions. They are a relatively inexpensive, small, and lightweight tool. They can easily be carried to the field and can aid in quickly picking out vegetation changes.