Ott Lab Inc. Muscle Test

Date: circa 1979
Cfa collection: John Nash Ott Collection
Notes: In this film, John Ott attempts to demonstrate the effects of full spectrum versus fluorescent lighting on human arm strength, and recruits his son Henry Ott to serve as the experimental subject. When Henry stands in front of a full spectrum shielded light, he exhibits significant arm strength, and his father is unable to push his arm down. When Henry stands in front of fluorescent lighting, his arm is noted as, "unbelievably weak."; In a follow-up experiment in front of full spectrum lighting, Henry exhibits similar arm weakness when wearing normal glasses or normal sunglasses, but exhibits much improved strength when wearing full spectrum eyeglasses, thus implying that the route of exposure to the full spectrum light, through the eyes, is the key factor in understanding how full spectrum light is essential for optimal bodily health and function.; In a final experiment, John Ott repeats the strength test by positioning his son in front of the full spectrum light source, receives similar results, and concludes that the preceding experiments did not fatigue Henry.; Although not addressed in this film, Ott argued in lectures that use of fluorescent lighting in schools was detrimental to student performance. He implied that full spectrum lighting was comparable to natural sunlight in its positive effects on human health and performance.
Subjects: Science; Scientific equipment; Experiments
Places: North America > United States > Florida > Sarasota
Language: English
Cfa elements: Reversal Positive Print, 50 feet
Cfa records: https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/36010; https://collections.chicagofilmarchives.org/Detail/objects/36009