Gordon Legge
Encyclopedia
Gordon E. Legge is currently the Distinguished McKnight University Professor and chair of the Department of Psychology
at the University of Minnesota
. Legge is the director of the Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research.
Legge received a Bachelor's degree in Physics
from MIT in 1971, and a Master's degree in Astronomy
from Harvard in 1972. In 1976, Legge obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
from Harvard under the direction of R.J.W. Mansfield. Legge did his postdoctoral training with Fergus Campbell at the Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University. In 1977, Legge joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota.
Legge studies the roles of vision
in reading, object recognition
, and spatial navigation
. Legge's major research interest is in reading with normal vision and low vision
(visual impairment). Legge is the author of a seminal series of papers known as the "Psychophysics
of Reading" series, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals between 1985 and 2002. These have been summarized and reviewed in the book "Psychophysics of reading in normal and low vision", which also contains a CDROM with the original articles.
Together with J. Stephen Mansfield, Legge also developed the MNREAD test http://vision.psych.umn.edu/~gellab/MNREAD/, which has become an internationally accepted standard test for measurement of reading acuity and reading speed in low vision clinics and clinical research.
Legge also sat on the Committee on Currency Features Usable by the Visually Impaired, which reviewed the design of U.S. currency bills (banknotes) in 1995.http://www.nap.edu/catalog/4828.html
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Legge is the director of the Minnesota Laboratory for Low-Vision Research.
Legge received a Bachelor's degree in Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from MIT in 1971, and a Master's degree in Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
from Harvard in 1972. In 1976, Legge obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
from Harvard under the direction of R.J.W. Mansfield. Legge did his postdoctoral training with Fergus Campbell at the Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge University. In 1977, Legge joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota.
Legge studies the roles of vision
Visual system
The visual system is the part of the central nervous system which enables organisms to process visual detail, as well as enabling several non-image forming photoresponse functions. It interprets information from visible light to build a representation of the surrounding world...
in reading, object recognition
Object recognition
Object recognition in computer vision is the task of finding a given object in an image or video sequence. Humans recognize a multitude of objects in images with little effort, despite the fact that the image of the objects may vary somewhat in different view points, in many different sizes / scale...
, and spatial navigation
Spatial navigation
In computing, spatial navigation is the ability to navigate between focusable elements, such as hyperlinks and form controls, within a structured document or user interface according to the spatial location....
. Legge's major research interest is in reading with normal vision and low vision
Low vision
Low vision is a subspecialty within the professions of optometry and ophthalmology dealing with individuals who have reduced vision even when using the best possible spectacle or contact lens correction available. It can be a result of either congenital disease Low vision is a subspecialty within...
(visual impairment). Legge is the author of a seminal series of papers known as the "Psychophysics
Psychophysics
Psychophysics quantitatively investigates the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they effect. Psychophysics has been described as "the scientific study of the relation between stimulus and sensation" or, more completely, as "the analysis of perceptual...
of Reading" series, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals between 1985 and 2002. These have been summarized and reviewed in the book "Psychophysics of reading in normal and low vision", which also contains a CDROM with the original articles.
Together with J. Stephen Mansfield, Legge also developed the MNREAD test http://vision.psych.umn.edu/~gellab/MNREAD/, which has become an internationally accepted standard test for measurement of reading acuity and reading speed in low vision clinics and clinical research.
Legge also sat on the Committee on Currency Features Usable by the Visually Impaired, which reviewed the design of U.S. currency bills (banknotes) in 1995.http://www.nap.edu/catalog/4828.html