A team of researchers has developed a unique method to make people see a color that is not typically part of our everyday visual experience. This new color is called "olo". It is an intensely vibrant greenish-blue. This is not a new color in the traditional sense. It is more of a new way to perceive color. The team achieved this by using a special technique that activates the eye's photoreceptors in an unconventional manner.

    The concept of color is based on three main factors: hue, saturation, and brightness. The researchers claim that "olo" has an exceptionally strong saturation, but its hue is still within the blue-green range. People who have seen "olo" describe it as a blue-green color with a saturation level that is unlike anything they have experienced before. They also mention that they had to reduce the saturation of "olo" by adding white light to match it with the closest monochromatic light. This proves that "olo" is beyond the typical range of colors we usually see.

    Color perception happens when certain wavelengths of light stimulate the cone cells in our retina, sending signals to the brain. We have three types of cone photoreceptors: short-wavelength, middle-wavelength, and long-wavelength. Each type has overlapping sensitivities. This overlap limits the range and saturation of colors we can perceive. The researchers found a way to stimulate a single cone using a focused laser light, called Oz. This allowed them to create images and visuals with a high level of saturation.

    Traditional color technologies, like computer screens, use a method called spectral metamerism. This involves mixing different wavelengths of light to mimic specific colors. The Oz method, on the other hand, controls the spatial distribution of light on the retina. This allows for the creation of a wide range of colors using a single monochromatic light. It bypasses the need for the three primary colors.

    Experts acknowledge that while the research introduces some promising practical innovations, some aspects of single-cone stimulation are not entirely new. The novelty of this study lies in the ability to stimulate many individual cones to produce an image. This opens up new possibilities for color perception and visual technology.

A New Way to See Color

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