Formula for expressing the "beer goggle" effect devised

[happy-and-lost]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4468884.stm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41057000/jpg/_41057834_equation203.jpg

An = number of units of alcohol consumed
S = smokiness of the room (graded from 0-10, where 0 clear air; 10 extremely smoky)
L = luminance of 'person of interest' (candelas per square metre; typically 1 pitch black; 150 as seen in normal room lighting)
Vo = Snellen visual acuity (6/6 normal; 6/12 just meets driving standard)
d = distance from 'person of interest' (metres; 0.5 to 3 metres)

Good to see those PhDs being put to good use!

I don't think it's right though, as S, L, Vo and d would have an effect, but if An = 0, the beer-goggle effect is 0, which would mean that the alcohol is required for the others to take effect.

:-k

[Kevin]

Well that doesn't necessarily mean its incorrect, it just might only be valid for An > 0, since they are investigating the "beer goggle effect" they assume you are drinking.

I'm wondering what the sigma function is though?

[DaveBorealis]

I don't think it's right though, as S, L, Vo and d would have an effect, but if An = 0, the beer-goggle effect is 0

Sounds right to me because without beer there should be NO beer-goggle effect, which doesn't rule out other things still effecting one's affection, so to speak. ;)

Whadda think?
Dave

[Steveire]

I'm wondering what the sigma function is though?
It looks like a dirac delta function. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirac_delta_function, but I don't think that makes any sense. I have to say, though, I don't see a 'd' there. Maybe it's a 'd'.