The Help: My Bibliography

The following are all the websites I have used for my desk research:


http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-augmented-reality-works.html

http://www.augment.com/how-augmented-reality-works/

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/augmented-reality.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_vision

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_object_recognition

http://wearecolorblind.com/article/guest-article-a-mothers-journey-into-colorblindness/

http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/aboutCB.asp

http://www.color-blindness.com/2009/01/06/50-facts-about-color-blindness/\

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/colordeficiency.htm

http://www.colourblindawareness.org/colour-blindness/living-with-colour-vision-deficiency/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26263559_Digital_enhancement_of_haematoxylin-_and_eosin-stained_histological_images_for_red-green_colour-blind_observers

http://www.colourblindawareness.org/colour-blindness/types-of-colour-blindness/

http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/articles/designing-for-and-as-a-color-blind-person--webdesign-3408

http://jfly.iam.u-tokyo.ac.jp/color/


Finally: Special thanks to Prof. Kuntal De, Karan Gautam and Lalit Baveja for their help through the project.

Epilogue: What I Learnt

This was one of the most important courses I've done this year. After completing it I realised that design isn't just about making things that look cool or randomly stumbling upon solutions. Using an organised structure is the most efficient way to find problem areas and in turn solutions to those problems.

I'd like to thank my mentor for this project, Prof. Kuntal De, for introducing me to his methods as these are extremely important tools that I will continue to use in my career.

I've also learnt a little bit about how disabilities can make a person's daily life difficult, but also that it is our job as designers to find efficient solutions for them.

Special thanks to Karan Gautam for his insight on the problems faced by colour-blind people. My process would be incomplete without it.

Final Post: The Solution

My working concept is a phone application that uses Augmented Reality to optimise PPT Graphics and Text in real time making them Colour-blind Friendly.

Basic functioning: The app uses the phone camera to:

• Detect forms in PPT info graphics converting coloured forms into patterns. (Automatically Detects Sectors, Bars etc.)
• Detects Text on screen, Gives black borders to white text and vice-versa.

The device uses MSER Detector for Text and OCR Engines for Form Detection.

Here is a mock-up of what it'll look like:

Feature Building Analysis: Augmented Reality

After acquiring enough Data on the subject for my solution I plotted the information on a Feature Building Analysis to highlight the features which are useful to me:
(Yellow: Features, Red: Gaps, Green: Upgrades, Blue: Results)

Now that I have enough information on the features available, I can use them in my Final Concept.

Brainstorming For a Solution

To explore possible solutions, I made a newmind map, adding content from my desk research and further exploring visual solutions to try to make a connection:

By exploring Digital Graphics, I came to Augmented Reality. I connected it's aspects Object Recognition to "Patterns Instead of Colour" (A guideline explained earlier) and "Text Recognition" to "Contrasting Text". This all connects to " Mobile Interface ". This made me come to a solution which would be an Augmented Reality Mobile App to Optimise PPT Graphics in real-time. (Using the phone camera). I will further research AR to experiment with this solution. 

Desk Research: PPT Design for Colour-blind Audiences

As established earlier, Colour-blind audiences have a major inconvenience in viewing PPT presentations. Here is a basic example:

Normal Vision

Deuteranopia

There are several existing guidelines to making PPTs colour-blind friendly. Some are: 

Infographics: Do not just use different colours, add a simple pattern or texture to make it easy to distinguish,

Text: Text with low contrast, especially small in size can be unclear or even impossible to view. Use contrast and try using white with black border if possible as that font can be distinguished from any colour/background. 

I shall use these tips while Brainstorming for my final solution.

Desk Research: General Tips

There are many things that one should keep in mind when designing for a colour-blind audience. Here are some solution tools found in my desk research:

Monochromatic Colours: Use a single colour in multiple shades, or use black/very dark shade the colour. This is easy for a colour-blind person to distinguish and may bing unity to your design. Using Grey scale colour scheme is also a good idea.

High Contrast: High Contrast in text and background offers Colour-blind viewers a improved readability.

Playing with Hue, Saturation and Brightness: Shows definition and is better distinguishable without even using multiple colours, The designer can stick to a small set of colours, (Maybe even one) and just change the Saturation, Hue and Brightness.

Simulate CB: Online tools such as Colour Laboratory allow you to see how your design will look to colour-blind people by adding a filter. This can help you decide what colours to use while getting real-time feedback.

The Stakeholder Analysis: Who is affected?

Despite their condition, colour-blind people are very capable of handling most professions. And with about 8% of all men and 0.5% of all females being colour-blind, quite a few of them have jobs which require them to attend many PowerPoint presentations.

I've made a Stakeholder Analysis to figure out my audience: 

Conclusion: Colour-blindness is not a rare problem that only affects a few. It is a widespread condition that many people have to deal with in their everyday lives, Using colour in conjunction with well organised layouts is key to solving readability and asthetics for them. 

The Problem Assessment Matrix

I now had to analyse my information so I could narrow down my focus area to a more specific problem. For this I used a Problem Assessment Matrix.

In this matrix, the X-axis includes general inconveniences for colour-blind people, while the Y-axis includes the most significant kinds of media. The Matrix helps me find which type of media has the highest amount of inconvenience for a colour-blind audience.

It's evident that PPT Presentations have a high number or inconvenient factors for a colour-blind audience. (Since it has the highest average.)

Hence I have changed my problem statement to: "Utility in PowerPoint Graphics for Colour-blind audiences."

The Interview: Through The Eyes Of A Colour-blind Sufferer

I realised that desk research would not be enough for me to completely understand the plights of a colour-blind person, I needed to get first-hand insight on the subject. For this, I decided to approach my classmate, Karan, who has been diagnosed with Red-Green colour-blindness.(The most common type.)

I could not meet Karan personally as we have both been busy with other college assignments, however, I was able to interview him via text messaging. With Karan's permission, I have copied and posted the transcript bellow:

CB With Karan

Nikhil B.: When we're you diagnosed with Colour-blindness?

Karan G: 9th grade

Nikhil B.: Can you briefly tell me a few of the challenges associated with your condition?

Karan G: Obviously its hard to identify colors. But only if someone asks me about it, then is the condition awkward. Otherwise what I see is fine to me. Like while shopping clothes it doesnt matters what's the color of the shirt to others. I like and buy the color i think it is to me.

Nikhil B.: That's really interesting.

Karan G: Now like in the 1st sem color course. It was difficult for me because i had to use those colors only which are according to those assigned and not the ones which i would think of.

Nikhil B.: Can you name a few website's/apps that you find inconvenient to use?

Karan G: No such apps.

Karan G: See thats the thing. In my eyes those colors are different. Well not completely but slightly. And point is no color is bad. So i like those colors on how i see them.

Karan G: Just like any other human

Karan G: Because while using any app or website no one is asking me the colors its displaying. So no problem there

Karan G: See the problem only comes when:

1) someone asks me about some color(and both of ours answers are different)

2) when i have no choice but to deal with the colors a second person has assigned me to

Karan G: Otherwise its all fine

Karan G: Its the way i see things and im used to it.

Karan G: The only cure possible till now is that i learn the names of colors and identify them according to normal people and leave my perception of that color

Karan G: But thats near to impossible

Nikhil B.: I see.

Nikhil B.: But have you ever been in a situation where a form was difficult to distinguish from its Background?

  

Karan G: Yeah. It happens.

Karan G: Sometimes and situationally.

Nikhil B.: Can you give an example?

Karan G: Like a very simple example. If i see a rose plant from a distance, I wont be able to see roses over it. And you normal people can easily do.

Nikhil B.: "Normal people"? Haha it's not like you're not one just because of your condition bro

Karan G: Normal in case of colors

Nikhil B.: Anyway, While preparing a presentation (Eg PowerPoint) do you keep in mind how to make it convenient for people with your condition?

Karan G: See there's something interesting about color blind people. It has been proven in a lot of cases. Color blind people have a very good sense of color sensitivity and color combinations. I have experienced this a lot in even my case. 

Secondly while preparing ppt you don't tend to think what colors would please yourself because its not for you so you tend to think accordingly that which colors are already good to use for such things. Already means others have used.

Karan G: And when it comes to artwork its all on us and i would use colors i like and people would have to like them too

Nikhil B.: Interesting.

Nikhil B.: So you may have difficulty while looking at a colour combination from a distance?

Karan G: Yeah. See if its like edge diffusion thing only then. When colors with same hues and all are used.

Karan G: And if there are other colors then unless someone contradicts about the colors i'm thinking them to be, its fine by me. 

Nikhil B.: So what kind of colours are a problem for you?

Karan G: See there are different types of color blindness

Karan G: Red-green, blue-green ,red-blue and a severe one where everything is in greyscale

Karan G: Im red-green color blind.

Karan G: I face difficulty when these two colors or shades of these two colors are together.

Nikhil B.: Hm... And what would make it easier for you to be able to distinguish them from a distance?

Karan G: Either if they are not together or they are close enough for me to observe

Nikhil B.: I see. Seems like there's scope for a better solution.

Nikhil B.: Okay, that's all I needed. Thanks a lot for your time man, been a huge help!

Karan G: Its okay. You're welcome.

The interview with Karan helped me find the extra information I needed before I could move on to creating my Problem Assessment Matrix.