Emulating Perceptual Experience of Color Vision Deficiency with Virtual Reality

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Accessibility Studies
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Universal Design prioritizes inclusivity for all users, including those with Color Vision Deficiency (CVD).
• CVD significantly impacts user perception of digital and physical environments.
• Existing tools for CVD readability testing focus on digital interfaces, with two main approaches: user-end and design-end.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of Virtual Reality (VR) Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) for CVD accessibility testing in physical environments.
• To enable designers to experience physical spaces from the perspective of a color-blind individual.
• To enhance designer empathy and identify poorly visible visual elements for CVD users.

Main Methods:

• Developed a proof-of-concept using VR HMDs, 360 cameras, and real-time color processing filters.
• Implemented runtime post-processing color filters to emulate different types of CVD.
• Utilized HMDs' six degrees of freedom tracking for immersive environmental exploration.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the potential of VR HMDs to simulate CVD in physical environments.
• Showcased the ability for designers to assess environmental elements (infographics, advertisements) from a CVD perspective.
• Highlighted the tool's capacity to increase designer empathy and identify accessibility barriers.

Conclusions:

• VR HMDs offer a novel approach to enhancing accessibility design for Color Vision Deficiency in physical spaces.
• This technology can empower designers to create more inclusive environments by simulating user perceptual experiences.
• The developed methodology provides a practical tool for identifying and rectifying CVD-related visibility issues in real-world settings.