Mitigating Colorblindness: A Physiologically Based Multi-Staged Approach

Abstract

Color vision deficiency, also known as colorblindness, is a widespread challenge for nearly 5% of the world’s population. This condition has significant detrimental impacts on an individual’s safety, education, career, and ability to perform tasks that rely on color discrimination. Current technologies aimed at addressing color vision deficiency (CVD) are neither effective nor affordable. They can cost several hundred dollars, are not personalized, and rely on filters with low light transmission, making them impractical for daily use. This research explored the process of creating accurate, personalized, and economically viable CVD mitigation solutions, as well as developing quantitative testing techniques. These objectives were carried out through three approaches: selective wavelength thin-film filtering, CVD simulation, and selective wavelength manipulation through additive application of light within a virtual space. Team Color successfully modeled a thin-film filter design aimed at addressing red-green CVD color confusion, while maintaining high light transmission. Finally, Team COLOR outlined an alternative exploratory approach for mitigating CVD in augmented reality environments using an adaptation of the designed simulation.