An algorithm that enhances colours in images to improve their visibility for colour blind people is being trialled on mainstream TV content. Spectral Edge, a spin-out company of the Colour and Vision Group of the School of Computing Sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK, is working with organisation Colour Blind Awareness to trial its image-enhancement technology, EyeTeq.
EyeTeq uses mathematical perception models to modify image colours to improve visibility for colour blind observers. The model also minimises the strength of the effect for those who do not have colour blindness, or ‘colour normals’.
Spectral Edge is applying the technology to mainstream TV content, to gather direct feedback on the experience for colour blind viewers as well as colour normals. Expertise from Colour Blind Awareness will contribute to a successful trial and eventually result in consumer electronics companies delivering devices that are more colour blind friendly.
‘We are delighted to be assisting Spectral Edge,’ said Kathryn Albany-Ward, founder of Colour Blind Awareness. ‘The track record of their founders in image processing gives me confidence that they can really produce, refine and commercialise a technology that will improve the lives of colour blind people.’
Colour blindness affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8 per cent) and 1 in 200 women around the world. In the UK there are approximately 2.7 million colour blind people (about 4.5 per cent of the entire population).
Eyeteq is enhances images for both still pictures and video. An Eyeteq viewer app for iOS and Android will shortly be available for demonstration purposes. Trials using a set-top box with Eyeteq integrated are planned for the autumn. Results are expected in 6-9 months and will be made available to drive wider adoption of the technology.
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