An Improved Dynamic Daltonization for Color-Blinds

Color-blindness is an inherited condition which leads to the sufferer not being able to distinguish between certain colors. One of the most widely used algorithms for enhancing a color-blind’s color perception of images is Daltonization. Non-iterative Daltonization leaves the possibility of modifying imperceptible colors into colors that already exist in an image. Iterative Daltonization method provides better results by overcoming this problem. This paper presents a new iterative Daltonization method for protanopes which uses hue to ensure imperceptible colors are not modified into colors similar to existing perceptible ones. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms similar existing methods

Adaptação da cor da tipografia páginas web para pessoas com deficit na visão da cor

A legibilidade do texto é fundamental à sua leitura, sendo para isso determinante o contraste entre as cores usadas para a tipografia e para o fundo. Ainda que a escolha das cores seja adequada, o contraste pode ser insuficiente quando a tipografia é observada por pessoas com deficit na visão da cor, comprometendo assim a legibilidade. Sendo que é significativa a taxa de incidência do deficit na visão da cor, correntemente conhecido por daltonismo, assim como o índice de utilização da web pela população em geral, onde é frequente a existência de blocos de texto - com recurso à cor para tipografia e para o fundo-, são frequentes as situações em que se torna difícil uma leitura adequada, limitando o acesso à mensagem escrita. Neste contexto, este artigo vem propor um método para melhoria das condições de visualização dos blocos de texto, que passa pela aplicação de um algoritmo de adaptação, que efetua a alteração da cor da tipografia para preto ou para branco, dependendo da forma como a cor de fundo é vista pela daltónico. Dessa forma, é incrementado o contraste e é proporcionada uma integral acessibilidade aos conteúdos tipográficos

Contour Enhancement Algorithm for Improving Visual Perception of Deutan and Protan Dichromats

A variety of recoloring methods has been proposed in the literature to remedy the problem of confusing red-green colors faced by dichromat people (as well by other color-blinded people). The common strategy to mitigate this problem is to remap colors to other colors. But, it is clear this does not guarantee neither the necessary contrast to distinguish the elements of an image, nor the naturalness of colors learnt from past experience of each individual. In other words, the individual’s perceptual learning may not hold under color remapping. With this in mind, we introduce the first algorithm primarily focused on the enhancement of object contours in still images, instead of recoloring the pixels of the regions bounded by such contours. This is particularly adequate to increase contrast in images where we find adjacent regions that are color-indistinguishable from the dichromacy’s point of view

Contour Enhancement Algorithm for Improving Visual Perception of Deutan and Protan Dichromats

A variety of recoloring methods has been proposed in the literature to remedy the problem of confusing red-green colors faced by dichromat people (as well by other color-blinded people). The common strategy to mitigate this problem is to remap colors to other colors. But, it is clear this does not guarantee neither the necessary contrast to distinguish the elements of an image, nor the naturalness of colors learnt from past experience of each individual. In other words, the individual’s perceptual learning may not hold under color remapping. With this in mind, we introduce the first algorithm primarily focused on the enhancement of object contours in still images, instead of recoloring the pixels of the regions bounded by such contours. This is particularly adequate to increase contrast in images where we find adjacent regions that are color-indistinguishable from the dichromacy’s point of view.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electronic Imaging & the Visual Arts. EVA 2012 Florence

The key aim of this Event is to provide a forum for the user, supplier and scientific research communities to meet and exchange experiences, ideas and plans in the wide area of Culture & Technology. Participants receive up to date news on new EC and international arts computing & telecommunications initiatives as well as on Projects in the visual arts field, in archaeology and history. Working Groups and new Projects are promoted. Scientific and technical demonstrations are presented

Adaptive Methods for Color Vision Impaired Users

Color plays a key role in the understanding of the information in computer environments. It happens that about 5% of the world population is affected by color vision deficiency (CVD), also called color blindness. This visual impairment hampers the color perception, ending up by limiting the overall perception that CVD people have about the surrounding environment, no matter it is real or virtual. In fact, a CVD individual may not distinguish between two different colors, what often originates confusion or a biased understanding of the reality, including web environments, whose web pages are plenty of media elements like text, still images, video, sprites, and so on. Aware of the difficulties that color-blind people may face in interpreting colored contents, a significant number of recoloring algorithms have been proposed in the literature with the purpose of improving the visual perception of those people somehow. However, most of those algorithms lack a systematic study of subjective assessment, what undermines their validity, not to say usefulness. Thus, in the sequel of the research work behind this Ph.D. thesis, the central question that needs to be answered is whether recoloring algorithms are of any usefulness and help for colorblind people or not. With this in mind, we conceived a few preliminary recoloring algorithms that were published in conference proceedings elsewhere. Except the algorithm detailed in Chapter 3, these conference algorithms are not described in this thesis, though they have been important to engender those presented here. The first algorithm (Chapter 3) was designed and implemented for people with dichromacy to improve their color perception. The idea is to project the reddish hues onto other hues that are perceived more regularly by dichromat people. The second algorithm (Chapter 4) is also intended for people with dichromacy to improve their perception of color, but its applicability covers the adaptation of text and image, in HTML5- compliant web environments. This enhancement of color contrast of text and imaging in web pages is done while keeping the naturalness of color as much as possible. Also, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first web recoloring approach targeted to dichromat people that takes into consideration both text and image recoloring in an integrated manner. The third algorithm (Chapter 5) primarily focuses on the enhancement of some of the object contours in still images, instead of recoloring the pixels of the regions bounded by such contours. Enhancing contours is particularly suited to increase contrast in images, where we find adjacent regions that are color indistinguishable from dichromat’s point of view. To our best knowledge, this is one of the first algorithms that take advantage of image analysis and processing techniques for region contours. After accurate subjective assessment studies for color-blind people, we concluded that the CVD adaptation methods are useful in general. Nevertheless, each method is not efficient enough to adapt all sorts of images, that is, the adequacy of each method depends on the type of image (photo-images, graphical representations, etc.). Furthermore, we noted that the experience-based perceptual learning of colorblind people throughout their lives determines their visual perception. That is, color adaptation algorithms must satisfy requirements such as color naturalness and consistency, to ensure that dichromat people improve their visual perception without artifacts. On the other hand, CVD adaptation algorithms should be object-oriented, instead of pixel-oriented (as typically done), to select judiciously pixels that should be adapted. This perspective opens an opportunity window for future research in color accessibility in the field of in human-computer interaction (HCI).A cor desempenha um papel fundamental na compreensão da informação em ambientes computacionais. Porém, cerca de 5% da população mundial é afetada pela deficiência de visão de cor (ou Color Vision Deficiency (CVD), do Inglês), correntemente designada por daltonismo. Esta insuficiência visual dificulta a perceção das cores, o que limita a perceção geral que os indivíduos têm sobre o meio, seja real ou virtual. Efetivamente, um indivíduo com CVD vê como iguais cores que são diferentes, o que origina confusão ou uma compreensão distorcida da realidade, assim como dos ambientes web, onde existe uma abundância de conteúdos média coloridos, como texto, imagens fixas e vídeo, entre outros. Com o intuito de mitigar as dificuldades que as pessoas com CVD enfrentam na interpretação de conteúdos coloridos, tem sido proposto na literatura um número significativo de algoritmos de recoloração, que têm como o objetivo melhorar, de alguma forma, a perceção visual de pessoas com CVD. Porém, a maioria desses trabalhos carece de um estudo sistemático de avaliação subjetiva, o que põe em causa a sua validação, se não mesmo a sua utilidade. Assim, a principal questão à qual se pretende responder, como resultado do trabalho de investigação subjacente a esta tese de doutoramento, é se os algoritmos de recoloração têm ou não uma real utilidade, constituindo assim uma ajuda efetiva às pessoas com daltonismo. Tendo em mente esta questão, concebemos alguns algoritmos de recoloração preliminares que foram publicados em atas de conferências. Com exceção do algoritmo descrito no Capítulo 3, esses algoritmos não são descritos nesta tese, não obstante a sua importância na conceção daqueles descritos nesta dissertação. O primeiro algoritmo (Capítulo 3) foi projetado e implementado para pessoas com dicromacia, a fim de melhorar a sua perceção da cor. A ideia consiste em projetar as cores de matiz avermelhada em matizes que são melhor percebidos pelas pessoas com os tipos de daltonismo em causa. O segundo algoritmo (Capítulo 4) também se destina a melhorar a perceção da cor por parte de pessoas com dicromacia, porém a sua aplicabilidade abrange a adaptação de texto e imagem, em ambientes web compatíveis com HTML5. Isto é conseguido através do realce do contraste de cores em blocos de texto e em imagens, em páginas da web, mantendo a naturalidade da cor tanto quanto possível. Além disso, tanto quanto sabemos, esta é a primeira abordagem de recoloração em ambiente web para pessoas com dicromacia, que trata o texto e a imagem de forma integrada. O terceiro algoritmo (Capítulo 5) centra-se principalmente na melhoria de alguns dos contornos de objetos em imagens, em vez de aplicar a recoloração aos pixels das regiões delimitadas por esses contornos. Esta abordagem é particularmente adequada para aumentar o contraste em imagens, quando existem regiões adjacentes que são de cor indistinguível sob a perspetiva dos observadores com dicromacia. Também neste caso, e tanto quanto é do nosso conhecimento, este é um dos primeiros algoritmos em que se recorre a técnicas de análise e processamento de contornos de regiões. Após rigorosos estudos de avaliação subjetiva com pessoas com daltonismo, concluiu-se que os métodos de adaptação CVD são úteis em geral. No entanto, cada método não é suficientemente eficiente para todos os tipo de imagens, isto é, o desempenho de cada método depende do tipo de imagem (fotografias, representações gráficas, etc.). Além disso, notámos que a aprendizagem perceptual baseada na experiência das pessoas daltónicas ao longo de suas vidas é determinante para perceber aquilo que vêem. Isto significa que os algoritmos de adaptação de cor devem satisfazer requisitos tais como a naturalidade e a consistência da cor, de modo a não pôr em causa aquilo que os destinatários consideram razoável ver no mundo real. Por outro lado, a abordagem seguida na adaptação CVD deve ser orientada aos objetos, em vez de ser orientada aos pixéis (como tem sido feito até ao momento), de forma a possibilitar uma seleção mais criteriosa dos pixéis que deverão ser sujeitos ao processo de adaptação. Esta perspectiva abre uma janela de oportunidade para futura investigação em acessibilidade da cor no domínio da interacção humano-computador (HCI)

Increasing Accessibility for Map Readers with Acquired and Inherited Color Vision Deficiencies: A Re-Coloring Algorithm for Maps

Approximately 8% of the male population suffer from an inherited form of color vision deficiency (CVD). Age, diabetes, macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma result in eye defects including an acquired form of CVD. Inherited CVD is marked by a difficulty in discerning red from green, while acquired CVD is marked by a difficulty in discerning blue from green. A recent review of the cartographic literature revealed a deficit in studies on accessible maps for readers with the acquired form of CVD. In addition, research on accessible maps for readers with the inherited form of CVD was restricted to the design or pre-publication stage. An approach is needed to render maps already in circulation accessible to an audience with CVD. The purpose of this research is to improve the accessibility of maps post-publication. Image re-coloring is a method of altering an image\u27s color composition in such a way as to make it accessible to a color vision deficient audience. An innovative algorithm is presented that produces a re-colored map that can be perceived by individuals with red-green (inherited) CVD, blue-green CVD (acquired) and normal color vision alike. The algorithm was tested on a control group of participants with normal color vision and a case group of participants with impaired color vision through a series of matching, content and personal preference questions about six pairs of maps. Each map pair represented one of the following color schemes: balance, diverging, qualitative area, qualitative dot, sequential polychrome, and two variable. Each map pair is composed of two renditions: a map using a color palette that is potentially confusing to viewers with impaired color vision (original rendition) and a map where the original color palette has been re-colored by the algorithm (re-colored rendition). According to the results of a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the performance of the case group improved when using the re-colored renditions compared to when using the original renditions while the performance of the control group was the same for both renditions. A Mann-Whitney rank sum test revealed that while the scores of the case group were lower than the control group when using the original renditions, they were the same when using the re-colored renditions. A binomial test revealed that subjects in the case group displayed a preference towards all the re-colored renditions while subjects in the control group displayed a preference to two of the six original renditions

Edición semántica inteligente de entornos virtuales

Tradicionalmente, los entornos virtuales se han relacionado o vinculado de forma muy estrecha con campos como el diseño de escenarios tridimensionales o los videojuegos; dejando poco margen a poder pensar en sus aplicaciones en otros ámbitos. Sin embargo, estas tendencias pueden cambiar en tanto se demuestre que las aplicaciones y ventajas de estas facilidades software, se pueden extrapolar a su uso en el ámbito de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje. Estas aplicaciones son los conocidos como Entornos Virtuales Inteligentes (EVI); los cuales, tratan de usar un entorno virtual para llevar a cabo labores de enseñanza y tutoría, aportando ventajas como simulación de entornos peligrosos o tutorización personalizada; cosa que no podemos encontrar en la mayoría de los casos de las situaciones de enseñanza reales. Este trabajo trata de dar solución a una de las problemáticas que se plantean a la hora de trabajar con cualquier entorno virtual con el que nos encontremos y prepararlo para su cometido, sobre todo en aquellos enfocados a la enseñanza: dotar de forma automática e inteligente de una semántica propia a cada uno de los objetos que se encuentran en un entorno virtual y almacenar esta información para su posterior consulta o uso para otras tareas. Esto quiere decir que el objetivo principal de este trabajo, es el proceso de recolección de información que se considera importante de los objetos de los entornos virtuales, como pueden ser sus aspectos de la forma, tamaño o color. Aspectos que, por otra parte, son realmente importantes para poder caracterizar los objetos y hacerlos únicos en un entorno virtual donde, a priori, todos los objetos son los mismos a ojos de un ordenador. Este trabajo que puede parecer trivial en un principio, no lo es tanto; y servirá de sustento fundamental para que otras aplicaciones futuras o ya existentes puedan realizar sus tareas. Una de estas tareas pudiera ser la generación de indicaciones en lenguaje natural para guiar a usuarios a localizar objetos en un entorno virtual, como es el caso del proyecto LORO sobre el que se engloba este trabajo. Algunos ejemplos de uso de esta tarea pueden ser desde ayudar a cualquier usuario a encontrar sus llaves en su propia casa a ayudar a un cirujano a localizar cierta herramienta en un quirófano. Para ello, es indispensable conocer la semántica e información relevante de cada uno de los objetos que se presentan en la escena y diferenciarlos claramente del resto. La solución propuesta se trata de una completa aplicación integrada en el motor de videojuegos y escenarios 3D de mayor soporte del mundo como es Unity 3D, el cual se interrelaciona con ontologías para poder guardar la información de los objetos de cada escena. Esto hace que la aplicación tenga una potencial difusión, gracias a las herramientas antes mencionadas para su desarrollo y a que está pensada para tanto el usuario experto como el usuario común.---ABSTRACT---Traditionally, virtual environments have been related to tridimensional design and videogames; leaving a little margin to think about its applications in other fields. However, this tendencies can be changed as soon as it is proven that the applications and advantages of this software can be taken to the learning and teaching environment. This applications are known as intelligent virtual environments, these use the virtual environment to perform teaching and tutoring tasks; tasks we cannot find in most real life teaching situations. This project aims to give a solution to one of the problematics that appears when someone works with any virtual environments we may encounter and prepare it for its duty, mainly those environments dedicated to teaching: automatically and intelligently give its own semantic to the objects that are in any virtual environment and save this information for its posterior query or use in other tasks. The main purpose of this project is the information recollection process that considers the different important facts about the objects that are in the virtual environments, such as their shape, size or color. Facts that are very important for characterizing the objects; to make them unique in the environment where the objects are all the same to the computer’s eye. This project may seem banal in the beginning, but it is not, it will be the fundamental base for future applications. One of this applications may be a natural language indicator generator for guiding users to locate objects in a virtual environment, such as the LORO project, where this project is included. Some examples of the use of this task are: helping any user to find the keys of his house, helping a surgeon to find a tool in an operation room… For this goals, it is very important to know the semantics and the relevant information of each object of the scenario and differentiate each one of them from the rest. The solution for this proposal is a fully integrated application in the videogame and Unity 3D engine that is related to ontologies so it can save the object’s information in every scenario. The previously mentioned tools, as well as the idea that this application is made for an expert user as well as for a common user, make the application more spreadable

The New Aesthetic and Art: Constellations of the Postdigital

The case for the new aesthetic -- Manifestations of the new aesthetic -- Glitch ontology and the new aesthetic -- Setting the stage : the new precursorsand boundaries for a new aesthetic art -- Letting go : new aesthetic artists and the new aesthetic art that works -- Teleology and the new aesthetic -- Conclusion -- References -- Biographies. The new aesthetic and art: constellations of the postdigital is an interdisciplinary analysis focusing on new digital phenomena at the intersections of theory andcontemporary art. Asserting the unique character of New Aesthetic objects, Contreras-Koterbay and Mirocha trace the origins of the New Aesthetic in visual arts, design, and software, find its presence resonating in various kinds of digital imagery, and track its agency in everyday effects of the intertwined physical world and the digital realm. Contreras-Koterbay and Mirocha bring to light an original perspective that identifies an autonomous quality in common digital objects and examples ofart that are increasingly an important influence for today\u27s culture and society.https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu_books/1118/thumbnail.jp