The transmission of color experience has become a central concern in the development of devices for blind and visually impaired individuals. Several techniques have been implemented, taking into consideration other sensory modalities, in an attempt to find the most suitable solution to intersemiotically translate this visual information. The primary objective of this paper is to investigate various approaches to convey chromatic information for individuals with low vision or blindness and emphasize the importance of multi-modal integration and cross-modal interaction among different senses. This research brings together a wide variety of strategies utilized to translate color codes, such as patterns, temperatures, scents, music, and vibrations, with the aim of uncovering the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. A review of the existing literature suggests that interaction between multiple sensory channels is more effective in compensating for lack of vision. As a particularly relevant case study, attention will be paid to the enjoyment of art by people with visual impairments.
This study was part of a doctoral research project which looked into the current issues with color education, documented by several authors in recent years. It presents a comprehensive analysis of 103 color courses taught within design programs of higher education institutions from different countries over the last 12 years, 2010–2022. The analysis aimed to define the state-of-the-art of including color training within higher education design programs, identify the main didactic strategies implemented, and recognize the main critical aspects to face when proposing an innovative framework for color training. Among the formal aspects analyzed are the course level, the course duration, the student entry profile, the specific disciplinary area, the course location, the type of institution, and the language of the course. The didactic strategy elements analyzed were the learning outcomes, the contents proposed by the course, the teaching strategies implemented, and the suggested bibliography. Finally, a description of the main findings of the analysis is provided to assess how color is being taught within the design area.
In order to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of color difference detection for dyed fabrics, this article introduces a novel superpixel-based color difference detection algorithm, which exhibits three significant improvements over the previous algorithm. First, it proposes a more rational color feature extraction method to extract more detailed color features from fabric images, which uses superpixels as basic units for both color feature extraction and color difference detection. Second, the algorithm employs the CIEDE2000 color difference formula to calculate color difference values. This eliminates the need for obtaining standard fabric images as references in advance, making the process more convenient and practical. Finally, an area-based color difference calculation method is proposed based on the human visual mechanism, ensuring that the evaluation results are more consistent with human eye observations. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm provides more accurate and visually consistent color difference assessments compared to the previous algorithm.