Return to search

A predictive model of colour differentiation

The ability to differentiate between colours varies from individual to individual. This variation is attributed to factors such as the presence of colour blindness. Colour is used to encode information in information visualizations. An example of such an encoding is categorization using colour (e.g., green for land, blue for water).<p>
As a result of the variation in colour differentiation ability among individuals, many people experience difficulties when using colour-encoded information visualizations. These difficulties result from the inability to adequately differentiate between two colours, resulting in confusion, errors, frustration, and dissatisfaction.<p>
If a user-specific model of colour differentiation was available, these difficulties could be predicted and corrected. Prediction and correction of these difficulties would reduce the amount of confusion, errors, frustration, and dissatisfaction experienced by users. This thesis presents a model of colour differentiation that is tuned to the abilities of a particular user. To construct this model, a series of judgement tasks are performed by the user. The data from these judgement tasks is used to calibrate a general colour differentiation model to the user. This calibrated model is used to construct a predictor. This predictor can then be used to make predictions about the user's ability to differentiate between two colours.<p>
Two participant-based studies were used to evaluate this solution. The first study evaluated the basic approach used to model colour differentiation. The second study evaluated the accuracy of the predictor by comparing its performance to the performance of human participants. It was found that the predictor was as accurate as the human participants 86.3% of the time. Using such a predictor, the colour differentiation abilities of particular users can be accurately modeled.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:SSU.etd-12222008-114824
Date23 December 2008
CreatorsFlatla, David Raymond
ContributorsMcCalla, Gordon I., Gutwin, Carl, Eramian, Mark G., Zhang, W. J. (Chris)
PublisherUniversity of Saskatchewan
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-12222008-114824/
Rightsunrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.

Page generated in 0.0026 seconds