NEW YORK: Scientists have created software that allows colour blind viewers to better differentiate between red and green and it could be embedded in TV set-top boxes in a matter of months.
Colour blindness affects 250 million worldwide. The condition means that those affected cannot see images, including TV, with as much clarity as those with normal vision.
The ‘Eyeteq’ technology, developed by researchers at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, allows colour blind people to see details they previously could not with minimal impact on the picture for ‘colour normal’s’ people who do not have colour blindness.
The idea is that people with and without colour blindness could watch TV together an activity, which can currently be difficult, especially if viewers are fans of cookery shows or snooker, for example.
Based on research from UEA’s school of Computer Sciences, Eyeteq uses mathematical perception models to modify image colours, so that both still and moving images are improved.
The scientists have made their innovation available to TV manufacturers and it’s hoped that they will choose to embed it in sets and set-top boxes in coming months.
“This image enhancement technology will help to improve the viewing experience for colour blind people,” said Professor Graham Finlayson from the university’s School of Computing Sciences.
