Study on Background Illuminance and Color Conspicuity Characteristics for Persons with Low Visual Capacity

摘要

The purpose of our study was to contribute to efficient and safe independent mobility of persons with low visual capacity by improving the visibility of Tactile Walking Surface Indicators. For this purpose, we measured color perception of persons with low visual capacity using the method of measuring color conspicuity and studied proper color for Tactile Walking Surface Indicators. As a result, yellow had very high conspicuity on the dark background, and red (5R4/14) and yellow-red (10R5/14) were the most conspicuous on the dark background. According to the study of WHO, there are about 160 million visually impaired people in the world, and nearly 80 percent of those are said to be the persons with low visual capacity (hereafter referred to as "LVs"). Tactile Walking Surface Indicators (hereafter referred to as "TWSIs") were first developed in Japan in 1965 to assist visually impaired people so that they can move independently and safely indoors and outdoors. They are now used in many countries around the world. They were originally developed to perceive the meanings (warning and guiding) with a white cane and the sole of the foot, but recently, it is known that LVs detect TWSIs through their sense of vision [1].