[Electronics-talk] Color Identification Technology

[Benjamin Vercellone]

> Hello.
> I have some questions regarding color identification technology. This could include dedicated devices, smart phone apps, etc.
> I would like to know if anyone on this list has used a color identifier and found it to be consistently helpful. I have used several hardware solutions up to this point, and have encountered considerable difficulty. With each color identification tool I have owned over the years (maybe 2 or 3), I have asked sighted family members or friends to tell me if they agree or disagree with the answer given by the technology. The problem in my experience is that a large percentage of the time, the sighted people disagree with the answer given by the technology. I have had people tell me all kinds of things, like how everyone interprets colors differently. Some people have told me that the human brain doesn't see the actual color anyway. I don't know if this is true, but I honestly don't care very much personally. I simply want to coordinate my clothing largely according to color, and to do this as effectively, independently, and spontaneously as possible. I desire to use technology to this end if possible. I therefore care how people interpret the colors of my clothing. I want to have technology that agrees with the color analysis of sighted people most of the time. If it's not perfect, that's fine. But the technology I have tried has given results different from the human answers a huge percentage of the time. Even if this has been less than half of the time, it still concerns me a lot. Furthermore, most sighted people from whom I gather color information give answers that are mostly the same. Most people say a garment is a certain color, and if there has been an outlier in terms of the answer, it is usually on the part of the technology I have tried.
> Has anyone else experienced this? Also, if anyone has bought a more expensive color identifier, I am wondering if this has increased accuracy. I am open to suggessions as well as questions.
> I have also tried using some apps on my iPhone. I have definitely had the most success, though still spotty, with Tap Tap See. I am confident that others have tried this kind of approach as well. I like Tap Tap see more than other solutions I have tried thus far for a couple reasons. Most of all, I am pleased that there are humans available on the other end. This allows me to get an answer that I feel I can trust somewhat more. Also, when this method works its best, I am often told the pattern of my garment as well, such as plaid. I am totally blind, by the way. I know that many blind people have used various types of low-tech labeling solutions with clothing, such as metallic braille tags, various shapes, etc. I am open to using these methods as well. However, I want to gather information and perspectives from other blind people who have used color identification technology.
> To summarize my opinions, I believe that color identification technology is one of the least reliable technologies I have used for independence up to this point. If others have had much better experiences, I would love to hear more, and be proven wrong. However, I can say for certain that in my experience, I have not had enough success with color identification technology to confidently coordinate my clothing by this means alone. Also, I went completely blind at age 4, and only know about 10 to 15 colors accurately in my head. In other words, I do not desire a color identifier that boasts more than 600 colors or whatever. I am able to understand light, medium, and dark for many colors. Also, if there is a color that I did not have in my vocabulary as a small child, I will need someone to describe it in relation to the basic colors. This helps me a fare amount. Still, I prefer simpler answers over sophisticated ones. Finally, can anyone give advice regarding how to find optimal lighting for apps like Tap Tap See? Any and all advice is appreciated!
> Thank you,
> Ben