[Electronics-talk] Color Identification Technology

Fri Dec 18 15:20:49 UTC 2015

Thank you Jim.
I will consider solutions such as the Pen Friend as well. That concept definitely has its own benefits, like the ones you described.
Thank you,
Ben

> On Dec 18, 2015, at 8:59 AM, Jim McCarthy via Electronics-talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Ben, I agree with you about color identifiers, though I may not go as far as
> to say they are the least supportive of independence of technologies. In my
> opinion, they help me confirm clothing is that I believe it to be or help
> when two items feel the same, two identical shirts of different colors, for
> example. I also use to identify socks. Expensive solutions for those uses, I
> suppose but I own one so... I agree completely with Tracy that the hard ware
> devices work better than the mobile apps and that neither works with patters
> as she described for her skirts and the like, information that is quite
> necessary to coordinate well. I have used, with quite good success, the ID
> Mate bar code readers to do this. That is a costly solution that the Pen
> Friend could accomplish in quite the same manner for less cost. The reason I
> think these better solutions than braille is that one can record
> coordinating information for items like men's ties. You can say not only the
> colors and patterns but what color suits you own that each tie would work
> with and even how that might change based on the color of the shirt chosen.
> That degree of detail takes up lots of braille, though one might come up
> with short notations that works for him in braille. My biggest challenge in
> all this is making the original investment of time, but as you said, once
> made, the information remains available so it is definitely worth doing.
> Best 
> Jim McCarthy 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Tracy Carcione via Electronics-talk
> Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 8:49 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
> Cc: Tracy Carcione
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Color Identification Technology
> 
> Hi Ben.
> I have the Cobol color identifier, and it does OK.  I hear the Colorino does
> OK, too.  My Cobol works better than the Color ID app on my iPhone, which
> seems to require optimal light conditions for even adequate results.
> The trouble with any of these solutions, IMO, is that they don't tell me
> anything about the pattern.  I have several multi-color skirts, and several
> tops with stripes, checks, or other patterns, and I need to know that.
> Therefore, the best solution for clothes I have figured out is to rope in
> some sighted person whose color sense I trust, and get her to describe the
> item in question.  Then I write a braille label on a piece of braille paper
> (thick plastic would also work), punch a hole in the top of the label,
> attach a twist-tie, and attach the other end of the twist-tie to the hanger
> for the piece of clothing.  If it doesn't go on a hanger, I fold the label
> in with the clothing, or pin it on with a safety pin.  It takes more initial
> investment than zapping something with a color identifier, but, once it's
> done, it's done for years, and is very accurate.
> For example, I could write "blue, purple, brown leaf pattern", or "blue and
> white stripes".
> 
> It would be possible to do something similar with something like the Pen
> Friend--create a recorded label with all the info needed and attach it to
> the clothing.
> HTH.
> Tracy
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Benjamin Vercellone via Electronics-talk
> Sent: Friday, December 18, 2015 6:14 AM
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Benjamin Vercellone
> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Color Identification Technology
> 
>> 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 opti  mal lighting for apps like Tap Tap See?
> Any and all advice is appreciated!
>> Thank you,
>> Ben
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