Why do we need Color Universal Design?
 

For color vision deficient people, it is difficult to distinguish colors between, for example, red and green with similar intensity.
Color vision deficiency affects a significant number of people. It occurs in about 6-8% of males in Europe and about 200 million people worldwide.

How to use Variantor? 

1. Let’s design as usual
This figure is coloured in pink and light blue. For normal colour vision people, there is no problem.

2. See the figure with Variantor

With Variantor, we notice that pink and light blue are confusing for people with colour vision deficiency. Colour legends are also confusing.

3. Change the colour and shape
Different colours are chosen and polka-dot pattern and white lines are added. Legends are directly written in the figure.

4. Check it with Variantor again.
This figure is colour universal accessible both for people with normal colour vision and people with colour vision deficiency.

Usage environment

Use the product in environments where there is sufficiently bright outdoor light or in an office or home under normal lighting conditions.

Appropriate effects may not be obtained when the product is used in environments where there is insufficient brightness.

Do not drive a vehicle or operate a machine while wearing this product.  In particular, it is extremely dangerous for a person with normal  color vision to drive a car while wearing this product because their ability to recognize traffic signals and signs will be significantly  lowered compared to persons with color vision deficiency, who have learned to compensate for their disabilities through long years of experience.

How to wear the product

This is an over-spectacles-type which can be worn over ordinary spectacles for vision correction.
Adjust nose pads, temples, and elastic band to make the body of the product fit on the face and to shut out light from surroundings.
Observe objects through the center of the filter. Appropriate effects may not be obtained when observing objects through peripheral areas
of the filter.
Do not use the product with the filter tilted.
 

Explanation of consent requirement

Using this product has almost the same effect as taking a color vision test. Therefore, it may happen that the person wearing the product become  aware that he or she has color vision deficiency because of much smaller changes of colors. So only those who understand the potential risks of finding out the true status of their color vision (whether they have color vision deficiency or not) should use it.

There is possibility that others may learn that you have color vision deficiency when you explain to them how you perceive colors when using this product. Before you tell others how you perceive colors, please be fully aware that they or third parties may learn of any defects you may have in your color vision.

When minors use this product, obtain the consent of their parent or guardian before use.

 
Product description/function

By wearing this product, persons with normal color vision can experience the inconvenience felt by someone who has color vision deficiency  when trying to distinguish colors. That is, the product simulates the difficulties of distinguishing colors (which colors are difficult to  distinguish from each other). It does not reproduce how people with color vision deficiency experience colors (what colors they actually see).

The filter of this product is designed to detect color combinations that individuals with protanope or deuteranope find difficult to distinguish simultaneously.

This product is intended to assist development of appropriate color design by reproducing the difficulties associated with distinguishing colors in cases of protanope and deuteranope. Thus, it does not reproduce all the patterns of color vision or confusing color combinations.

This product is designed on the assumption that only reflective objects such as printed matter or advertising displays would be observed.

Appropriate effects may not be obtained when observing light emitting objects such as CRT displays, liquid crystal displays, or light-emitting  diodes (LED).

This product is not a filter to help distinguish colors as used by persons with color vision deficiency. Also, it does not influence the color vision characteristics of persons with color vision deficiency, such as improving defects in their vision.