kaleidoscope // taming a colorful web

Purpose of Kaleidoscope

Not all web developers design with an aesthetic that incorporates colorblind awareness. This form over function approach can often leave a percentage of user traffic stranded or frustrated with content and navigation. This is why we wanted to create a tool that helps adapt the stylings of a website into a format that any type of colorblind person can use effectively without frustration. This was the goal and drive behind kaleidoscope.

Types of Colorblindness

Protanopia

Red/Green Type #1 // 1% of Males

Lacking the long-wavelength sensitive retinal cones, those with this condition are unable to distinguish between colors in the green–yellow–red section of the spectrum. For a protanope, the brightness of red, orange, and yellow are much reduced compared to normal. This dimming can be so pronounced that reds may be confused with black or dark gray, and red traffic lights may appear to be extinguished.

Deutanopia

Red/Green Type #2 // 1% of Males

Lacking the medium-wavelength cones, those affected are again unable to distinguish between colors in the green–yellow–red section of the spectrum. A deuteranope suffers the same hue discrimination problems as protanopes, but without the abnormal dimming. Purple colors are not perceived as something opposite to spectral colors; all these appear similarly.

Tritanopia

Blue/Yellow // < 1% of Males and Females

Lacking the short-wavelength cones, those affected see short-wavelength colors (blue, indigo and a spectral violet) drastically dimmed, some of these colors even as black. Yellow is indistinguishable from white, and purple colors are perceived as various shades of red. This form of color blindness is not sex-linked.

About The Team

Eric Rook

Lead Developer

Nick Clark

UX Developer and Testing

Mark Scott

Concept and Research

Chris Ward

Graphic/UI Designer