Patent Application
20050129308
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to computer display systems, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and program storage device for identifying a color of a displayed item using a non-color indicator.
2. Description of Related Art
An application runs on an operating system (OS) by employing an API (Application Program Interface) to exploit the various functions that are available. One such function that handles the output of data to a display unit is a graphics display function, e.g., a video system. Generally, an API provides a set of mathematical functions, commands and routines that are used when an application requests the execution of a low-level service that is provided by an OS. APIs differ depending on the OS types involved, and are normally incompatible. A video system is employed to handle the output provided for a display unit. By applying, for example, VGA or SVGA standards, a video system determines how data is to be displayed and then converts digital signals of display data into analog signals to transmit to a display unit. It also determines what the refresh rate and standards of a dedicated graphics processor are and then converts character and color data, received from an API as digital signals of display data, into analog signals that is thereafter transmitted to a display unit. As a result, predetermined characters are displayed on a screen.
As enhancements have been added to the graphics function, a greater and greater variety of colors has become available for displays. And especially on Web pages on the Internet, a large variety of colors has come to be employed, not only for the design of backgrounds, but also for the characters printed on them. However, a problem of visibility has arisen that makes it difficult for a user to identify such character data. That is, with some background and character color combinations it is almost impossible for a user to identify character data, and accordingly, the user could fail to discern important data. Furthermore, when such character data are mixed in with image data (in graphics), identifying the characters becomes even more difficult. These are serious problems, particularly for a user, such as an elderly person or a color-blind individual, whose color vision is impaired.
There exist a number of international standards for color measurement. The most prominent international standards for color measurement are collectively termed the Commission Internationale D l'Eclairage, or International Commission on Illumination (CIE system). The CIE system is based on the premise that specific perceived colors result from the proper combination of an illuminant or reference light source, an object, and an observer. A useful explanation of the CIE system is provided in “Principles of Color Technology,” Section 2B and 2C, Edition 1981, by Billmeyer and Saltzman. Many systems display a color image as a color value split into red, green and blue (RGB), with the intensity of each color being represented by some numeric range from 0 to 255, for example. Images represented in this way are called usually continuous tone or “contone” images. Contone therefore refers to any process that assigns a range of values to each pixel. An RGB image is typically contone because each of the colors is represented by a range from 0 to 255. The CIE system provides a chromaticity diagram that acts as a standard reference for comparing the CIE standard to other color systems.
In operating systems, as mentioned above, the user may change color schemes. But these changes usually only change the user interface (UI) widgets (i.e., a combination of a graphic symbol and some program code to perform a specific function such as a scroll bar) and not the content. Many application use color to denote something in the user interface, for example, red, yellow, and green to denote a status of a server or storage device. Though using color as the sole indicator of information in the UI is an undesirable design technique, many application developers still do it anyway. For example, visually impaired users, users of monochromatic displays (e.g. PDA5), or user of audio only interfaces (e.g., phone) cannot interact with such designs without further options.
It can be seen then that there is a need for a method, apparatus and program storage device for identifying a color of a displayed item using a non-color indicator.
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus and program storage device for identifying a color of a displayed item using a non-color indicator.
The present invention solves the above-described problems by presenting a non-color identifier for a selected color. The non-color identifier may include text describing the selected item such as “HOT”, “RED”, etc, or a sound associated with the selected item.
A program storage device in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes operations for providing a non-color identifier for a selected item on a display, the operations comprise assigning a non-color identifier for a color, selecting an item in a display, determining whether the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to and displaying the non-color identifier when the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to, else continue presenting the current display.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a device for providing a non-color identifier for a selected item on a display is provided. The device includes memory for storing data thereon and a processor, coupled to the memory, the processor configured to allow a non-color identifier to be assigned for a color, select an item in a display, determine whether the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to and display the non-color identifier when the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to, else continue presenting the current display.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing a non-color identifier for a selected item on a display is provided. The method includes assigning a non-color identifier for a color, selecting an item in a display, determining whether the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to and displaying the non-color identifier when the selected item matches the color that the non-color identifier was assigned to, else continue presenting the current display.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:
In the following description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized because structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention provides a method, apparatus and program storage device for identifying a color of a displayed item using a non-color indicator. The present invention converts color values to non-color indicators such as text, sound, etc. to indicate the color of an item when the item is selected. The system may be configured to only convey the non-color indicator for items defined as being meaningful.
The OS 210 includes an API 211 that provides a set of mathematical functions that can be used by the application 230. The API 211 has functions that can designate a character data address and specify parameters for color elements (R, G, B) in a DAC (Digital To Analog Converter, also called a video DAC) having a color pallet. Thus, the character data obtained by performing a color conversion operation for data in an application can be output via a video graphics interface system 220 to display device 240.
A color conversion controller 231 accesses data from buffer 232. The conversion controller 231 controls a user interface 234 for controlling the input/output of a user. The color conversion system 231 extracts the character data displayed by the application 230, and temporarily stores the character data in the text buffer 232. The conversion controller controller 231 may be used to identify a color of a displayed item using a non-color indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The resultant character data are again displayed on the main application 230. The user interface 234 manages the input and output of a user, so that the start, continuation and halting of the color conversion controller 231 for character data displayed in a window of the application 220 are performed in accordance with instructions received from an input/output controller a user color interface 212, such as a menu bar for a window, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.
While some applications will allow the applications interface to be customized, e.g., in browsers the link colors may be changed, some web pages will override the user's choice. Furthermore, such changes would not affect conceptual elements like the color used in status indicators 320-328.
The system determines if the color used by an application or webpage match the one defined 530. If not 532, the display is not changed 540. If the color is a match 534, the chosen color is substituted for the item selected 550. Again, close matches may be accommodated, i.e., the RGB values varied by some fixed amount. For example say “red”, which has an RGB value of (255, 0, 0), is selected. If the value was (226, 0, 0), the system would still make the substitution to the chosen color or fill pattern.
Referring again to
The foreground and background colors are determined 750. The RGB values of the item are analyzed and compared to the set of reference colors 760. The system then determines what reference was the closest for the foreground and the background colors 770. The colors are just points in space and simple geometry may be used to determine which reference is closer. This information is presented on a display. There are different ways to present the information, which may include a tool-tip, an “always on top window”, a text to speech playback, or even a sound (in which case different sounds may be assigned to different reference colors). A determination is made whether the identified color is meaningful 780. If the color is not meaningful 782, the system does not communicate the color 784. If the color is meaningful 786, the system communicates the closest identified color name.
The process illustrated with reference to
The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.
