Review and Analysis of Color Coding Research for Visual Displays

Abstract

The experimental literature on the dfects of color on visual search and identification performance was reviewed. Forty-two studies published between 1952 and 1973 were located that gave results which could be used to determine the effectiveness ofcolor codes relative to various types ofachromatic codes. Quantitative analyses of these results indicated that color may bea very effective performance factor under some conditions, but that it can be detrimental under others. Tentative conclusions about the nature of these conditions were derived from the results. A guide for design decisions and an indication of knowledge gaps are also provided.

Final evaluation of a color calibrator for a radar remote weather display system

“…Figure 4 shows the CIELAB predicted perceived colors for the WIL's from a high luminance LPS lighting source. Here the effect of high LPS illuminance is to group the WIL's into two internally indistinguishable groups; one originally having a green component in the dark (1,2,3) and one having a red component (4,5,6 To achieve the higher sodium vapor pressure needed for HPS lamps, a small quantity of sodium-mercury amalgam is used so that the mercury vapor acts as a buffer gas to raise the sodium vapor pressure and increase the operating voltage of the HPS lamp. The higher sodium pressure causes the sodium ("D n line frequency) radiation to be self-absorbed and re-radiated as a continuation on both sides of this n D" line frequency.…”

“…The basic reasons for this continuation study were to: (1) develop an RGB look-up table of the acceptable range of color calibrator outputs for each WIL; (2) assess ease of use and accuracy of color adjustments by field technicians ; and (3) assess the effect of various building lighting environments on color d isc r iminabi 1 ity under real-time field use of RRWDS.…”

“…The most recent and most substantive review of the use of color as a coding medium was performed by Christ [3] . Color coding has been used primarily for two kinds of tasks:…”

“…Starting from the least amount of air moisture, the colors used are described as: (1) light green, (2) dark green, (3) yellow, (4) tan/gold, (5) light red, and (6) dark red. This assignment of weather information to colors is called color coding.…”

Designing dynamic interactive visualisations to support collaboration and cognition

“…Such a method has been used successfully for building effective static and dynamic visualisations (e.g. [3], [8]) To do this we worked in collaboration with a professional graphic designer. We came up with a number of sketches for visualisations, in which we experimented with brightness, colour, size and outline shape.…”