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| Subject: | RE: GISList: Re: Section 508 Question - Visual disabilities and maps |
| Date: |
08/16/2001 04:01:28 PM |
| From: |
John S. Wood |
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While it may be a real problem for a small minority of map-readers, I feel
that the color issue, as far as maps and mapping on the computer with a
color scheme, may be best left to a system programmer, who could write a
program or video driver that would change the color display on all the
programs (web browser, images, text, etc.) to a color scheme that would be
better suited to those with disabilities, rather than changing at the
expense of all the observers. Hypertext could automatically be displayed as
a color visible to that individual, or italicized, bolded, or surrounded by
%%%%some format change%%%%. The cartographer in me argues that the color
schemes I deliberately chose to emphasize a point or strengthen the ideas
represented on a map must be focused on the majority of the audience of that
product.
The other question that comes to mind...what is the politically correct
cross-hatching symbology: and would you use all black or white colors in
your cross-hatch?
-----Original Message-----
From: Ronald Cossman [mailto:Ronald.Cossman@SSRC.MsState.Edu\
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 3:17 PM
To: gislist@geocomm.com
Subject: RE: GISList: Re: Section 508 Question - Visual disabilities and
maps
Humm. It seems that a common thread is that maps (or Web pages or whatever)
fail to communicate when they are solely using color to convey an abstract
concept. To wit, David Irving's comments about being able to read a topo map
under nightlights make sense. You are simply trying to get from Point A to
Point B, and most topo maps, even when reproduced in a gray tone will still
convey the basic information.
Paul Henni pointed us to a get UK site about designing Web pages with the
color blind in mind. What is telling is how the functionality changes. If a
color-blind person can not see the blue highlighted text, the only visual
clue that it is a hyper-link or web address is the underline that is also
(conventionally) added. Notably we do not usually introduce a link with the
words, "What follows in a link."
Finally, to finish out this stair-step to abstraction, Jim Cueno had to
present colored zoning maps to City Council members who can not see the
colors. What they can see are the outlines of the city streets, parcels,
etc. But we rely upon color to convey abstract concepts (e.g. local zoning,
percent Hispanic, mortality rates, etc.) and a certain portion of the
population simply cannot see it. Perhaps we are venturing into the field of
symbology to suggest that maybe, for public use maps, we should consider
moving away from "abstract colors." By that I mean, what is the color of
mortality rates, or income inequality? Who the heck knows? It is not
intuitive. As long as you are mapping physical features then dirt will be
brown and water will be blue. But what about non-physical attributes?
Socially constructed indicators? Maybe parcel zoning should not be
represented by abstract colors at all (thereby avoiding the choices of
politically correct colors to represent different land uses) but instead by
symbols over a crosshatch to denote the parcel.
To illustrate the problems relative to the visualization of health data look
at:
the most excellent Dartmouth Atlas project (hyper-link to follow):
http://www.dartmouthatlas.org/
or a new set of U.S. Census maps at (hyper-link to follow):
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/atlas.html
In conclusion, our task is usually to convey information in a visual fashion
to a wide audience. Anything that makes that process more effective, which
could include reach a wider audience who cannot perceive colors, may be a
good thing. Perhaps the U.S. ADA legislation is an opportunity for us to
reexamine the widespread use and mis-use of colors in and on maps. Any
thoughts from those dealing with "abstract colors?"
Ron Cossman
MSU Social Science Research Center
Mississippi State University
-----Original Message-----
From: Henni, Paul HO [mailto:phoh@bgs.ac.uk\
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 8:27 AM
To: gislist@geocomm.com
Subject: RE: GISList: Re: Section 508 Question - Visual disabilities and
m aps
Hi all - a parallel discussion has been going on on
WEB-SUPPORT@JISCMAIL.AC.UK - see below
Paul
Paul Henni
phoh@bgs.ac.uk
http://www.gsrg.nmh.ac.uk/
Earthquake and Forensic Seismology & Geomagnetism Programme, British
Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA,
Scotland, UK
telephone +44 131 650 0275 [direct line\
fax +44 131 667 1877
BGS web site - http://www.bgs.ac.uk/
-----Original Message-----
From: ian.usher@HERTSCC.GOV.UK [mailto:ian.usher@HERTSCC.GOV.UK\
Sent: 15 August 2001 12:52
To: WEB-SUPPORT@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Subject: an eye opener on accessibility
(if you'll pardon the pun)
Hello...
for anyone's info, having just started (a bit late in the redesign process
but
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