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Aug 31

Colorblind People Unite!

Categories:

Rant, SolidWorks Community

I’ve had it. I’m tired of being an afterthought. Just because I’m only colorblind doesn’t mean you can ignore it, SolidWorks. Actually, it’s not just SolidWorks, it’s any software that uses color coding. It would be nice if you’d think about me, and my brothers and sisters out there, when it comes to identification. Why is it so hard to come up with some symbols instead?
As I sat watching Jeremy and Mark preview 2011, I finally asked, for the umpteenth time, when SolidWorks was going to stop discriminating against us, the colorblind. They didn’t have an answer, but spent the rest of the demo hesitating every time they mentioned coloring.
So my question is this, who else is tired of those insensitive color-seeing people making all the decisions? If you’re as tired as I am, submit an enhancement request. Let SolidWorks know that we have feelings and we’re not going to stand by and be ignored.

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Tags: Rant, SolidWorks Community

  • http://twitter.com/DevonSowell DevonSowell

    Good point Jeff, this should be corrected.

    Devon

  • Anonymous

    Thanks, Devon. It’s actually something I’ve commented on quite a bit, though I don’t know how seriously it’s ever taken.

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  • Tom Spine

    Jeff, it is taken seriously by the SolidWorks User Experience team. We try to be careful about our use of color, and try to ensure that color is never the only cue for delivering information. The visual designers on the team regularly check for how things look to those with color deficiencies by using tools such as the Photoshop filters available from Vischeck; these tools simulate what images look like to those with the most common forms of color deficiencies such as red/green color deficiency (deuteranopia) and blue/yellow color deficiency (tritanopia). We also regularly consult with a number of SolidWorks employees who have one form or another of color blindness, including one member of the User Experience team.

    As manager of SolidWorks User Experience, I take this very seriously. But, yea, I’m sure we’re not perfect. I spend a lot of my time worrying about, and trying to find, the usability issues that slipped past my group’s attention. I’d love to have more in-depth insight as to where we are letting you down, so that I can try to get the issues addressed. How about email, or a phone conversation next week?

    Tom Spine
    SolidWorks User Experience

  • Jeff Mirisola

    Tom,
    I have absolutely no doubt that you guys take it seriously. While my post was, partially, serious, much of it was tongue-in-cheek. I have long been accustomed to a world that I see differently and adapted as best I can. I usually don’t have any problems with colors. My issue is more with the use of colors, versus symbols. It’s not just SolidWorks, either. It’s a global thing, Tom, and like lefties dealing with most things being for righties, we colorblind people learn to adapt. Developers just seem to be stuck in red/yellow/green mode for so much. I understand that it’s a fairly universal color scheme, but so are octagons and triangles.
    Honestly, I could probably go on further with the whining, but I’m sure it’s all been said/heard before.

  • Chris Bayne

    I hope you’re shouting about handedness too. You’re doubly differently-abled. Or possessed by the devil…I still can’t decide.

  • Jeff Mirisola

    Differently-abled? What the hell? You have a couple of kids and get all PC on me? So sad.

  • Andrew Joiner

    I know I’m WAY late on this one, but if you find anything out to help, a color scheme, etc… please report back. Some sort of config file to alter those troublesome colors based on which TYPE of color vision deficiency would be KILLER. Thanks for speaking up!

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