[IxDA Discuss] Amber and Yellow color perception

[Jim Drew]

On Feb 2, 2007, at 7:10 PM, dnp607 wrote:

> I wonder if anyone could point me to some research or data regarding
> human ability to distinguish between the colors yellow and amber? I
> have an alarm state prototype, and I'm trying to determine (with
> actual research) whether this will pose a problem.

A great rule of thumb would seem to be "If you think it might cause a  
problem, it will".  This is one of those cases where I don't think  
you should *need* research, just your internal alarm bells.  But the  
research you want would be on color blindness, color identification,  
and low-light level reception, and maybe on LED quality and aging  
(since I can imagine vagaries in manufacture having an effect here).

The place where this would apt to be less of a concern is when the  
yellow can only occur in one part of the alarm hardware, and the  
amber only in another.  "If yellow appears at the left end of the  
row, check your battery levels."  "If amber appears at the right end,  
the alarm is offline."  Then you don't need to rely on fine color  
gradation differences, just on gross ones.  Actions like "yellow  
always flashes on/off, amber is steady" would also be good, I would  
think -- never rely just on color alone.

-- Jim