Using a Behavioral Match-to-Sample Method to Evaluate Color Vision Deficiency Simulation Methods

Abstract

Color vision deficiency (CVD) simulation methods are used both to simulate color vision of color-deficient people and as input for image enhancement methods for the color-deficient. However, a standardized method to compare simulation methods has not yet been defined. We propose a behavioral methodology to evaluate, compare and rank different simulation methods. By using accuracy and response time data from a match-to-sample experiment, we can assess behavioral performance of simulation methods. We show firstly that the match-to-sample paradigm is well suited to show performance differences between observer groups; secondly, that the simulation methods do indeed simulate the desired CVD to some degree; and thirdly, we show that the proposed methodology can be used to rank different simulation methods. Our results indicate that the simulation method proposed by Brettel et al. depicts deutan CVD more accurately than the simulation method proposed by Kotera.