Color Deficiency Questionnaire

By Ales Hejna / Map Commission IOF

- To download the file go to File/ Download as/...

- The filled document and attachments please send to ales.hejna@olles.cz 

- Thanks!

Project background

The IOF Map Commission has decided to investigate the possibility of orienteering maps being better suited for orienteers with color deficiency, and if so adjust the next Orienteering Maps Specification (likely published in 2012) accordingly.  This is a first round questionnaire from approximately three in total.

According to the results, color adjustments will be made and digital map samples circulated (second questionnaire).  Then hardcopy testprints will be made and circulated (third questionnaire). Final adjustments – ISOM2012. Please give us your feedback and the whole orienteering community will benefit. Thank you!

Theoretical background

Approximately 5-8% of men and 0.5% of women have some kind of color related visual disorder. Total color blindness (monochromacy) is very rare. The most common disorder is deuteranomaly (5% M, 0.4% W). The deuteranomalous person is considered "green weak". Deuteranomalous persons tend to confuse red and green. The other common disorder is protanomaly (1% M, 0.02% W). The protanomalous person is considered "red weak". Protanomalous persons tend to confuse green and red. The other disorders are deuteranopia (1.2% M, 0.02% W - green blind) and protanopia (1% M, 0.02% W - red blind). These are deuteranomaly and protanomaly in its extremes.  Tritanomaly, tritanopia and monochromacy are very rare. It is obvious that deuteranomaly and protanomaly are very related in terms of colors. Both have trouble confusing red and green.

The conclusion is: If you satisfy a deuteranomalous person needs you automatically satisfy a protanomalous person’s needs. That means 99% of color deficient people.

What is your color disorder (this is very important information)?

If you are not sure, you may find out here:  

http://www.opticien-lentilles.com/daltonien_beta/new_test_daltonien.php - not working well, use rather the latter ones

http://www.biyee.net/color-science/color-vision-test/

http://daltonien.free.fr/daltonien/article.php3?id_article=6

How do you evaluate today orienteering maps from your perspective?

Is there need for improvement with regard to color deficient orienteers?

Are today’s o-maps better or worse than they used to be?

What o-map features do you have trouble reading?

Do you have any of your own suggestions on how to solve these problems?

Maybe you do some mapping, printing yourself. Do you make any map adjustments to fit your needs? Please attach documents (pictures, Ocad files..).

Does a scale play a difference? Is bigger scale 1:10,000 more legible?

How do you find the sprint maps?

What about printing? Does it play a role in the legibility? Is for example the legibility getting worse with laser printing?

Which of these following printing techniques suits you best (sort from best to worst)?

Offset – spot color printing

Offset – 4 color printing

Laser

Inkjet

Is there a particular terrain/terrains in which o-maps are harder for you to read? What gets harder to read?

What about the overprinting, courses? What is your experience?

Do you have any experience with Swedish o-maps where they adjust the green color to make it more legible for color deficient orienteers?

What is your address? (So a printed questionnaire can be send via hardcopy mail. If you do not feel comfortable providing address, just fill it in.)

Anything else you want to mention:

Thanks for valuable comments to Dan Chissick

Ales Hejna February 2012
Map Commission IOF

ales.hejna@olles.cz