Affiliations: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of
New South Wales, Sydney, Australia | School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of
New South Wales, Sydney, Australia | Optics and Radiometry Laboratory, School of Optometry
and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Note: [] Corresponding author: Mei Ying Boon, School of Optometry and
Vision Science, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Sydney, Australia.
Tel.: +2 9385 4621; Fax: +2 9313 6243; E-mail: m.boon@unsw.edu.au
Abstract: BACKGROUND: People with low vision complain of difficulty operating
controls on electronic appliances and equipment which suggests that the
readability of controls and their labels is below their ability. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether electronic appliances available
today are designed with controls of sufficient size (at least 6/18 Snellen VA)
and contrast (at least 30%) to facilitate identification and use by people with
low vision. METHODS: Controls and labels of electronic appliances for sale in
retail stores in Singapore (January, February 2012) and a sample of domestic
appliances in Sydney, Australia (October, November of 2011) were evaluated in
terms of high- and low- importance in function, size and contrast (luminance
and colour difference). RESULTS: Labels and controls of 96 electronic appliances were
evaluated. All controls were of sufficient size but 22% (26/117) of high- and
27% (12/44) of low-importance controls measured had insufficient luminance
contrast. 79% (152/192) of high- and 46% (24/52) of low-importance labels were
of insufficient size. 17% (26/160) of the high- and 0.03% (1/33) of
low-importance labels had insufficient luminance contrast. CONCLUSIONS: Most controls and labels of recently available
electronic appliances can cause problems for operability in people with low
vision.
