Method and apparatus for modifying graphics content prior to display for color blind use

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for dynamically modifying computer graphics content for colors and/or patterns that are problematic for color-blind viewers prior to display. In particular, graphics content may be modified in various stages of the graphics pipeline, including but not limited to, the render or raster stage, such that images provided to the user are visible to color-blind viewers upon display without further modification.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a rendering engine to generate graphics data based upon geometric primitives and associated rendering commands; and    a color-challenged analyzer to analyze graphics data generated by the rendering engine and modify selected graphics data into color corrected data suitable by overlaying a pattern on top of color characteristics problematic for a viewer, wherein the rendering engine renders the color corrected data into a color corrected image for further processing and display.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the color corrected data comprises modified color data.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the color corrected data comprises modified pattern data.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the graphics data's color characteristic is modified to a color characteristic suitable for the viewer.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a graphics memory for storing the graphics data.    
   
   
       6 . A method, comprising: 
 generating graphics data based upon geometric primitives and associated rendering commands;    analyzing graphics data and modifying selected graphics data into color corrected data by overlaying a pattern on top of color characteristics problematic for a viewer; and    rendering the color corrected data into a color corrected image for further processing and display.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the color corrected data comprises modified color data.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the color corrected data comprises modified pattern data.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein analyzing graphics data and modifying selected graphics data into color corrected data by overlaying a pattern on top of color characteristics problematic for a viewer further comprises: 
 analyzing intermediate graphics data and converting selected intermediate graphics data into color corrected data suitable for the viewer.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein analyzing intermediate graphics data and converting selected intermediate graphics data into color corrected data suitable for the viewer further comprises: 
 modifying the intermediate graphics data's color characteristic to a color characteristic suitable for the viewer.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein analyzing intermediate graphics data and converting selected intermediate graphics data into color corrected data suitable for a visually challenged viewer further comprises: 
 modifying the intermediate graphics data's pattern characteristic to a pattern characteristic suitable for a visually challenged viewer.    
   
   
       12 . An article comprising a machine-accessible media having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing: 
 analyzing computer graphics content in accordance with predefined color profiles;    modifying graphics content that falls within at least one of the predefined color profiles by overlaying a pattern on top of color characteristics problematic to selected users; and    facilitating display of the modified graphics content.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein modifying graphics content comprises modifying color data.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein modifying graphics content comprises modifying pattern data.