The colors used in a gadget UI often seem like an aesthetic choice alone. But for those with color blindness, it can mean the difference between being able to operate a device normally and having a frustrating time using a phone or tablet. Fortunately the next version of Android after KitKat, currently known as Android L, includes new display modes to help users with color vision deficiency to see things more clearly.
Found under Settings > Accessibility in Android L, the Color Space Correction option has six settings for different types of color blindness:
- Deuteranomaly (red-green)
- Protanaomaly (red-green)
- Tritanomaly (blue-yellow)
- Deuteranopia (green)
- Protanopia (red)
- Tritanopia (blue)
The various color correction modes will affect everything you see on your phone or tablet's display, including full-screen content like videos and games. But the color changes won't be shown in any screenshots you take — useful for colorblind users wanting to share screen images with those with normal vision.
Android L also supports color inversion, which can make certain things easier to read for users with vision impairment; like color space correction, this also won't affect how your screenshots turn out. And as in previous versions of the OS, magnification gestures are supported in Android L, allowing users to triple-tap the screen to zoom in and then use two fingers to pan around. Both of these features also live under Settings > Accessibility.
Display adjustments of the kind have been available in Android customizations from phone makers for some time — in Samsung's TouchWiz, for instance, a similar feature is found under Settings > Accessibility > Vision. But it's great to see options like this find their way into the core OS, making Android easier to use for everyone.
More: Hands-on with Android L

Samsung's next-gen Galaxy S22 just had its first big leak
Samsung has reportedly decided against using 3D ToF sensors on its Galaxy S22 series phones as the tech doesn't offer any "clear advantages."

A limited Google Pixel 5a launch may be a smarter strategy than you think
Google's not launching the Pixel 5a in all countries where the 4a launched. Here's why that actually makes sense.

Tech enthusiasts shouldn't forget about Earth Day
This past year has been hard on us all, but it's been hard on the planet too. Let's all try to remember to take care of ourselves AND the planet as we observe Earth Day 2021.

These are the best USB-C headphones around
With headphone jacks all but gone, USB-C may be your only wired option for current phones and tablets. Fortunately, there are some good ones available to choose from.