EduColorVR: A Virtual Reality Serious Game for Enhancing Color Vision Deficiency Awareness in Educational Settings

Abstract

Color vision deficiency (CVD) impacts approximately 300 million individuals globally, yet it remains significantly overlooked within educational environments. Preliminary consultations with primary and secondary educators reveal that colorblindness is rarely documented in students' educational backgrounds, and proactive classroom discussions regarding the condition are virtually nonexistent. Currently, accommodations are implemented on a strictly ad hoc, reactive basis, highlighting a critical pedagogical gap and a stark lack of standardized guidelines for teachers. To address this systemic challenge, we introduce the design and development of EduColorVR, an interactive virtual reality (VR) serious game designed to raise awareness, foster pedagogical empathy, and provide an experiential understanding of CVD for both students and educators. Developed using the Unity engine and the XR Interaction Toolkit, the application implements a highly optimized, real-time color transformation based on the Brettel-Viénot-Mollon model. This computational approach utilizes a per-pixel separation test and precomputed matrices to simulate the three main CVD phenotypes - Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia - using a scientifically grounded approach. This technically rigorous method significantly surpasses traditional desaturation filters, offering a more physiologically plausible representation of dichromatic vision in a VR environment. Within this immersive digital learning environment, users engage in a series of targeted, gamified pedagogical tasks. These activities include an interactive Ishihara screening test, a concentration-based memory card matching game, a color-sorting exercise, and a navigable maze. These specific game-based learning mechanics are strategically designed to translate the abstract challenges of dichromatic vision into memorable, lived interactions. By bridging immersive VR technology with digital pedagogy, EduColorVR serves not merely as an experiential learning platform, but as a critical conversational tool. The project demonstrates the profound capacity of serious games to support the early detection of visual learning barriers, encourage peer empathy through playful exploration, and promote the proactive, inclusive design of future educational materials.