Sichtest

Sichtest is a term used in discussions of visual accessibility and perceptual testing of digital interfaces. It refers to a framework for evaluating the visibility and readability of on-screen content under common viewing conditions, including variations in display devices, ambient light, and user factors such as age or vision impairment.

Coined in the early 2020s, sichtest blends the German noun Sicht (view) with the English word test, and is sometimes described as a cross-disciplinary approach spanning human–computer interaction, optometry, and usability engineering. It appeared in academic papers and industry reports as a supplementary concept to established accessibility standards rather than a replacement for them.

Practitioners of sichtest typically assess four dimensions: contrast visibility, typographic readability, color perception (including color-vision deficiencies), and perceptual load (how much cognitive effort is required to parse the content). Evaluation methods may combine automated tests that compute contrast ratios and legibility metrics with human-in-the-loop studies using representative users and devices. Results are reported as a visibility score or set of scores to guide design decisions.

It is used in web and app design, product testing, and accessibility compliance workflows to identify pages or interfaces that fail to meet perceptual criteria under real-world conditions. Some organizations employ sichtest as a supplement to WCAG-based checks, providing additional insight into visual ergonomics.

Because device variability, individual differences, and dynamic content affect perceptual outcomes, sichtest findings are typically presented with caveats. Critics argue that without standardization, Sichtest remains complementary rather than prescriptive.

See also: Accessibility, WCAG, usability testing, perceptual psychology.