Status Duration Font Legibility/Accessibility Issue

[Mithost]

Date & Time: May 10th, 2022
Frequency: Whenever a status is applied or viewed
World name: Sargatanas
Character name: Mithost Yggdrasill
Retainer name: N/A
NPC name: N/A
Monster name: Striking Dummy (but applies to any enemy or party member)
Class/Level: White Mage Lv90, Warrior Lv90, or any job that can apply a buff or debuff to a target or self
Party or solo: N/A
In-game time: N/A
Area and coordinates: N/A
Housing: N/A
Steps:
1. Apply a status to a target or self (Dia, Regen, Surging Tempest, etc.)
2. Target the character or enemy the status was applied to
3. View the duration of the applied status on the HUD

The font used for displaying the duration of applied statuses on the HUD can be difficult to read, especially for those with visual dyslexia, Irlen Syndrome, or other disorders/issues that impact image processing.

Additionally, the light-green outline used to show the duration of player-applied status effects makes this text more difficult to read as it removes contrast from the white font and makes it more susceptible to blending in with background elements, visual effects, or in some cases (Dia/Aero debuff) the status icon itself.



Increasing the size of these HUD elements to 200% in "UI Element Settings" does not solve this issue. While increasing the size of the elements may help in some cases (such as when the environment behind the text is dark, or when there are only one or two statuses on the player or target), it does not entirely solve the issue of legibility or contrast and often needs to be paired with the "Display only detrimental effects you inflict" option to avoid clutter, something that hides important game information from the player.

For most of the text in the game, text legibility is not a concern either because it is accompanied by a dark background to improve contrast, or because it is text that does not change frequently (giving even players with image processing issues time to decipher it). Player-applied status duration text is an exception to this, which makes it difficult for players to keep track of important buffs and debuffs during play.

(To ensure this was not an issue with my particular monitor's color settings I have viewed the text on six different screens, each with different color profiles and brightness settings.)

Connection Specs
- Type of internet connection/provider: N/A
- Modem maker/model number: N/A

■ PC Specs

To obtain the system information, open the FFXIV launcher and select Config → System Information → Display.

-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
SYSTEM_CPU AMD Ryzen 5 1600X Six-Core Processor (12 CPUs), ~3.6GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 12 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 6
SYSTEM_BIOS F5
SYSTEM_LANGUAGE English (Regional Setting: English)
SYSTEM_MEMORY 65488.992MB
SYSTEM_VIRTUAL_MEMORY 134217727.875MB
SYSTEM_PAGE_FILE 75216.992MB
SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 930.122GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 61.524GB
SYSTEM_STORAGE D:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 3725.896GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 1601.759GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY1
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 8079.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 32744.496 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1080 x 1920 (32 bit) (59Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 27.21.0014.5671
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 20:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY2
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 8079.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 32744.496 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (59Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 27.21.0014.5671
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 20:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DEVICE \\.\DISPLAY3
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_CHIP GeForce GTX 1080
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_MAKER NVIDIA
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VRAM 8079.000 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_SHARED_VRAM 32744.496 MB
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DAC Integrated RAMDAC
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_dispi.inf_amd64_60daf66a00f2e0b6\nvldumdx.dll
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 27.21.0014.5671
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 20:00:00
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_PIXEL_SHADER 3.0
SYSTEM_GRAPHICS_VERTEX_TEXTURE SYSTEM_SUPPORT
SYSTEM_SOUND Line Out 1-2 (BEHRINGER UMC 404HD 192k)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {115B5E8E-33DB-40CE-8A4E-D78C07E6272E}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME umc_audioks.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 4.38.0.0
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/19/2018 20:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Line Out 3-4 (BEHRINGER UMC 404HD 192k)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {0217D23D-7BB2-4B67-9D6F-BCEC1D6D218D}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME umc_audioks.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 4.38.0.0
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 2/19/2018 20:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND Realtek Digital Output (Realtek(R) Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {5E4CC68E-7BE9-46E9-8445-85080FA95A32}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.8703.1
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 5/13/2019 20:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND VG248 (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {2F09034D-1794-4464-B7E1-C6A4113443DA}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.3.38.35
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 20:00:00
SYSTEM_SOUND ZOWIE XL LCD (NVIDIA High Definition Audio)
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_ID {9B540BB8-C287-49F7-95D4-E4C3C1883830}
SYSTEM_SOUND_DEVICE_NAME nvhda64v.sys
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 1.3.38.35
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_LANGUAGE English
SYSTEM_SOUND_DRIVER_DATE 9/29/2020 20:00:00
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B60-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Mouse
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F1D2B61-D5A0-11CF-BFC7444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Keyboard
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 128 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {637F5FB0-FF2B-11EA-8006444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Pentablet HID
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 5 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {637FADD0-FF2B-11EA-8009444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Pentablet HID
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F2D2A30-622E-11EA-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Yeti Nano
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 3 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {6F2D5140-622E-11EA-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Yeti Nano
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {04B3B600-0D60-11EB-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB DEVICE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 1 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {04B42B30-0D60-11EB-8002444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB DEVICE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 8192 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {04B45240-0D60-11EB-8003444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME USB DEVICE
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0
SYSTEM_INPUT {FB797880-567F-11EC-8001444553540000}
SYSTEM_INPUT_NAME Gaming Mouse G600
SYSTEM_INPUT_REMARKS SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_AXIS 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_BUTTON 0 SYSTEM_GAMEPAD_FOV 0

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[Nekkowe]

Ah, this is a great thing to bring attention to!
If I'm not mistaken, many other games optionally apply a semi-transparent dark background to any text that has to be legible in front of the environment.
Many of them let you adjust the opacity of that background, as well. Do you think something like that might work here?

[Mithost]

A dark background behind the text can definitely help to a degree, and many games include that as an accessibility option!

Certain numbers in the font used for status durations are a bit difficult to differentiate for people with visual dyslexia (3 and 8, 1 and 7, 5 and 6, etc) but even a darker background for the text can help a bit with differentiating the shapes. Below is a screenshot showing one status on a bright background and one status on a dark background in the same image.



Aside from providing a dark background for certain text, many games include other accessibility options for difficult-to-read text such as a dyslexia-friendly font or visual indicators/progress bars for specific numbers.

FFXIV already does this often when it comes to job gauges, where both in the default and simple modes there are bright clear numbers (often with dark backgrounds) and large visible progress bars for important job information (pictured below).