Communication and warning signal perception

Abstract

Warning signals are used throughout industry and commerce, and often provide vital sources of information. Due to developments in digital technology, it is now possible to deign any sort of auditory signal, some of which may be effective, some of which may not. In this paper a methodology is outlined which takes a step-by-step, user-centered approach to the design and implementation of warning signals in noisy environments with the aim of creating warning signals which are both easy to understand and to act upon. It begins with the selection of referents (the events to be signaled), through an iterative design process which involves tests of appropriateness, learning and confusion, urgency, and recognition, to operational testing which includes adaptation to the noise environment, consideration of the complete warning set, and so on. The methodology is based on a standardized procedure for designing and implementing public information systems [ISO 7001, ‘‘Specification for public information systems’’ (1979)]. The paper describes the methodology in detail.