Dynamic Guidance by Colored Running Lights and Affordance: Route Choices of Adults and Older Children

Abstract

Guidance to emergency exits play an important role for safe evacuation. Dynamic route guidance by colored flashing lights and strobe lights at emergency exits has been tested [1–3], but the effects of dynamic lights to support route choices need to be determined in more detail. Also, the guidance effects of different colors need to be examined and the reaction of various groups of evacuees. The paper analyzes the effects of red and green running lights on route choice in subway stations comparing adults and older children (10 to 12 years old). Data was gathered in a laboratory experiment, focusing on the concept of affordance [4, 5]. Participants were asked to make a decision about the safest direction between two alternative directions. Their choice was either unsupported or supported by red or green running lights. In general, an interaction between color and direction of the running light was found. Green running lights influenced route choices of both participant groups and led participants clearly into the direction indicated by the lights. Red running lights influenced route choices of both participant groups, but red lights lead to ambiguous decisions. Architectural elements such as stairs influenced route choices of both participant groups (functional affordance). But green running light offered a stronger indication to a safe route (cognitive affordance) than a visible staircase (functional affordance). Green lights even led participants to modify their route preference. In contrast, red running lights had an aversive effect: older children chose against the lights and preferred the other direction than the red lights were directing to. Implications for design of dynamic route guidance are discussed. This includes colored running lights to lead evacuees to a safe exit and to implement the influence of running lights on route choice and movement in simulations.

Tipología de los colorónimos en inglés y alemán en el discurso periodístico: aspecto semántico

“…In English journalistic texts, green is relevant after black, while green and red share this position in German. We agree that green is associated with safety and rescue (Scheurmann & Karliczek, 2017) and redwith danger (Künzer et al, 2018). This fact proves, among other things, the use of these coloronyms in the texts of English-and German-language news about the zoning of countries during the pandemic.…”

“…Instead, white is underused in the texts of journalistic discourse, because it, according to scholars (Spillmann, 2018), is perceived neutrally, and therefore cannot be information-rich. Künzer, Zinke and Hofinger (2018) argue that even the interaction of black and white is perceived neutrally. At the same time, the analysis of German journalistic texts showed that the coloronym weiß/white has a negative connotation in combination with nouns to denote racism, so it cannot be considered purely neutral.…”