Use of auditory icons as emergency warnings: evaluation within a vehicle collision avoidance application

Graham, Robert

doi:10.1080/001401399185108

Cited by 176 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…We adapted the current (IEC) general sound into a much quicker and repeated version of the 5-pulse alarm as the auditory icon for 'general'. This sound is well-known in its slower form to clinicians and so can serve as an auditory icon as its meaning is well-learned (Graham, 1999;Petocz et al, 2008). …”

Section: 'Auditory Icons' and 'Auditory Icons Plus Ident'mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is achieved by the alarm sound being a metaphor for the function it is describing. 'Good' metaphors (an interesting question of itself) can lead to very quick recognition needing only one or two exposures to the sound (Belz et al, 1999;Edworthy, Page et al, 2014;Graham, 1999;Leung et al 1997;Perry, Stevens et al 2007;Stephan et al, 2006;Ulfvengren, 2003). One of our goals in designing prototype sets of alarm sounds is to move on from small-scale tweaking of tonal alarm sounds (and consequently small-scale tweaking of the standard) which generally achieve only small improvements, to sets of alarm sounds which can be learned after very brief exposure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards

et al. 2017

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Objective: Four sets of eight audible alarms matching the functions specified in IEC 60601-1-8 (2012) were designed using known principles from auditory cognition, with the intention that they would be more recognizable and localizable than those currently specified in the standard. Background:The audible alarms associated with IEC 60601-1-(2012), a global medical device standard, are known to be difficult to learn and retain, and there have been many calls to update them. There are known principles of design and cognition which might form the basis of more readily recognizable alarms. There is also scope for improvement in the localizability of the existing alarms.Method: Four alternative sets of alarms matched to the functions specified in IEC 60601-1-8 (2012) were tested for recognizability and localizability, and compared with the alarms currently specified in the standard Results: With a single exception, all prototype sets of alarms outperformed the current IEC set on both recognizability and localizability. Within the prototype sets, 'auditory icons' were the most easily recognized, but the other sets, using word rhythms and simple acoustic metaphors, were also more easily recognized than the current alarms. With the exception of one set, all prototype sets were also easier to localize. Conclusion:Known auditory cognition and perception principles were successfully applied to a known audible alarm problem Application: This work constitutes the first (benchmarking) phase of replacing the alarms currently specified in the standard. The design principles used for each set demonstrates the Medical audible alarms 3 relative ease with which different alarm types can be recognized and localized.Keywords: audition; auditory displays; learning; medical device technologies Precis: Four sets of audible alarms matched to the functions specified in IEC 60601-1-8, a global medical device standard, were designed using known principles of successful audible alarm design. When tested for recognizability and localizability, all sets (with one exception for localizability) outperformed the current alarms specified in the standard. This work represents the first phase of updating the alarms specified in that standard

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Section: 'Auditory Icons' and 'Auditory Icons Plus Ident'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards

et al. 2017

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“…Collision warning systems have been investigated that use visual signals, such as visual icons presented on the dashboard (e.g., J. D. Lee, McGehee, Brown, & Reyes, 2002); auditory signals, such as tones or speech (e.g., Graham, 1999); tactile signals, such as vibrations delivered through the driver's seat or seatbelt (e.g., Ho, Reed, & Spence, 2007); and multimodal signals (e.g., Ho & Spence, 2008;Lee et al, 2002). Despite these efforts, there is still considerable debate about which type of warning signal is the most effective (Engstrom & Victor, 2009).…”

Section: Introduction Collision Warnings In Drivingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Looming Auditory Collision Warnings for Driving

Gray

2011

Hum Factors

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Objective: A driving simulator was used to compare the effectiveness of increasing intensity (looming) auditory warning signals with other types of auditory warnings.Background: Auditory warnings have been shown to speed driver reaction time in rear-end collision situations; however, it is not clear which type of signal is the most effective. Although verbal and symbolic (e.g., a car horn) warnings have faster response times than abstract warnings, they often lead to more response errors.Method: Participants (N = 20) experienced four nonlooming auditory warnings (constant intensity, pulsed, ramped, and car horn), three looming auditory warnings ("veridical," "early," and "late"), and a no-warning condition. In 80% of the trials, warnings were activated when a critical response was required, and in 20% of the trials, the warnings were false alarms. For the early (late) looming warnings, the rate of change of intensity signaled a time to collision (TTC) that was shorter (longer) than the actual TTC.Results: Veridical looming and car horn warnings had significantly faster brake reaction times (BRT) compared with the other nonlooming warnings (by 80 to 160 ms). However, the number of braking responses in false alarm conditions was significantly greater for the car horn. BRT increased significantly and systematically as the TTC signaled by the looming warning was changed from early to veridical to late.Conclusion: Looming auditory warnings produce the best combination of response speed and accuracy.Application: The results indicate that looming auditory warnings can be used to effectively warn a driver about an impending collision.

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“…An undertaking of a study dedicated to this problem could be of value. Quite interesting findings of Graham [20], who revealed that auditory icons produced significantly faster reaction times than the conventional (visual) warnings, can be explained by our own finding that auditory signals, due to different brain processing, are generally quicker recognized that visual ones [9]. What is more important, Graham admits that optimal warnings could be achieved by adjusting certain sound attributes of auditory icons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Cell phone ringtone, but not landline phone ringtone, affects complex reaction time

Zajdel¹,

Zajdel²,

Śmigielski³

et al. 2013

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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Introduction: Legislation systems of most countries prohibited using the handheld mobile phone while driving due to the fact that it disturbs concentration and causes hand involvement. Every phone owner is accustomed to the ringtone of his phone and almost involuntarily endeavors to pick it up or check who calls. This engages one's psychomotor skills, which in our opinion contributes to the attenuation of reaction time needed for performing other crucial functions. Objectives: The aim of the study was: (1) to evaluate the influence of the sound of a ringing mobile phone on the complex reaction time (RT) score in healthy subjects (owners), and (2) to check if there are any differences in RT when a landline phone and mobile phone ring. Methods: To assess RT we used our system and protocol of examination, previously validated. The examination conditions were standardized. All tests were performed in the same room with the same light and general acoustic conditions. The test group consisted of 23 women and 24 men, aged 19-24 years. The examination comprised 4 sessions: Training Session (TS) during which the subjects were accustomed with the application and sample stimuli, Control Session (CS) with no telephone ringing, Landline Session (LS) with landline phone ringing, Mobile Session (MS) with mobile phone ringing. Results: The median RT in the study population was significantly elongated (p < 0.001) in MS. In women and in men RTs were significantly longer in MS than in CS and non-significantly longer than in LS. Reaction times in CS, LS and MS were longer in women, however the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We think that the specific 'bond' between a person and their private phone can significantly disrupt their attention and thus affect the attention-demanding activities.

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Use of auditory icons as emergency warnings: evaluation within a vehicle collision avoidance application

Cited by 176 publications

References 21 publications

The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards

The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards

Looming Auditory Collision Warnings for Driving

Cell phone ringtone, but not landline phone ringtone, affects complex reaction time

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